Payton Taylor is a dynamic and accomplished drummer, musical director, and arranger based in Los Angeles. Originally from Dallas, Texas, she began playing drums at age 12 and honed her craft at the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts. Payton earned a full-tuition scholarship to Berklee College of Music, graduating with honors in 2024. 

In her hometown, she founded the Payton Taylor Project, a genre-blending group known for its fusion of jazz, hip hop, and funk. The group held a weekly residency at The Free Man in Dallas in 2022. 

Payton has performed with various artists around the US. Most recently, she nationally/internationally toured as the drummer for Pop/R&B artist JoJo, earning recognition from Modern Drummer magazine.