Vocalist Freda Payne is set to perform for the Huntington community at the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. Payne will pay tribute to the legend Ella Fitzgerald as part of Fitzgerald’s centennial anniversary.

The year 2017 would have been Ella Fitzgerald’s 100th birthday. The performance serves as remembrance for Ella Fitzgerald’s talents and achievements.

The performance is part of the “Tribute to Ella” tour by Payne to celebrate Fitzgerald, who Payne has been a fan of all her life. The performance will include Fitzgerald’s memorable songs, such as “It Don’t Mean a Thing” and “Sweet Georgia Brown.”

The performance will take the audience through Fitzgerald’s career from her Apollo Theater debut to her successful career that followed. Payne will also share personal stories and some of her best known hits, such as “Band of Gold,” and “Bring the Boys Home” during the performance.

Freda Payne is a vocalist and actress. Payne got her start as a vocalist by singing in radio commercials and winning talent competitions in Detroit as a young woman. Payne then got the attention of Duke Ellington, who invited Payne to sing with his orchestra. After she received a recording contract, she got her household name from her number one hit song, “Band of Gold.”

She has performed on Broadway in shows including “Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies” and “Blues in the Night.” She has gotten back to her jazz origins with her new album “Come Back to Me,” which includes arrangements from big bands.
To see Payne perform her hits and honor Ella Fitzgerald, tickets are available now at the Marshall Artists Series box office located at the Joan C. Edwards Playhouse on Marshall University’s campus. Ticket prices for the performance range from $73.55 to $43.59. The hours of the Marshall Artists Series box office are Monday through Friday noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are also available online.

Alexia Lilly can be contacted at [email protected].