Freda Payne

Real Name: Freda Charcelia Payne
Birthday: 19 September 1945
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Biggest Hit Single: Band Of Gold, number one, 1970
Career Highlights: Performed in critically acclaimed LA show Love & Payne in 2003

Freda is the sister of Scherrie Payne, former lead singer of the Motown supergroup The Supremes. Apart from a successful singing career of her own, Freda has also appeared in musicals, hosted her own popular US chat show and is a Dame of Malta!

She started off singing radio jingles before moving to New York in 1963 to find her fortune. She met Billy Cosby and Quincy Jones and her career took off instantly. That same year she put out her first album, a smoky jazzy number called After The Lights Go Down And Much More! She also made guest appearances on different television shows including The Merv Griffin Show and performed in the Broadway show Hallelujah Baby.

Then, in 1969 she put out Band Of Gold which rocketed her into the big time. In early 1970 the song became an instant pop smash reaching number three in the US and number one in Britain. Other popular singles she released round that time include Deeper and Deeper and the Vietnam protest song Bring the Boys Home.

In 1981 she hosted her own talk show Today's Black Woman and during the 90s acted in lots of Hollywood movies like Private Obsession and The Nutty Professor II.