Dr. Richard W. Payne

(1918-2004)

"Remembering Dr. Richard Payne"

Compiled by Dr. Kathleen Joyce-Grendahl
Overtones! May 2021, Volume 2; pgs. 16-22

Sioux Courting SongRichard W. Payne

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Books by Dr. Richard W. Payne

The Native American Plains Flute: Toubat Trails Publishing Company, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1999.

The Hopi Flute Ceremony: Toubat Trails Publishing Company, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1993.

Indigenous Aerophones of the Northwest Coast: Toubat Trails Publishing Company, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 2000.

Multimedia Materials About or With Dr. Richard W. Payne

Toubat, A Journey of the Native American Flute (1995, VHS; reissued 2006, DVD).

Songkeepers: A Saga of Five Native Americans Told Through the Sound of the Flute. (1995, VHS; reissued/remastered 2010, DVD). Narrated by Rita Coolidge.

Miscellaneous Materials

Paula Conlon (2002). “The Native American Flute: Convergence and Collaboration as Exemplified by R. Carlos Nakai.” The World of Music, 44(1): 61-74. Mentions Dr. Richard Payne.

Kevin Brewer (2004). "The Cultural Significance of the Pueblo Indian Flute.” Honors Thesis.

Mentions Dr. Richard Payne.

Amanda Rees. "The Great Plains Region": The Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Regional

Cultures. Greenwood, 2004: 330-331. Mentions Dr. Richard Payne.

Peter Phippen: Woodnotes Wyld: Historic Flute Sounds from the Dr. Richard W. Payne Collection

(2009 CD; reissued/remastered, 2021). Projekt Records.

Mary Jane Jones (2010). “Revival and Community: The History and Practices of the Native American

Flute Circle.” Master’s Thesis. Mentions Dr. Richard W. Payne.

Articles by Dr. Richard W. Payne

Richard W. Payne. (1988). “The Plains Flute.” The Flutist Quarterly 13: 11-14.

Richard W. Payne (1989). "Indian Flutes of the Southwest." Journal of the American Musical

Instrument Society. Volume 15: 5–31.

Richard W. Payne. (1991) “Bone Flutes of the Anasazi.” The Kiva, Volume 56, Number 2: 165–177.

Richard W. Payne. (1991) “Medicine and Music: Whistles of Eastern Oklahoma Indians.” Chronicles of Oklahoma, Volume 68, Number 4: 424–433.

Richard W. Payne and John D. Hartley. (1992) “Pre-Columbian Flutes of Mesoamerica.” Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society, Volume 18: 22–61.

Recordings of Dr. Richard W. Payne

The Diatonic Native American Flute Sings: Original Stories and Songs: (2004) (recorded 1999)

The Native American Plains Flute & Friends: Toubat Trails Publishing Company, Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma, 1999.

Plains Indian Flute Songs: Indian Records, Inc., 2014.

Mark Holland (L); Doc Payne (R)

Doc Payne (L); Peter Phippen (R)

L to R: Butch Hall, Jeff Martindale, Doc Payne, Peter Phippen

Michael Graham Allen (Coyote Oldman (L); Doc Payne (R)

Mt. Scott, Oklahoma, 1980s

Tohono Oʼodham flute (Papago flute, an archaic exonym)

From the collection of Dr. Kathleen Joyce-Grendahl (photo credit)

Dr. Richard W. Payne flute
From the collection of Victoria Shoemaker (photo credit)

Dr. Richard W. Payne crafted this oak flute from a leg from an old table owned by
Doc Tate Nevaquaya (1932-1996).

Photos: Dr. Kathleen Joyce-Grendahl

459163115_3829592990659614_141976545164749018_n (1).jpeg

This is a Dr. Richard W. Payne flute that was made before he started using the "Toubat" signature on his flutes. It reads, "RWP 42" on the back of the block. Michael Graham Allen says that it is probably the 42nd flute that he made in that style.

In the collection of Peter Phippen (photo credit)