LEON PAYNE
Leon Payne (1917–1969), known as "The Blind Balladeer," was one of country music's finest singer-songwriters. Blind from early childhood, he began performing on Texas radio in the mid-1930s and made his first solo recordings in 1941. Although he later became famous for writing classics such as Lost Highway, I Love You Because, and They'll Never Take Her Love from Me, his early recordings reveal an accomplished singer and guitarist whose understated accompaniment perfectly complements his warm, expressive voice.
WHEN THE SUN SETS ON THE SIERRA
Recorded April 5, 1941 — Dallas, Texas
Matrix: 063030-1 - Bluebird B-8788
"When The Sun Sets On The Sierra" is a western ballad performed with quiet assurance. Payne accompanies himself with a steady alternating-bass guitar pattern enriched by tasteful bass runs and chord transitions that support the melody without ornamentation. The result is an elegant example of the restrained, song-centered guitar style that characterized many of his early solo recordings.
