Dave Peyton was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

songwriter

Songwriter

A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...

, pianist

Pianist

A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...

, and arranger

Arranger

In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...

.

Peyton first began as a pianist in the trio of Wilbur Sweatman

Wilbur Sweatman

Wilbur C. Sweatman was an African-American ragtime and dixieland jazz composer, bandleader, and clarinetist....

, where he played from 1908 to 1912. Following this Peyton led his own ensembles in various theaters in Chicago

Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...

. His sidemen included Charlie Allen

Charlie Allen

Charlie Allen was an American jazz trumpeter.Allen grew up in Chicago, and began playing in the early 1920s just out of high school. He was a member of the bands of Hugh Swift , Dave Peyton , Doc Cook , Clifford King , and Johnny Long...

, George Mitchell

George Mitchell

George Mitchell may refer to:*George J. Mitchell , former Senator from Maine, special envoy to the Middle East for the Obama administration, former Senate majority leader and former chairman of Disney...

, Bob Shoffner

Bob Shoffner

Bob Shoffner was an American jazz trumpeter.Shoffner grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and played drums and bugle before settling on trumpet at age eleven. He played trumpet in a military band while serving in the U.S. Army from 1917-1919, and then played with Charlie Creath and Tommy Parker in...

, Reuben Reeves

Reuben Reeves

Reuben "River" Reeves was an American jazz trumpeter and bandleader....

, Kid Ory

Kid Ory

Edward "Kid" Ory was a jazz trombonist and bandleader. He was born in Woodland Plantation near LaPlace, Louisiana.-Biography:...

, Bud Scott

Bud Scott

Bud Scott was an American jazz banjoist. He was one of the earliest musicians associated with the New Orleans jazz scene....

, Jasper Taylor

Jasper Taylor

Jasper Taylor was an American jazz drummer.Taylor performed in Wild West revues and minstrel shows in his teens, touring the American South and Mexico. He played in Memphis, Tennessee in 1913, on washboard, drums, wood blocks, and xylophone. As a xylophonist he collaborated with W.C...

, Jimmy Bertrand

Jimmy Bertrand

Jimmy Bertrand was an American jazz and blues drummer.James Bertrand was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, and was active on the Chicago blues/jazz scene of the 1920s...

, Baby Dodds

Baby Dodds

Warren "Baby" Dodds was a jazz drummer born in New Orleans, Louisiana."Baby" Dodds was the younger brother of clarinetist Johnny Dodds. He is regarded as one of the very best jazz drummers of the pre-big band era, and one of the most important early jazz drummers...

, Preston Jackson

Preston Jackson

James Preston McDonald, better known by his stage name Preston Jackson was an American jazz trombonist....

, Darnell Howard

Darnell Howard

Darnell Howard was an American jazz clarinetist.Howard began playing violin at age seven, picking up clarinet and saxophone later in his youth. He played professionally with John H. Wickcliffe's Ginger Orchestra from 1913 to 1916, then moved to New York City in 1917, where he played and recorded...

, Jerome Don Pasquall

Jerome Don Pasquall

Jerome Don Pasquall was an American jazz reed player.Pasquall grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and played early in his life on the mellophone in brass bands. He served in the Army in 1918 in the 10th Cavalry Band, and picked up clarinet during this time...

, and Lee Collins

Lee Collins (musician)

Leeds "Lee" Collins was an American jazz trumpeter.Born in New Orleans, Collins played in brass bands as a teenager, including The Young Eagles, The Columbia Band, and the Tuxedo Brass Band. In the 1910s he played in New Orleans alongside Louis Armstrong, Papa Celestin, and Zutty Singleton...

. While he only recorded under his own name once (with Richard M. Jones

Richard M. Jones

Richard M. Jones, born Richard Marigny Jones, was a jazz pianist, composer, band leader, and record producer. Numerous songs bear his name as author, including "Trouble in Mind"....

), his orchestra also recorded in 1928 under Fess Williams

Fess Williams

Stanley Williams was an American jazz musician.-Early life:...

's name. In the 1930s he led an orchestra at the Regal Theater

Regal Theater, South Side (Chicago)

The Regal Theater, located in the heart of Bronzeville, was an important night club and music venue in Chicago.Part of the Balaban and Katz chain, the lavishly decorated venue, with plush carpeting and velvet drapes featured some of the most celebrated black entertainers in America.The Regal also...

, and later played solo piano in bars and nightclub

Nightclub

A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...

s. He also worked as a music contractor, filling orchestras with personnel upon request.

Peyton is best remembered for his songs, some of which became major hits; among them were the standard

Standard (music)

In music, a standard is a tune or song of established popularity.-See also:* Blues standard* Jazz standard* Pop standard* Great American Songbook-Further reading:* Greatest Rock Standards, published by Hal Leonard ISBN 0793588391...

 "I Ain't Got Nobody

I Ain't Got Nobody

"I Ain't Got Nobody" was a c. 1915 song, written by Spencer Williams. Publisher Roger Graham received co-composer credits. It became a perennial standard, recorded many times over following generations, in styles ranging from pop to jazz to country music....

" and the tunes "Hey Stop Kissin' My Sister" and "Roumania", both performed by Fats Waller

Fats Waller

Fats Waller , born Thomas Wright Waller, was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer...

.