Payne, Trevor & the Soul Brothers

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Origin: Montréal, Québec
Biography:

Trevor Payne, who grew up with a musical background, began singing in a high school vocal group in the late 50s, The 4 Pals. By 1960, he was leading The Hounds (whose only single, the obscure “I’m Coming Home“ on Lark Records was one of the first records issued by future Quebec record mogul Denis Pantis). He would spend the next few years performing with major US acts while building his own reputation as a rising R&B star. By 1963, backed by The Capers, Trevor would record the excessively cool “Mad Dreams“ and by this point was often compared to both a young Ray Charles and a seeing Stevie Wonder. From then on, he then began performing with his own band the Soul Brothers, who later became Triangle (before going off on their own as Mashmakhan in 1969). It was with that group (comprised of Rayburn Blake, Pierre Senécal and future April Wine drummer Jerry Mercer) that he would record several French soul singles, including: Tout Ca Pour Ma Cherie and Tu Ne Sais Pas Come Je Sais for Denis Pantis’ Téledisc and R&B labels in 1966 & 1967. Payne was also a style icon, and in 1966 was one of the first designers for the fledgling Le Chateau chain. (He later formed the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir, and as its director performed for the likes of Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Nelson Mandela Queen Elizabeth II.)
-Alexander Taylor