Freda Payne: Gold standards

One song made Freda Payne's career, but she isn't going to let it define her music.

"Band of Gold" -- that classic breakup song -- was a smash in 1970. It remains a staple on oldies radio and in her stage act. But she actually started singing jazz. When she was 17, Duke Ellington offered her a 10-year contract to sing with his orchestra.

Payne declined Duke's proposal and went on to pop stardom, roles in movies, her own TV talk show and performances on Broadway and in touring musicals ("Sophisticated Ladies" and "Jelly's Last Jam" in the Twin Cities). Now, the 62-year-old singer is doing a tribute to her first major musical influence, Ella Fitzgerald. She called from Los Angeles to talk about her performances tonight at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis.

Q How did you get into Ella Fitzgerald as a 12-year-old?

A I didn't discover that I had singing talent until I was 12. That was from my piano teacher. She taught me and my sister piano from the time I was like 7 years old until I was 12. Then I started entering talent contests in Detroit. I was told by adults that the really good singers were Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Lena Horne, Eydie Gorme. I started listening to people like Eydie, Julie London, Chris Connor, Billie Holiday, Ella, Della Reese, Gloria Lynne. But Ella was the one I held at the top of the list. I liked her style, her clarity on how she hit her notes.

Q What sparked you to do an Ella tribute as a club act?

A When Ella passed away in 1996, I got the idea that I wanted to do a show about her life and portray her dramatically in theater and onstage. The first time I did an Ella concert was probably around 1999. Then in 2004, I did a play at a regional theater in New Brunswick, N.J. I had very favorable reviews for my portrayal of Ella Fitzgerald. Then after that, I started doing it on my own in clubs as a regular concert tribute.

A At first, I was imitating her when I was in the play. We were wearing wigs emulating her hairstyle, and I even had a couple of my costumes that were padded so I appeared to be heavy-set. We were trying to make people think they were watching Ella. Now I'm not imitating Ella, but I'm bringing her spirit back. When I do some of the scat, I do my own scat. There are certain songs where you have to use Ella's formula, but then you go out and do your own thing.

Q Did you ever meet Ella?

A I did. I met her in the late '60s in New York. It was a nightclub located inside the Empire State Building on the bottom floor. It was the only time I saw her [perform]. I remember meeting her and being very awestruck. It was like a spiritual experience for me. I was with people who invited me and they knew her personally. So we went to the dressing room and after I was introduced to her, I just went and sat in a chair and I stared. I thought, "Oh, my gosh, I'm looking at Ella Fitzgerald." And the hairs on my arms stood up.

Q Any regrets about turning down that contract with Duke Ellington?

A No, no. I always held it as a great honor. Had I fulfilled that contract, I don't know where I would have gone from there. He wanted me for 10 years, and my mother and my lawyer were saying that was too long.

A I would sing at different functions around Detroit. I was hired when I was like 14, 15, 16 years old to sing with the Jimmy Wilson Orchestra. Then I did some radio commercials when I was 16. Also, I was on "The Ted Mack Amateur Hour" in the late '50s; it was like today's "American Idol." I won second place. I was 14 1/2 or 15.

Q I assume you still manage to get "Band of Gold" into your Ella performances. How about "Bring the Boys Home," which certainly resonates now?

A When I come back [for an encore], I say, "Ella had many hits. But I had one, too." Then I do "Band of Gold." Sometimes I ask if people have requests. I just closed in Bellingham, Wash. -- I was there for a week -- and somebody said "Sing 'Summertime.'" So I just sang a few bars. If somebody wants me to do "Bring the Boys Home," I'm prepared to do that.