Clif Payne

Payne was born in Sugar Hill, Manhattan to parent's James (Buddy) and Aline (née McIntyre) Payne on June 8, 1954. His father was a jazz musician and his mother was a singer. Both of his parents were involved in the Harlem Sugar Hill jazz music scene and they resided at 935 St. Nicolas Avenue, New York where Duke Ellington lived on the floor above as well as other established jazz musicians. He and his family moved to Evansville, Indiana in 1959.[3] In addition to singing, Payne learned to play the guitar in 1962 at age 8 and the violin at age 10. In high school he performed in musicals on vocals, guitar, violin, and violin and was also in the school orchestra and choir. He graduated from North High School in 1972 and attended the Indiana University Bloomington to study music and journalism.[4] While in college, Payne sang in the show choir The Singing Hoosiers. He went on to study jazz with David Baker (composer) and classical composition with John Eaton.