Payne, Bennie (actually, Benjamin E.)
Payne, Bennie (actually, Benjamin E.)
Payne, Bennie (actually, Benjamin E. ), jazz pianist, vocalist; b. Philadelphia, Pa., June 18, 1907; d. Los Angeles, Calif., Sept. 2, 1986. He studied with Fats Waller, and freelanced from about 1926, including work with Wilbur Sweatman (1928) and Elizabeth Welch. He joined Blackbirds of 1929 and came to Europe with this revue in 1929. Returning to N.Y., he played in the Hot Chocolates show, then joined Cab Calloway in November 1931 through 1946, including a European tour in 1934, and excepting his service in U.S. Army beginning late 1943. He was with Pearl Bailey, and from 1950 toured as accompanist and musical director for vocalist Billy Daniels, with whom he worked for over two decades. He retired in L.A.
Discography
Benny Payne Plays and Sings (1955).
—John Chilton,Who’s Who of Jazz/Lewis Porter