COURTESY PHOTO Simon Alfred "Pico" Payne, singer with the Ink Spots and Waikiki karaoke host, died July 26 at age 76. Payne gave up a gig in Las Vegas to become the karaoke host at the Banana Patch Lounge at the Miramar.

Simon Alfred "Pico" Payne / 1925-2002

Ink Spots singer
encouraged others

SEE ALSO: OBITUARIES

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By Pat Gee
pgee@starbulletin.com

Simon Alfred "Pico" Payne, a singer with the Ink Spots and a karaoke host in Waikiki the last several years, died July 26, two days before his 77th birthday.

Payne, a popular host at the Banana Patch Lounge at the Miramar at Waikiki hotel, suffered a stroke in June, which left him partially paralyzed, according to close friend Booker T, also a karaoke host at the hotel.

"It was an honor to work with such a treasure. I learned voice control, how to deal with people -- he had a remedy for almost everything. But the bottom line was, 'Trust in God'; he was always quoting Scriptures," Booker T said.

"A lot of professional singers would come in after their own shows to listen to Pico or me (sing), and sometimes they would get up and sing, too," he said. Payne had a way with making karaoke customers feel comfortable singing in front of an audience with his friendly banter, or they would ask him to sing.

Born July 28, 1925, in Baltimore but raised in Kansas City, Mo., Payne began singing in his Baptist church choir. While serving overseas in the Navy during World War II, he formed and led an a cappella group of black sailors whose reputation garnered them a command performance before the queen of England, according to close, longtime friend Kay Lorraine.

After the war he was a regular at New York's Apollo Theater. During his 55-year career, he sang in tight harmony -- his greatest love -- with the Platters, the Ink Spots, the Drifters and others, she said. It was the Ink Spots' longtime engagement at the Sheraton-Moana Surfrider Hotel that first brought Payne to Hawaii about 10 years ago.

That was a two-year engagement, after which Payne was scheduled for a gig in Las Vegas.

But before he left Honolulu, the management of the Miramar asked him to host their fledgling karaoke nightclub. Anxious to remain in Hawaii, Payne called Las Vegas and asked if his appearance could be postponed. Years later, Payne remarked, "I think they're beginning to suspect that I'm not coming," according to Lorraine.

Payne is survived by wife Carlotta; sons Anthony, Adrian and Leland; and daughter Sara Payne, all of Kansas City; and stepsons Travis Long, Wendall Johnson and Christopher Johnson.

A memorial service was held at Unity Church. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Moanalua Mortuary; burial services are pending.

Contributions for his memorial/medical fund-raiser may be made to Friends of Simon "Pico" Payne, c/o Bank of Hawaii, Kapahulu Branch, 727 Kapahulu Ave., Honolulu 96816.