#jay payton

[caressoften]

i love this painting

Jay Payton "The Process of Human Embryonic Evolution”

[jordi-gali]

@ jpayton000

Jay Payton

[ogtoldme]

In 1946, Jay Payton was crowned champion at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theatre. Payton, who was born in Asheville, NC to a mother who was a Minstrel Show dancer, graduated high school and then headed straight to New York. He struck gold on Broadway, and then proceeded to travel the world-- tap dancing his way across the map. He said he's been to England, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand. And now in his late 80's, he lives just outside of Oakland, Ca.

When asked what his claim to fame is, he simply showed me a plaque, which highlighted many of career achievements. After I read the plaque, and acknowledged his achievements, he said that I could ask anyone in the room about who he is--and they'd all say the same thing. 

When asked what wisdom he would tell young people, if given the opportunity, Mr. Payton said, "I'd tell them to 'bonify' their act. Get a strong act. And then you can go anywhere."

[newdesultorybaseball]

Random Baseball Card #1526: Jay Payton, outfielder, New York Mets, 2001, Upper Deck.