Dion Payton
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
Dion Payton (October 21, 1950 – March 12, 2021)[1] was an American Chicago blues guitarist and singer, who gained popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s in Chicago clubs.[2]
Payton was born in Greenwood, Mississippi, and gained recording experience at Chess Records with gospel groups such as the Violinaires before touring with Millie Jackson, Albert King and O.V. Wright. He first caught the attention of Alligator Records while playing rhythm guitar and co-arranging Lonnie Brooks's 1983 album, Hot Shot. After leaving Brooks, Payton assembled the 43rd Street Blues Band in 1985, which served as the weekend house band at the blues club Kingston Mines for many years. The band's name referred to the location of the Checkerboard Lounge, where they served as Junior Wells's backing band. Accompanying Payton on rhythm guitar was Joanna Connor. Payton signed a recording contract with Virgin Records but never released any albums with Virgin or other record labels. His only commercial recording is his "All Your Affection Is Gone," from the New Bluebloods compilation album released by Alligator in 1987.[3]
In his later years, Payton performed infrequently in the Chicago area. He died in Chicago.
References
[edit]- ^ Zac Clingenpeel, "Dion Payton, legendary Chicago underground blues guitarist, dead at 70", Chicago Sun Times, March 26, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021
- ^ Hugh Hart (February 13, 1992). "Big time Dion Payton's 'rockin' blues' style garners him a major-label record deal". Chicago Tribune. p. 8. Retrieved June 22, 2010.[dead link]
- ^ Niles J. Frantz. "New Bluebloods – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
External links
[edit]- Alligator Records
- Blind Pig Records
- Rare "Cadillac Assembly Line" on YouTube video 1988 Chicago Blues Festival
- Chicago Sun-Times Obituary
| Authority control databases: Artists |
|---|
 | This article about an American guitarist is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
  | This article about a United States singer is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1950 births
- 2021 deaths
- Chicago blues musicians
- American blues guitarists
- American blues singers
- American male guitarists
- Blues musicians from Mississippi
- People from Greenwood, Mississippi
- Guitarists from Illinois
- Guitarists from Mississippi
- 20th-century American guitarists
- 20th-century American male musicians
- American guitarist stubs
- American singer stubs