He trained as a singer in his father's gospel choir and learned the blues from his uncle, Neal Pattman, who played harmonica.
He moved to Houston, Texas in 1963, at the age of 17, and recorded his first regional hit, "Go Go Train" b/w "I'll Be Home" on the Jetstream label in 1965.
He then settled in Culver City, California, performing at The Cover Girl Club with Pee Wee Crayton.
Spirit of the Black Territory Bands, recorded by The Johnny Otis Orchestra, featured Payne on vocals and was nominated for a 1993 Grammy Award.
The band, which was based in the San Francisco Bay Area, has recorded three albums, Partners in the Blues on the Burnside Records label, Master of the Game and Overnight Sensation on the Delta Groove label.