Performs Saturday, 7:45 PM

Detroiter Freda Payne at Jazz Festival

I never knew (or perhaps have forgotten) that Freda Payne is a Detroit native who got her start singing with big bands and then singing with the great Duke Ellington’s band. Later, in New York, she landed her first record deal, a Jazz album on Impulse. Freda  then went on to perform with the big band of Quincy Jones.

Freda may be recognized more so for her pop and R&B hits, "Band of Gold" and "Bring the Boys Home" with the producing team of Holland, Dozier, & Holland on Invictus. She was GRAMMY-nominated "Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Female for "Band of Gold," and for the album Contact. 

Freda’s musical theatre credits are, Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies, The Blues in the Night, Jelly's Last Jam, Ella: First Lady of Song and Montreux Jazz Festival with Quincy. Come Back to Me Love, her latest CD, signals a return to Freda’s Jazz roots. It’s about time.

Freda will perform with the USAF Airmen of Note Big Band, Saturday 7:45 - 9 PM on the Carhartt Amphitheatre Stage.