Meet Jordan Morris, 14 Year Old Singer and Beauty Pageant Contestant

As the petite young lady stepped up to the plate, baseball fans stood, hats off, right hands placed respectfully over their hearts. Not a whisper or mutter could be heard through out the newly remodeled Dow Diamond Baseball Stadium, as young Jordan Morris belted out the first note of the National Anthem, in front of an amazed and delighted crowd. "Oh say can you see by the dawn's early light..." Jordan's accapella performance of the National Anthem scored a home run hit with Loons fans, as evidenced by the thunderous cheers that came rising from the bleachers as the last note softly faded into the evening air.

Many attending the game were heard to comment on the young ladies amazing performance. Remarks about her age, a mere 14, seemed to come from every corner of the bleachers, as fans were amazed at the strength and purity of this beautiful voice.

This writer had a chance to speak with Jordan following her performance. I found her to be a delightfully pleasant young lady with a keen sense of humor, and a resume that was as amazing as her voice.
Jordan told me that some of her most memorable experiences as a singer have been:

- Being called back at a Star Search audition at age 9
- Last years M-33 Access Party, where she performed live in front of an audience of more than 3,000 people
- Her performance at the Michigan State Fair when she 8 years old
- Singing live with the band "The Crunks" at age 12, at a punk rock concert
- Winning the Miss Iosco's Most Outstanding Teen Scholarship Pageant, this year.
- Her role as "Dorothy" in The Tawas Bay Players 2006 production of the Wizard of Oz

Talk about a versatile performer! As this beautiful young lady talks about her most memorable experiences on the stage, I begin to realize the extent of her performing experiences, which range from theater productions to benefit performances, talent competitions to rock and roll concerts. I wanted to know when she got her start, and how.

Jordan told this writer that her singing career began at the tender age of three, when, as she tells it, her grandparents owned a campground in Hale, Michigan. Campers from all over Michigan and summer vacationers from across the country used to come to the campground to "get away from it all". When talking about the campers Jordan says, jokingly "I learned at an early age that if I sang them a song, they would give me dollars." She likes to joke about it, now, but she says that she used to make quite a bit of money, for a three year old, that is.

She began performing in her Church when she was four. She says that as little as she was, everyone in her church was supportive and by age 5 she was singing solo's at least once a month in front of the congregation. From there, the little prodigy decided to try her hand at theater. She began her stage career at a mere 6 years old, landing a role in the Shoreline Players production of "Oliver". "It was just a small part" Jordan remembers, "but the director, Debbie McCoy and her husband Morris were very supportive of me. I am so thankful to them now, without their support I don't know if I would have had all the same chances in life. I was the youngest member the theater had ever had, but since that time I have noticed that more and more younger kids are getting involved and I think it's a great thing. Not that I am taking credit for that, but I like to think maybe I had something to do with it." She smiles.

Jordan entered her first actual singing competition at the age of 6, as well. "I remember being a little nervous, especially because I was competing against singers of all ages, High School kids and even adults. I didn't expect to win anything" she recalls, "I just wanted to do it because it sounded like fun"
But Jordan did win, and by the looks of things she's been winning ever since.

Her list of achievements include:
- Winner of the WKJC talent Competition for 5 years and running
- Winner of the Iosco County State Fair Talent competition for 4 and running
- Winner Oscoda Idol singing competition, 2004
- Little Miss Iosco 2002
- Miss Iosco's Most Outstanding Teen 2007
- Winner Alcona County Mock Rock Singing Competition 3 continuous years
- Winner Oscoda Mock Rock 2 continuous years

Jordan shares inside information about her Star Search audition, at age 9. "We got to Columbus in the middle of the night" she recalls. "I was little so all I wanted to do just then was sleep." she laughs. "My Grandpa is one of those people who is always prepared. He brought two-radios so he and my mom could talk to each other, back and forth. One of them would wait in line until they got too cold, or too tired, then the other would go down and take over. It worked out pretty good, although I did feel kind of bad, because I knew they were tired and cold!" she says. "When it started to get light outside I remember hearing my mom on the radio to my grandpa saying she thought it was time to get me up and dressed and get my hair done, so I knew then that it was close to the big moment. I'm glad I didn't have to stand outside all night though, thanks to my Mom and my Grandpa. When my mom and I finally started down to where the door was, I could not believe how many people were lined up on the sidewalk! I was just like "Oh, Wow." she says. "It turned out that they didn't even have to wait there like that" Jordan laughs, "they didn't take people in the order they were in line. Instead they took them by age and talent group. Someone would come to the door and ask for all of the female dancers, for instance, or all of the adult female vocalists. Finally they had the child vocalists come in. They took us back in groups instead of one person at a time. I think there were about 60 girls in my group. We had each prepared a one minute accapella solo, and most of the kids there didn't get to sing for more than about 20 or 30 seconds. When they got to me I started into my song, expecting them to stop me right away, like they did everyone else, but instead I sang my entire song, and everyone cheered! That was pretty exciting. After that they said everyone can go except... and they said someone else's name, and I thought "Aw darn." and then they said my name, and I almost fell off the chair! It was a great experience. They had people come into the room and take my picture, and told me and the other girl in my group that we were both fantastic, and whether we made it to the final cut or not, we should never, ever stop singing, because we have what it takes to make it. To me that right there was enough. Although I was supposed to get a call back the next day, for some reason they decided not to call me, but people tell me all the time I should go out for American Idol" she laughs. "Most people don't realize you have to be 16 to do that."

As another of her favorite performance memories Jordan shares her day long trip into Roger's City and surrounding schools, to perform vocally, as well as speak to the students about following their dreams. "I remember it was a very long day" she smiles. "We started in the morning with 3 concerts for the kids, and the Gaylord Youth Symphony Orchestra performed along with me. They were amazing" she says. "After the 3 concerts, I was taken to the schools and there performed another 3 concerts. Then" she says " I think I had a minute to stop and get something to eat, before I had to rush back to the theater, and change for an evening concert, which was open to the public." Jordan says the day was exhausting "but I think it was one of the best days I ever had performing. The kids were just so cute, and so excited to talk to me, and ask questions, and I left there thinking I should do this every day."

Looking to the future, I ask Jordan what's next on her very full agenda. "Right now I'm really looking forward to the M-33 Access Party which is coming up next month." She says there is always a huge crowd there for the free food, fireworks and weekend long celebration, put on every year by the owner of M-33 Internet Access, Northern Michigan's most popular Internet company. "It's a huge party" Jordan says "Glen, the companies owner, does this every year and invites all of his customers to come and enjoy his gorgeous property. He has lots of things going on for kids, like the moon walk and blow-up slide, and games and music all weekend." Jordan has been a featured performer at this huge party for the past three years. "Glen is just a great guy" she says. "Every year he says 'Get Jordan' 'We must have Jordan.' I really appreciate his support of my singing." The weekend long celebration usually draws in from 3,000 to 5,000 people, and this year, Jordan tells us that they are expecting their biggest crowd ever. Non customers a welcome to enjoy the weekend as well, but there is a ticket cost in order to participate.

The Michigan State Fair is also on Jordan's agenda this summer. She will featured along with several other county fair talent contest winners from around the state, on Wednesday, August 22nd, in the Band Shell, at the Michigan State Fair Grounds, in Detroit.

Jordan is scheduled to compete in Miss Michigan's Most Outstanding Teen 2007 Scholarship Pageant. The pageant will be held in Lansing in the summer of 2008, as part of the Miss America Scholarship program. Jordan's platform will be "Encouraging Spirituality in Teens" as she states this is a topic that is very close to her heart. Having won the title of Miss Iosco's Most Outstanding Teen 2007 made Jordan eligible to compete at the state level pageant. Her love of Opera music, and especially music from the Broadway play Phantom of the Opera, prompted Jordan to perform "Think of Me" from the play, in her local pageant, which scored huge with both the audience and judges. Jordan says "What's exciting about the state pageant is that if I somehow do win, I will be going on the Miss America's Most Outstanding Teen, which I can't even imagine how awesome that would be, just to be able to get that far!"

After spending a few delightful hours with this charming young lady from Oscoda, Michigan, this writer has few doubts that Jordan will be going that farther, and even farther, in the years to come. America should keep an eye out for this lady, as she expands her horizons, and reaches for bigger and better things. To listen to a sample of this young ladies fabalous vocal talent, browse Associated Content's audio search, for a nearly uploaded track off her 2003 demo CD.