18-year-old Payton Clark is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Corning, NY. When asked, Payton will tell you that she was singing before she even learned how to walk. By the age of nine, she could be heard singing the National Anthem at a multitude of sporting events and she also began performing in a variety of talent contests. At the age of 12, it was one of these talent contests that won her a trip to Cleveland to audition for America’s Got Talent.
She would later receive a private invite to audition in front of a panel of producers. Around the same time, many of the local musicians started inviting Payton to join them on stage for a few songs. This is when she knew that it was time to learn an instrument. Payton was 14 when she picked up a guitar for the first time and within 3 months she was performing at local festivals, restaurants, wineries, breweries, and campgrounds multiple times a month. Her distinctive, gritty voice has been compared to the likes of Janis Joplin and Stevie Nicks.
Payton might only be a senior in high school, but she has always been described as an old soul. She has a true love for the classics and classic rock is her genre of choice, though she can be heard covering a variety of genres along with her original music at her weekly shows. Payton plans to chase her dreams and pursue a music career in Nashville after graduation along with starting a degree in Elementary Education. The sky is the limit for this old soul!
