Great Day LP

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Simon Alfred (Pico) Payne, was born July 28, 1925 in Baltimore MD, to the union of Henry and Martha Payne. He was the youngest of three Children. His parents and other siblings preceded him in death. Simon (Pico) accepted Christ in 1937 at the Morning Star Baptist Church, in Baltimore, MD. He graduated in 1943 from Booker T. Washington High School in Baltimore, MD. In 1943 joined the US Navy. While in the Navy he form a group called the “Music Airs”. Then he started singing with the Alvino Ray Orchestra. In 1947 he came to Kansas City with his best friend James “Fuzzy” Waters. They meet Elder Leviticus Lee Boswell, one of the founders of the Metropolitan Spiritual Church, and decided to reside in Kansas City, Missouri. He started his own group the “Metro Tones” Later he became the minister of music for the Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ. In 1950 he was united in marriage to Mary Porter-Payne, and to that union three children, Anthony, Adrian, and Sarah. In January 1961 "Pico" started and directed the famous Leviticus Singers.
In 1975 he left Kansas City to sing with the old “Ink Spots”. He later moved to Honolulu, Hawaii and managed the Miramar At Walk Karaoke Club. Simon departed this life on Friday, July 26, 2002 at the Hali Nane Rehab Nursing Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. He leaves to cherish his memory three sons, Anthony Payne, Adrian Payne, and Orlando Edwards, all of Kansas City, MO. One daughter, Sarah Payne-McLaughlin. Five grandsons, Adrian Payne, Jr., Deavon Payne, Matthew Payne, Thomas Lastee, and Devin Edwards. Six granddaughters; Mary Campbell, Gabrielle Edwards, Shayleea McLaughlin, Tiara Black, Demeta Vincent, and Raven Stanford. Four great-grandchildren. Three stepsons, Wendall Johnson, Christopher Johnson, Travis Long. One first cousin, Norman Kenny, and a host of friends.

The Choir Of The Metropolitan Spiritual Church Of Christ, Kansas City, Missouri; SIMON PAYNE, Director

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Epic Records, RADIAL SOUND, yellow / black labels
Cat#: LN 3454