American Storyteller. Born in Chicago, Illinois, she was an assistant in the High Point School North Carolina, library when she started telling stories to keep peace among the children. As a result she was asked to tell a story at a community event, with led to telling stories in many US States. Well-versed in traditional African American folklore and folktales, she also traveled to Great Britain, New Zealand, Guam, Sweden, and Mexico. In 1977, she appeared at the National Storytelling Festival, plus became a spokesperson for the storytelling movement, plus the National Association for the Preservation and the National Storytelling Network. For television, she appeared on Late Night with David Letterman, CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kurault and co-hosted the Halloween special, "The Teller and the Tale" with Sally Struthers. Film Producer Steven Spielberg asked her to tell stories to the top creative artists of his DreamWorks Studios. Torrence produced nine recordings on several labels, plus authored two books, "The Importance of Pot Liquor, and Jackie Tales" and "The Magic of Creating Stories and Art of Telling Them". In 1992, her play "Bluestory" related the history of blues music, was performed by Piedmont blues musicians John Cephas and Phil Wiggins. She died at age 60 at her home in Granite Quarry, North Carolina.
American Storyteller. Born in Chicago, Illinois, she was an assistant in the High Point School North Carolina, library when she started telling stories to keep peace among the children. As a result she was asked to tell a story at a community event, with led to telling stories in many US States. Well-versed in traditional African American folklore and folktales, she also traveled to Great Britain, New Zealand, Guam, Sweden, and Mexico. In 1977, she appeared at the National Storytelling Festival, plus became a spokesperson for the storytelling movement, plus the National Association for the Preservation and the National Storytelling Network. For television, she appeared on Late Night with David Letterman, CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kurault and co-hosted the Halloween special, "The Teller and the Tale" with Sally Struthers. Film Producer Steven Spielberg asked her to tell stories to the top creative artists of his DreamWorks Studios. Torrence produced nine recordings on several labels, plus authored two books, "The Importance of Pot Liquor, and Jackie Tales" and "The Magic of Creating Stories and Art of Telling Them". In 1992, her play "Bluestory" related the history of blues music, was performed by Piedmont blues musicians John Cephas and Phil Wiggins. She died at age 60 at her home in Granite Quarry, North Carolina.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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