Following the death of Little Feat drummer Richie Hayward on August 12, 2010, Payne is the only member of the group from the original four-piece line-up currently playing in the band.

Payne has worked and recorded with J. J. Cale, Jimmy Buffett, Doobie Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Bryan Adams, Pink Floyd, Bob Seger, Toto, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Helen Watson, Stevie Nicks, Robert Palmer, Richard Torrance, Stephen Bruton, and Shocking Edison.

In August 2015, Payne was selected to play keyboards for The Doobie Brothers after their keyboardist Guy Allison was called to work on an album project in Japan.

[8] Payne wrote or co-wrote many of the songs in Little Feat's catalogue, including the following: With Bonnie Raitt With Shigeru Suzuki With Robert Palmer With J. J. Cale With Brian Cadd With Stephen Bishop With Jimmy Barnes With Harry Nilsson With Jackson Browne With Curtis Stigers With Steve Harley With Emmylou Harris With Janis Ian With James Reyne With Rod Stewart With Gail Davies With Steve Cropper With Jeffrey Osborne With Michael Martin Murphey With Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt With Gregg Allman Band With Jude Cole With Diana DeGarmo With Bob Seger With Colin James With Melanie With B.B.

King With Bryan Adams With Stevie Nicks With Cher With Shannon McNally With Jimmy Buffett With Shawn Colvin With Carly Simon With Richard Marx With Neil Diamond With Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell With Art Garfunkel With Julia Fordham With Gene Parsons With Barbra Streisand With Maria Muldaur With Shelby Lynne With Jane Wiedlin With Dusty Springfield With Donovan With Jennifer Warnes With Melissa Manchester With Phoebe Snow With James Taylor With Dolly Parton With Leo Sayer With Valerie Carter With Yvonne Elliman With Linda Ronstadt With Rita Coolidge With Nicolette Larson With Taj Mahal With Doobie Brothers With Tom Johnston With Patrick Simmons