ARTIST
DIRECTORY
Nellie
"Tiger" Travis
Destiny
chose Nellie “Tiger” Travis to sing
the blues. Born deep in the delta of Mississippi
in the early 60’s in a typical small
town, where church cultural focal point, Nellie
grew up singing gospel music. What a journey
it has been!
Cynthia
Allen up and close with
“NELLIE TIGER TRAVIS”
C.
Allen: Let me start this interview by
saying I’m a huge fan and it’s truly
an honor and privilege to be speaking with
an international legendary female artist and
songwriter that I admire and respect. You
have many hit songs like “Slap Yo Weave
Off”; “Mr. Sexy Man” and “Can
I Back It Up” you’ve had such a
remarkable career thank you for allowing Jamsource
Runway Magazine this wonderful opportunity.
Tell your fans a little bit about yourself
and how you got started singing.
Nellie: The pleasure is all mine I’m
thankful for this opportunity, I was born
and raised by my grandmother who as an evangelist
in Mound Bayou, Mississippi like most artists
I started singing in the church gospel at
an early age. In my teens I participated in
beauty pageants, and was homecoming queen
when I graduated from John F. Kennedy High
School in 1979. During mid 1980's I
sung lead for the Mississippi based group
"SSIPP", opening for acts from Dionne
Warwick to Ray Charles. I’m also
an accomplished actress and has performed
in the plays "The Lust Of A Man"
and "I was There When The Blues Was Red
Hot".
C. Allen: You have a very powerful
voice and irresistible stage charisma when
and what prompted you to want to be a singer?
Also, how did you get the nickname “Tiger”?
Nellie:
I think I was destined because my grandmother
was a minister and other family members consisted
of singers and musicians. I began singing
in church services when I was five years old,
I considered a career in acting but my love
of music won out. The nickname “Tiger”
was given to me by a cousin because she said
it described my intense, feline vocal style
as well as my feisty and independent personality.
C. Allen: How do you balance your family
life and professional career having to be
constantly on the road traveling to perform
shows?
Nellie: Well for starters I’m not married
so I don’t have to answer to anyone and
I have three grown sons ages 39, 38 and 24
so they can take care of themselves.
C. Allen: Where are some of the places
and who are some of your favorite artists
that have inspired you, and that you’ve
had the pleasure of touring and performing
with?
Nellie:
Some of my influences are powerful performers
like Tina Turner, Glady Knight, Etta James
and KoKo Taylor who was my mentor also I’ve
shared the stage with such legendary artists
as B.B. King; Buddy Guy, and Bobby Rush. I’ve
traveled international performing festivals
and clubs around the world places in such
as Switzerland, Japan, Greece, Italy, Germany,
Brazil, Texas, Mississippi, New York, California,
Indiana, Tennessee, Chicago, Michigan and
Wisconsin.
C. Allen: What do you consider your
greatest musical accomplishment?
Nellie: I’ve been very fortunate
and blessed throughout my career I was honored
at the 2019 Zydeco Blues Trail Riders Awards
and have won numerous awards and received
many nominations. In November 2009 I was crowned
the “New Queen of The Blues” for
Chicago but the ultimate and highlight of
my career was in 2017 when I was invited to
perform my song “Slap Yo’ Weave
Off,” backed by the Roots on the Tonight
show hosted Jimmy Fallon on the NBC TV Network.
C. Allen: What do you think are some
of the pros and cons of the Southern Soul
music industry and do you think it’s
changed for the better or worse for artists?
Nellie: I feel some of the pros and
cons are that the music business is a male
dominated industry therefore I feel female
artists does not receive equal pay as some
of the male artists. Another problem is that
Southern Soul music don’t get enough
air play or put into rotation on main stream
radio stations, because the industry does
not feel that there is a big demand. I feel
that’s not true because if our music
was given equal amount of air time as the
R&B, Pop, Country and Contemporary artists
a lot more people would get to know who the
artists are and there would be a greater demand.
Also, I feel social media has helped because
it provides a huge platform for artists to
gain massive exposure that they would not
ordinarily receive and for the better because
more artists are choosing to be independent
which allows them to be in more control of
their music.
C. Allen: How has the COVID 19 Virus
pandemic affected your life and career?
Nellie:
It has a financial affect because shows had
to be postponed or canceled and rescheduled
indefinitely therefore no income coming in
and there is still no cure and certainty as
to when things will resume back to normal.
It’s very frightening because as a performer
I come in close contact with a lot of people
so from now on extreme precautions will have
to be made to ensure my safety as well as
others.
C. Allen: What’s the most important
things you want people to know about you as
an artist?
Nellie:
I take my career serious; I give and demand
respect; I will always give my fans my very
best performance and quality music!! I’d
like to thank all the fans, promotors, DJ’s,
radio stations and everyone that have supported
and believed in Nellie Tiger Travis!!!
C.
Allen: I’ve enjoyed this time talking
with you, thanks again for allowing Jamsource
Runway Magazine and your fans this opportunity
to get to know you a little better!!
Nellie:
My pleasure and thank you!!
FOR
MORE INFORMATION
(713) 204-9554
callenproductions1@yahoo.com
cynthia@callenproductions.com
