Freda Payne

Here is an electric song, performed by the beautiful singer Freda Payne, who was a great jazz and standards singer before becoming a "disco queen" in the 1970's (she has now returned to her roots).
Freda Charcelia Payne (born in 1942 in Detroit, Michigan) is an African-American singer and actress. At an early age, Freda Payne grew up listening to different jazz singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday which helped her develop a taste for music. As a teenager, she attended the Institute of Musical Arts; she soon began singing radio commercial jingles and took part in (and won many of) local TV and radio talent shows. Her polished voice caught the attention of many different people including record producers. Berry Gordy wanted to give her a recording contract with Motown, and Duke Ellington (after allowing her to sing with his orchestra in Pittsburgh for two nights) also wanted to give her a contract. In 1963, she moved to New York City and worked with many different entertainers including Quincy Jones, Pearl Bailey, and Bill Cosby. During that same year, her debut album, a jazz recording entitled After the lights go down low and much more!!!, was released on the Impulse! label. She made occasional guest appearances on different television shows including The Merv Griffin Show and The Tonight Show. She even added theatrical credits to her repertoire; she understudied Leslie Uggams for the Broadway show Hallelujah baby in 1967 and appeared with the Equity Theatre in a production of Lost in the stars. But it is the R&B song Band of gold that gave her celebrity. She continued till now to act and sing, and made recently a new jazz-oriented album.
Enjoy Freda's voice and style!

After the lights go down low

3 other songs, one of them performed with Barbara McNair (Do you know the way to San Jose)!