David, was already playing guitar & singing in churches with his family in Kentucky at age 6. At age 8 he lost his father in an accident. At 10 he was winning regional talent shows & sitting in with country bands in clubs until his mother suddenly died when David was 11 years old. His oldest brother took him in, and at age 13, David's very first rock band was featured on David Letterman’s television show. 

Graduating at 17, David immediately went on the road full-time as lead guitarist and vocalist with national Christian recording groups including: "Eternity", "The Cruse Family", "David Teems & The Calling", "Free Fare", and Grammy Award winners "Mylon LeFevre & Broken Heart". David was featured on the Grammy-nominated "Sheep In Wolves Clothing" album and live concert video. 

In 1991, David Payton recorded his first solo CD, "I Got Wise", which was released nationally on Refuge Records.  His songs were also included on the highly acclaimed worldwide release, "Heavenly Blues". This was followed by continuous touring as a solo artist for the next 12 years.  There were even some live "Authorized Bootleg" CDs made of David’s concerts.  These are the only available recorded examples of David’s famous "Amazing Grace Medley"! (Imagine the lyrics of "Amazing Grace" to the tunes of Elvis, the Beatles, Beach Boys, Jimi Hendrix, ZZ Top, Robert Palmer, Nirvana... many more) 

David Payton has performed in 48 States, 5 Canadian Provinces, Mexico, Jamaica, Italy, and Israel. He has shared the stage with artists such as: Amy Grant, Michael W Smith, Newsboys, Bob Carlisle, Phil Keaggy, Petra, The Gaithers, Russ Taff, The Imperials, Mark Farner (of Grand Funk Railroad), Billy Powell (of Lynyrd Skynyrd) and many more. He was also featured on numerous television shows and cable networks.

As former lead guitarist and vocalist of U.S. Beat, David has performed for Microsoft, CNN, Nokia, Georgia Pacific, the Sugar Bowl and many others.  He has also performed for over 2 dozen State Governors at Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue’s Governor’s Ball with American Idol’s Diana DeGarmo.

Dramatically, David Payton has portrayed the role of Jesus before thousands in Atlanta’s Mount Paran Church Passion production for years. Currently, David is a member of PlayRight Productions, performing "Smoke on the Mountain", "Cotton Patch Gospel", and more in venues all over Georgia, in all of which David acts, sings, dances, plays guitar, banjo, and mandolin. 

David Payton is currently a freelance singer/songwriter in the initial stages of recording his latest CD... in addition to being a full-time student at Art Institute of Atlanta, pursuing his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design.  David is also on the worship team at his church.  When he is not doing solo or band dates, performing to packed out houses with PlayRight Productions, playing for his church or in class getting his BFA, David Payton is pursuing even more opportunities as a singer/songwriter and recording artist. 

David lives in Woodstock, GA with his best friend and soulmate, his lovely wife, Charlotte Otwell Payton.  Charlotte is a paralegal/executive assistant with Warner Mayoue Bates & Nolen, one of the largest family law firms in the Southeast.  They share a home in Woodstock, GA with 4 rescued dogs and 4 rescued cats.