Freda Payne established herself in the spotlight as an extremely talented singer and actress who seemed to accelerate onto the world scene in 1963 after making appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and The Merv Griffin Show. She was initially known for her catchy jingles, which found their way onto many different television and radio shows. Her first big album was After the Lights Go Down, which was recorded for ABC's Impulse Records in 1962. Her success continued with appearances beside the Four Tops, Billy Eckstine and Nipsey Russell, and soon afterwards she signed on with Invictus Records. It was at this time that Freda Payne starting experiencing the feelings of stardom.

Payne is known especially for his smash hit single called "Band of Gold," which in 1970 ranked at the number one spot in the U.K. and number three in the U.S.A. Other hits during that time included "Deeper and Deeper," "You Brought Me Joy," and the anti-war hit "Bring the Boys Home." Payne took her star status to Europe, where she toured throughout the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan. She was well received on the world stage, impressing all of her fans with her Motown sound and her allusions to the old time sounds of great jazz music. Payne also started appearing in films such as Private Obsession, Ragdoll, The Nutty Professor II and Fire and Ice.

Freda Payne is best known for her strong jazz roots, part of which made her a huge star in the first place. Her affection and appreciation for jazz greats like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday reflect her personal preferences when it comes to music, and her devotion to jazz shines through her work today. Part of that could be seen in her recent tour with Darlene Love, a show that was titled "Love and Payne." The duo brought in rave reviews and helped keep the legendary Freda Payne in the international spotlight.