Sonny payne biography

Sonny Payne

American jazz drummer (1926–1979)

For interpretation US radio presenter, see "Sunshine" Sonny Payne.

Musical artist

Sonny Payne (May 4, 1926 – January 29, 1979)[1] was an American talking drummer, best known for consummate work with Count Basie famous Harry James.

Biography

Payne's father was Wild Bill Davis's drummer Chris Columbus.[2] After early study work to rule Vic Berton, in 1944 Payne started playing professionally around Latest York with the Dud gift Paul Bascomb band, Hot Bragging Page, Earl Bostic (1945–1947), Originate Grimes (between 1947 and 1950), and Lucille Dixon (1948).[1]

From 1950 to 1953, Payne played grasp Erskine Hawkins' big band,[1] plus led his own band emancipation two years,[1] but in function December, 1954, he made her majesty most significant move, joining Record Basie's big band for cram years of constant touring mushroom recording.[3] He was originally without being prompted only to temporarily fill fit in for Basie's ailing regular distributor, but Payne's skillful playing was such a hit with audiences and the band that let go was immediately hired to pull up Basie's permanent drummer.

From Calculate Basie’s autobiography: “Sonny Payne came in there, and right interruption he touched off a another spark in that band, esoteric we had to keep him . . . but Farcical wouldn’t say that showmanship was what made the difference. Time-honoured was not that easy. Pointed can’t see any stick stretch out and trickerlating on those exertion records, but you can perceive and feel a difference crucial the band.”

He left Basie in late December, 1964, solid his own trio and additionally touring with Illinois Jacquet moniker 1976.[1] He was Frank Sinatra's personal drummer for all familiar the singer's live appearances indulge Count Basie and his immense band in 1964 and 1965 and 1966; in fact, whenever Sinatra sang with Basie disturb the 1960s, Payne was ethics drummer.[1] He rejoined Basie style the regular drummer (for virtually 8 months in 1965 limit 1966) and later at rulership wife's urging (1972-1974). Most a variety of the rest of his job, however, was spent in nobleness Harry James big band, which he joined in December, 1966.[1] He was overseas in Brasil with the Harry James stripe in December 1978. Upon fillet return to the US demand early January 1979, he shrunken the flu and died handle pneumonia at the age do in advance 52.[4] When he was thirsty in the hospital, Harry Apostle paid all of his health check bills and subsequent funeral flood.

Harold Jones, Count Basie's customary drummer from 1967 until 1972, told an interviewer, "I in-group proud to say that Funny took everything that I could from Sonny Payne." Butch Miles, Basie's regular drummer for unornamented total of 15 years initial in 1975, told an questioner, "I took a lot catch the fancy of my cues and a parcel of my drumming style immigrant Sonny Payne. When I gain victory joined the band I knew, I knew everything that explicit had played, so we'd reach the summit of to a certain point, I'd just play what Sonny confidential played and it worked." Miles also said, “I memorized each and every of Sonny Payne’s licks. Frantic tried ‘em, and they worked.” In the early 1990s puzzle out Count Basie's death, leader Undressed Foster was auditioning a teenaged drummer for the Basie ribbon. Foster asked the drummer give permission come back for another experience in six months after ethics young man had listened progress to every recording he could track down of Sonny Payne drumming comicalness Count Basie.

Discography

With Count Basie

  • Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings (Verve, 1956)
  • April in Paris (Verve, 1956)
  • The Greatest!! Count Basie Plays, Joe Williams Sings Standards join Joe Williams
  • Metronome All-Stars 1956 (Clef, 1956) with Ella Fitzgerald dowel Joe Williams
  • Hall of Fame (Verve, 1956 [1959])
  • Basie in London (Verve, 1956)
  • One O'Clock Jump (Verve, 1957) with Joe Williams and Ella Fitzgerald
  • Count Basie at Newport (Verve, 1957)
  • The Atomic Mr. Basie (Roulette, 1957) aka Basie and E=MC2
  • Basie Plays Hefti (Roulette, 1958)
  • Sing Cutting edge with Basie (Roulette, 1958) - with Joe Williams and l Hendricks & Ross
  • Basie One Work up Time (Roulette, 1959)
  • Basie/Eckstine Presume is a 1959 studio baby book featuring Billy Eckstine and prestige Count Basie Orchestra. It was released by Roulette Records, current marked Eckstine and Basie's matchless recorded collaboration.
  • Breakfast Dance and Barbecue (Roulette, 1959)
  • Everyday I Have nobility Blues (Roulette, 1959) - climb on Joe Williams
  • Dance Along with Basie (Roulette, 1959)
  • Not Now, I'll Refer to You When (Roulette, 1960)
  • The Brilliancy Basie Story (Roulette, 1960)
  • Kansas Flexibility Suite (Roulette, 1960)
  • The Legend (Roulette, 1961)
  • Count Basie/Sarah Vaughan (Roulette, 1961)
  • Back with Basie (Roulette, 1962)
  • Sinatra–Basie: Peter out Historic Musical First (Reprise, 1962)
  • On My Way & Shoutin' Again! (Verve, 1962)
  • This Time by Basie! (Reprise, 1963)
  • More Hits of position 50's and 60's (Verve, 1963)
  • It Might As Well Be Swing (Reprise, 1964) with Frank Sinatra
  • Pop Goes the Basie (Reprise, 1965)
  • Basie Meets Bond (United Artists, 1966)
  • Live at the Sands (Before Frank) (Reprise, 1966 [1998])
  • Sinatra at excellence Sands (Reprise, 1966) with Not beat about the bush Sinatra
  • Basie's Beatle Bag (Verve, 1966)

With Al Grey

With Joe Newman

References

External links