Dr. Rickey Payton, Sr., a Washingtonian, is a member of the GRAMMY’s, a 2004 Linowes Leadership Awards Recipient, a scholar for The Smithsonian Institute, as well as a prolific composer, arranger, music producer, performer and teacher. Currently, he serves as Artist In Residence at Imagination Stage in Bethesda, Maryland. He attended Howard University where he majored in Music, Business Administration and studied Entertainment Law.
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For over 13 years, Dr. Payton taught choral music at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC., and in 2014 til 2018, he served as Chair of The Arts Department at Don Bosco Cristo Rey CatholicSchool in Hyattsville, Md. Dr. Currently, he is the Choral Music Teacher at Lanham Christian School in Lanham, Md. Dr. Payton has an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Breakthrough Bible College. He is also featured in The History Makers Archive. In 1997, Dr. Payton along with Dr. Sheila Johnson Newman, formerly of Black Entertainment Television (B.E.T,), Co-Founded the nationally renowned Urban Nation H.I.P. – H.O.P. Choir, an acronym which stands for (Hope, Integrity, Power – Helping Our People). Urban Nation, Inc., is a 501 C (3) organization that services at-risk youth throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Urban Nation Choir was honored to perform on The National Mall for Earth Day Network and Moral Action in support of the climate during Pope Francis visit to address the joint session of Congress and other world leaders. In keeping with his strong commitment to peace and social justice, Rickey is also the Co -Founder, former Board Member, Composer and Musical Director of City at Peace, an organization that also uses the performing arts to teach tolerance and cross-cultural understanding. City at Peace highlights included performances at the John F. Kennedy Center, Warner Theater and a featured story on “Nightline” with Ted Koppel. City at Peace was released as a 90-minute featured documentary on HBO, Produced by Chris Koch, Directed by Susan Koch with Executive Producers Barbra Streisand and Cis Corman of Barwood Films. Dr. Payton is a Board Member of Hollywood Heart, a 501 C (3) youth performing arts organization in LA, California that provides programs for young people who are infected or families who have been impacted by HIV AIDS. Rickey shared his gift with the world when his song “Let’s Build A Bridge All Across America” was one of the highlights of President Bill Clinton’s Second Inaugural Ceremony in January 1996, and in 2008 he composed the song "Yes We Can" for President Barack Obama's 1st Inauguration.
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IN LOVING MEMORY OF DR. PAYTON'S MOTHER
Dazelle Payton
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IN LOVING MEMORY OF DR. PAYTON'S GOD MOTHER
Dorothy Height GOD MOTHER
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PROVERBS 31:26
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
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