Sam Payne
Sam Payne is a Mormon musician and storyteller. His original stories and what is referred to as his “jazz-inflected folk” music has garnered the attention of critics and audiences in the west. He also performs with his band, The Sam Payne Project, and with his jazz quartet, Savoy. He not only performs in the Intermountain West, but he is also recognized as a national and international performer.
As a veteran of the Timpanogos and Weber storytelling festivals, Payne has entertained audiences with his interesting stories and jazz-inflected folk tunes in such places as Canada, Bulgaria, Tokyo, and across the nation, including the Will Rogers Auditorium in Dallas, Texas, and the Kennedy Center in the nation’s capital. He has also been featured on the Exchange Place stage at the National Storytelling Festival. Per BYU Radio.org, “Payne’s arresting stage presence, his craft as a poet/storyteller, and his soaring tenor voice have established him as an enduring and engaging performer; the songwriter’s songwriter.”
Payne serves on the board of the National Storytelling Network. He also writes and produces for radio, and his clients have included Glenn Beck, the popular syndicated radio, and television host. He is the host of “The Apple Seed: Tellers and Stories,” a daily radio show on the art of storytelling for BYU Radio. He also conceived and directed the nation’s most listened-to inspirational internet radio station, YLDSR.com, and created and syndicated “The Radio Family Journal,” a popular weekly storytelling radio feature for families.
Besides maintaining a career as a performing artist, he serves as the school director of Pioneer High School for the Performing Arts in American Fork, Utah. He has authored educational publications for children, and his work has been adopted as standard curriculum by state boards of education in Florida and Arkansas. He has also taught at Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts in St. George, Utah.
An author, a songwriter, a teller, and a teacher, Payne blends all four disciplines together and creates a unique form of entertainment all his own. He has said, “I’m a musical teller, sharing stories about church dances, first kisses, kid songwriters, Butch Cassidy, Stephen Foster, and growing up in the American West. The stories are surrounded by dynamic, emotionally stirring songs, both original and standard.” Tim Jones of Deseret Book.com has declared, “The songwriting is fun, sublime, and masterful. The lyrics are poetic and profound. There are life lessons hidden in his songs, and when found they are more powerful than just stating the truth. Truer than truth. Highly, highly recommended.” And, The Spectrum reported, “Payne is one of those few musicians who can successfully combine both songwriting and stage performing. He can write poignant and meaningful lyrics, combine them with a melodic hook, and perform them in a voice that makes you want to close your eyes and drift away.”
Sam Payne is the son of folk singer and actor Marvin Payne. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a mission for the Church in Argentina. He and first wife, Kristie Lott, are the parents of four boys.
Follow Sam Payne
Recent Posts
GENTRI – The Will of Soldier
GENTRI– the Gentlemen’s Trio – comprised of distinguished tenors Brad Robins, Casey Elliott, and Bradley Quinn Lever, was established in June 2014. Since their beginning, they have been entertaining audiences across the nation with their unique style of music that...
Kaylea Hix and Yahosh Bonner – “Like I’m Gonna Lose You”
This week’s “Video Find of the Week” features the vocal talents of two R&B and Pop Music fans, Yahosh Bonner and Kaylea Hix. In the featured video, they perform a flawless cover of Meghan Trainor’s song “Like I'm Gonna Lose You.” Yahosh Bonner comes from an...
Bored Shorts’ The Voice Video Featuring Madilyn Paige and Alex Boyé
The Utah based YouTube channel Bored Shorts TV is the official home of Kid Snippets, Senior Snippets, Kid Snippets News and Viral Videos, Kid History, Little Bigs, and more. The channel features four Utah dads – John, Dave, and Brett Roberts, and Richard Sharrah who...
Mormon Missionary Uses Power of Music to Teach Gospel to Anti-Mormon Congregation
The late Bruce R. McConkie, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1972 until his death in 1985, exhorted, ‘Music is given of God to further his purposes. Sweet melodies mellow the souls of men and help...
The Duttons – Big Family, Big Show
Dean and Sheila Dutton never imagined a career in the entertainment industry. Dean was a tenured professor of economics for 26 years, but he took an unexpected early retirement when the family’s performing career took off. He had played guitar and sousaphone as a...
Jenny Oaks Baker – Pinball Wizard (The Who Cover)
Pinball machines have been around for quite some time, and have evolved from a simple tabletop game, into highly impressive and challenging games. Many modern pinball machines include a story line where the player must complete certain objectives in a certain fashion...