Dion Payton
Encyclopedia
Dion Payton is an American
Chicago blues
guitarist
and singer, who gained popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s in Chicago
clubs
.
Payton 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
' 1983 album
, Hot Shot. After leaving Brooks, Payton assembled the 43rd Street Blues Band in 1985, which served as the weekend house band at 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 was signed to a recording contract
with Virgin Records
, but never released any albums with Virgin or other record label
. His only commercial recording is his "All Your Affection Is Gone," from The New Bluebloods recording released in 1987.
Payton now performs infrequently in the Chicago area.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Chicago blues
Chicago blues
The Chicago blues is a form of blues music that developed in Chicago, Illinois, by taking the basic acoustic guitar and harmonica-based Delta blues, making the harmonica louder with a microphone and an instrument amplifier, and adding electrically amplified guitar, amplified bass guitar, drums,...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and singer, who gained popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s 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...
clubs
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
.
Payton gained recording experience at Chess Records
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
with gospel groups such as The Violinaires before touring with Millie Jackson
Millie Jackson
Mildred "Millie" Jackson is an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter and comedienne. Three of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA for over 500,000 copies....
, Albert King
Albert King
Albert King was an American blues guitarist and singer, and a major influence in the world of blues guitar playing.-Career:...
and O.V. Wright
O.V. Wright
Overton Vertis "O. V." Wright was an American singer who is regarded as one of Southern soul's most authoritative and individual artists...
. He first caught the attention of Alligator Records
Alligator Records
Alligator Records is a Chicago-based independent blues record label founded by Bruce Iglauer in 1971.Iglauer started the label with his own savings to record and produce his favorite band Hound Dog Taylor & The HouseRockers, whom his employer, Bob Koester of Delmark Records, declined to record...
while playing rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
and co-arranging Lonnie Brooks
Lonnie Brooks
Lonnie Brooks is an American blues singer and guitarist. He was born in Dubuisson, Louisiana, United States...
' 1983 album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Hot Shot. After leaving Brooks, Payton assembled the 43rd Street Blues Band in 1985, which served as the weekend house band at Kingston Mines for many years. The band's name referred to the location of the Checkerboard Lounge where they served as Junior Wells
Junior Wells
Junior Wells , born Amos Wells Blakemore Jr., was an American Chicago blues vocalist, harmonica player, and recording artist...
's backing band. Accompanying Payton on rhythm guitar was Joanna Connor
Joanna Connor
Joanna Connor is an American Chicago-based blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist.Connor was drawn to the Chicago blues scene in the early 1980s, eventually sharing the stage with James Cotton, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, and A.C. Reed...
. Payton was signed to a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
, but never released any albums with Virgin or other record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. His only commercial recording is his "All Your Affection Is Gone," from The New Bluebloods recording released in 1987.
Payton now performs infrequently in the Chicago area.