Sonny Payne

Sonny Payne ( born May 4, 1926 in New York; † January 29, 1979 in Los Angeles as Percival Payne ) was an American jazz drummer. He played with Count Basie and Harry James.

His father was Chris Columbus, drummer for Wild Bill Davis. After years of study with Vic Berton Payne began in 1944 as a professional musician in New York with the bands of Dud and Paul Bascomb, played with Hot Lips Page, Earl Bostic (1945 /47), Tiny Grimes ( 1947-1950 ) and Lucille Dixon (1948 ).

From 1950 to 1953 Payne worked in Erskine Hawkins ' big band and headed for two years his own band. 1954 began his long association with Count Basie; For 10 years he was a member of Basie's band, went with him on tour and recorded numerous albums. In 1965 he left the Basie band, led his own trio, playing in the backing band of Frank Sinatra and toured in 1976 with Illinois Jacquet. Short returned Dowdy each 1965/66 and 1973/74 Back to Basie. The rest of his career he played in the band of Harry James, with whom he worked from 1966 until his death.