Smooth Adult R&B and danceable grooves with a hint of Jazz embedded with classy lyrics that expressed Freda's time earned wisdom about Love and life.

13 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Smooth Jazz, URBAN/R&B: R&B Pop Crossover

Show all album songs: On the Inside Songs


Details:
The definition of sophistication comes in the embodiment of the versatile vocalist, FREDA PAYNE. An accomplished and internationally acclaimed chanteuse whose musical tastes span a musical range from Miles David to Motown, equally at home performing with a symphony orchestra or an intimate jazz trio. Her multi-faceted career spans over 4 decades and includes Broadway, concert, TV and movies.

Freda started her career by singing radio commercial jingles in her hometown of Detroit, Michigan. This quickly caught the attention of music executives and other artists. At the age of 17, the legendary Pearl Bailey gave Freda her first professional job and this paved the way for her to share the stage with other legends that have included Lionel Hampton, Sammy Davis, Jr., Billy Eckstein, Quincy Jones, Bill Cosby and many others.

The young protégé of Quincy Jones during his big band era, Freda toured with him performing at theatres that included the world famous Apollo in New York City and the Regal in Chicago. Soon after, she recorded her first album âWhen the Lights Go Downâ for Impulse Records, which is now available on CD. Of all the music styles that Freda has the ability to perform, her favorite is Jazz. In a recent article she stated, âElla [Fitzgerald], Sarah [Vaughan] and Billie [Holiday] are the greatest. Those ladies were the divas of their dayâeach had the unique gift of interpreting the best songs from an incredible era with their own inimitable stylesâ¦â

Fredaâs link with some hometown friends proved to be very fruitful. Brothers Brian & Eddie Holland and Lamont Dozier (Holland-Dozier-Holland) were responsible for putting Motown music firmly on the map by writing and producing million sellers for acts that included the Four Tops, Martha & The Vandellas and the Supremesâwhose last lead singer is Fredaâs sister Scherrieâalso blessed with an incredible vocal talent.

Holland-Dozier-Hollandâs newly formed Invictus Records provided Freda with 2 million selling singles â âBring The Boys Homeâ and âBand of Goldâ plus âDeeper and Deeperâ, âCherish (Whatâs Dear To You)â, and âYou Brought The Joyâ. Freda then moved to ABC and later Capitol Records, releasing the albums âPayne & Pleasureâ, âOut Of Payne Comes Loveâ, âStares & Whispersâ, âSupernatural Highâ and âRed Hotâ. 1993 saw the release of her critically acclaimed album âAn Evening With Freda Payneâ that perfectly showcases her incredible talents an incomparable jazz styling. Freda was nominated for a Grammy for â Band of Gold for best female vocalist for R&B and again for her album âContactâ.

Fredaâs ever expanding repertoire includes roles in the award winning musical âBlues In The Nightâ and âJellyâs Last Jamâ â a musical based on the life of jazz legend Jelly Role Morton. In the review for âBlues In The Nightâ the American showbiz daily VARIETY stated, âFreda Payne has a truly unique voice that hits an amazing number of notes with a smoky, unusual qualityâ¦â

Additionally, Freda has starred in the Broadway production of Duke Ellingtonâs âSophisticated Ladiesâ, âAinât Misbehavinââ and the Tony Award⢠winning production of âHallelujah Babyâ.

Some other recent plays Freda has been in are âA Change is Gonna Comeâ & â The Divorceâ both written and directed by Donald Welch.

Freda can be heard in the film âCity Teachersâ which has the track âWelcome To the Human Raceâ from her On the Inside CD Release and she is starring in the film âCordially Invitedâ.

Freda is currently on road touring her âTribute to Ella Fitzgerald in Concertâ