Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
DeGeneres Surprises Fresno State's Viral Cymbals Player With 2020 Jeep
bill-new-mug-002
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 4 years ago on
January 20, 2020

Share

You can see Fresno State marching band cymbals sensation Travis Morris get more than he wished for on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” at 4 p.m. today on CBS47.
Morris, a graduate of Clovis North High School, posted a tweet in November telling the show’s star that he could teach her “how to crash the cymbals.” He also asked to appear on her show.


DeGeneres introduced Morris during Monday’s show by saying he was a cure for anyone suffering from “the Monday blues.” Upon hearing his name, Morris jumped out of his seat and bounded for the stage.
She asked him, “Did you choose cymbals or was there nothing left?”
“My first choice was cymbals,” Morris answered. “People ask me, ‘What did you get cut from?’
“I’m like, ‘nothing. Cymbals is me. That’s what I do. And they’re like, ‘really?’ ”

Morris Given a 2020 Jeep Wrangler

Later, in response to a question, Morris explained that somebody slashed the tires on his bicycle. As a result, he walks, bums rides, or uses the bus to get to school, work, and volunteer activities.
That’s when DeGeneres led him backstage and said, “This is what happens for nice people.” Then they went behind the studio.
Awaiting Morris: a 2020 Jeep Wrangler courtesy of Shutterfly.
“This is so cool,” Morris said, sitting behind the wheel.
Considering all the positive publicity Morris has brought Fresno State, perhaps the university should gift him a lifetime campus parking pass.

How Morris Landed the Appearance

Landing the booking likely was helped by the fact that Morris has become an internet sensation. A video of Morris playing “Hey Pachuco” has more than 314,000 views on Twitter alone.
Helping Morris gain nationwide exposure: The popular sports website Bleacher Report posted the video with the caption “His energy is unmatched”

Fresno State marching band cymbals player Travis Morris
Travis Morris’ cymbals playing in “Hey Pachuco” became a viral hit. (Twitter/Travis Morris)

‘The Hype Man of the Valley’

Morris bills himself as “the hype man of the Valley” on social media — a title he says was bestowed on him by friends and Fresno State football fans.
“I live for performing and doing it for the Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band just makes me happy,” Morris told ABC30 in November. “I’m blessed to represent Fresno.”
 

DON'T MISS

Tennessee Lawmakers Pass Bill Criminalizing Adults Assisting Minors in Gender-Affirming Care

DON'T MISS

Wittrup: Vote to Table Bullard Fence Contract Was ‘Retaliatory’

DON'T MISS

Did Arias ‘Weaponize’ City Attorney’s Office by Requesting Documents from Smittcamp?

DON'T MISS

Google Parent Reports Another Quarter of Robust Growth, Rolls Out First-Ever Quarterly Dividend

DON'T MISS

$15 a Pack for Cigarettes? It’s Happening in This US City.

DON'T MISS

USC Scraps Graduation Ceremony Amid Concerns Over Potential Disruptions from Protests

DON'T MISS

US Growth Slows Sharply Amid High Interest Rates and Inflation

DON'T MISS

No Security Fence for Bullard High. Why Did Fresno Trustees Table Bid Award?

DON'T MISS

Fresno Unified Comedy Night: ‘President Trump’ Meets ‘Superintendent Biden’

DON'T MISS

Lawyer Says Iran Rapper Famous for Songs After 2022 Killing of Mahsa Amini Sentenced to Death

UP NEXT

Did Arias ‘Weaponize’ City Attorney’s Office by Requesting Documents from Smittcamp?

UP NEXT

US Growth Slows Sharply Amid High Interest Rates and Inflation

UP NEXT

No Security Fence for Bullard High. Why Did Fresno Trustees Table Bid Award?

UP NEXT

Jose Ramirez Bout, Clovis Rodeo Are Center Stage in a Weekend Crammed With Events

UP NEXT

Slumping California Risks Losing World’s ‘5th Largest Economy’ Title

UP NEXT

Ancestry Website to Catalogue Names of Japanese Americans Incarcerated During World War II

UP NEXT

Google Fires More Workers Who Protested Its Deal With Israel

UP NEXT

What Do Supreme Court Justices Say About Homelessness?

UP NEXT

Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson Pledged $10M for Maui Wildfire Survivors. They Gave Much More.

UP NEXT

Did Fresno Unified’s Biggest Contractor Not Pay Its Workers? Company Still Gets Millions After Civil Penalty

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Google Parent Reports Another Quarter of Robust Growth, Rolls Out First-Ever Quarterly Dividend

10 hours ago

$15 a Pack for Cigarettes? It’s Happening in This US City.

11 hours ago

USC Scraps Graduation Ceremony Amid Concerns Over Potential Disruptions from Protests

11 hours ago

US Growth Slows Sharply Amid High Interest Rates and Inflation

12 hours ago

No Security Fence for Bullard High. Why Did Fresno Trustees Table Bid Award?

Local Education /

13 hours ago

Fresno Unified Comedy Night: ‘President Trump’ Meets ‘Superintendent Biden’

13 hours ago

Lawyer Says Iran Rapper Famous for Songs After 2022 Killing of Mahsa Amini Sentenced to Death

14 hours ago

Jose Ramirez Bout, Clovis Rodeo Are Center Stage in a Weekend Crammed With Events

15 hours ago

Supreme Court Seems Skeptical of Trump’s Claim of Absolute Immunity But Decision’s Timing Is Unclear

15 hours ago

Hamas Official: We’ll Put Down Arms if an Independent Palestine Is Created

16 hours ago

Tennessee Lawmakers Pass Bill Criminalizing Adults Assisting Minors in Gender-Affirming Care

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s GOP-controlled Statehouse on Thursday gave their final approval to legislation criminalizing adults who...

10 hours ago

10 hours ago

Tennessee Lawmakers Pass Bill Criminalizing Adults Assisting Minors in Gender-Affirming Care

Local Education /
10 hours ago

Wittrup: Vote to Table Bullard Fence Contract Was ‘Retaliatory’

10 hours ago

Did Arias ‘Weaponize’ City Attorney’s Office by Requesting Documents from Smittcamp?

10 hours ago

Google Parent Reports Another Quarter of Robust Growth, Rolls Out First-Ever Quarterly Dividend

11 hours ago

$15 a Pack for Cigarettes? It’s Happening in This US City.

11 hours ago

USC Scraps Graduation Ceremony Amid Concerns Over Potential Disruptions from Protests

12 hours ago

US Growth Slows Sharply Amid High Interest Rates and Inflation

Local Education /
13 hours ago

No Security Fence for Bullard High. Why Did Fresno Trustees Table Bid Award?

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend