Freda Payne
About this Artist
Freda Payne is a Detroit native who never realized her talents until the early age of twelve. Her piano teacher discovered her singing ability and from that point on Freda was singing for local affairs around Detroit and even entered talent contest on local TV as well as the national TV show, Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour. At age fourteen she joined The Don Large's Make Way for Youth radio show broadcasted on station WJR in the penthouse of the Fisher Bldg. Freda's first album deal was on the Impulse label with ABC Paramount in New York. After The Lights Go Down Low and much more. Recording her next album three years later on MGM records. Was an early protégé of Quincy Jones during his big band era, also performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2008 in honor of Quincy's seventy fifth birthday celebration.
Freda may be recognized by her 1970's hits, BAND OF GOLD and BRING THE BOYS HOME. The producing team of Holland, Dozier, and Holland were the ones who brought her to worldwide attention with those two gold records. Freda received a nomination for best R&B female vocalist for Band of Gold, and another nomination from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Science's for her album on the Invictus label, CONTACT, also produced by HDH. Freda has film credits as well , The Book of Number's, Rag Doll, Sprung, Nutty Professor the Klumps. Cordially Invited, Rhapsody, and the Divorce, and coming to Netflix this year Family Reunion.
Freda has a list of musical theatre and acting in plays. DUKE ELLINGTONS SOPHISTICATED LADIES, AIN'T MIS'BEHAVIN, DADDY GOODNESS, JELLY'S LAST JAM, BLUES IN THE NIGHT, and recently starring in ELLA FITZGERALD FIRST LADY OF SONG.
She has just released her latest 26th CD, Capitol Records Studio Recording Jazz Big Band CD "LET THERE BE LOVE" full of Duets with Johnny Mathis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kurt Elling and Kenny Latimore that is charting the jazz charts. Her previous CD Come Back Love on the Artistry label for Mack Ave, was a return to Freda's true jazz roots She just released her new memoirs “Band of Gold” written by Mark Bego chock full of grand stories recapturing her life, available on Amazon.