Thinking of you, Payson. Listening to your album today and imagining you writing new music where you are. Missing our conversations and your insights on life. 

Our heartfelt condolences to the beloved family of Payson. We remember him as a warm and friendly fellow musician. He asked our band, The Tenos, to play for his Turning Wheel Revue. It was such a wonderful experience and we loved how he described our family for the event: A band of bluegrass playing men, women, halflings and elves disguised as a tightly knit family. We will always remember him as a fabulous musician and human! Rest in Peace, Payson. 

Although I hadn’t seen Payson in many years, I remember him warmly as kind, positive and encouraging. Sending all my love and deep condolences to Erica & Dylan and Georgie, Josh & Carter, Nyssa & Enly, Ricky, Josie and Katie.

I met Payson when I was managing Music Arts and he applied for a teaching job. He was always willing to help wherever needed - if a piano was donated and we needed to get it moved to the church right away, he was right there. We taught across the hall from each other for a while and would often sit and talk in between students. When I asked him to perform at the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge Street Painting Festival in 2021, it was the first year we had music and he (as usual) did so much more than perform - he put me in touch with several other musicains from the Knoxville Songwriters Associaton, and they are still volunteering theirtime and talents each year to the festival, which raises money for scholarships to Roane State Community College.  I invited him to dinner to  a home-cooked Italian dinner to thank him for his help - he, my husband, and I had the best conversation that evening. He was a remarkable person and I am so glad to have had a chance to get to know him. 

Payson at The Rotary Club of Oak Ridge Street Painting Festival — with Payson Lyon

I came to Oak Ridge from CA in 1977 and soon looked around for an instructor to continue learning classical and other styles of guitar.  I found Rick  and  took lessons with him for about a year.  He was very soft spoken and patient and taught me to think about the theoretical aspects behind what I was learning to play.  He taught me the importance of starting slowly and really learning a phrase or lick before trying to play at tempo, an essential musical life lesson.  I remember going to hear him play gigs at the Xanadu lounge in OR around that time when he was changing from Rick to Payson.  I remember seeing him playing with his kids at the OR swimming pool.  Many years later I reconnected when he played at Rock to Bach in 2019, and enjoyed listening to music at Crafts Brewery.  We will miss him.

I taught with Payson at the Knoxville Academy of Music since 2016. I loved talking with him about philosophy and music, and hearing of his interesting adventures. One of my first conversations with him was about how he used to program a music midi sequencer while driving down a mountain after gigs! 

Payson exhibited such passion for music and creating. He hand wrote his own scale and chord charts for his students. He taught from deep personal experience and his heart. He will be greatly missed. 

Dear family and friends,

As a nurse I have always had a deep admiration for Music Therapists and Rick  when one of the most passionate therapist I have had the privilege to know.  Deanna Edwards( music therapist ) wrote: "I hear the songs you sing all those melodies turn back the hands of time".  This is so true of Rick's songs.  They shall forever be in my memories. My deepest condolences and prayers. 

 Shirl Schultz

I am grateful for many heartfelt conversations, deep insights, and powerful actions that occurred in our time together. 

Payson sent me songs as he would create them and once I wrote back, “The songs need to be born and so they find life in you. Way to feel through your heart and listen.” That is a great example of what occurred for Payson. 

His children and relationships inspired his writing, his life inspired the depth of his insights, and his soul evolved to embrace a life of greater responsibility and respect for himself and others over the years of his personal inquiry. 

So glad to have been a part of the journey. 

Payson taught my very hyper young son (nicknamed “Mr. Energy”) drum lessons. It was a positive way to channel Connor’s energy & love of rhythm. It has been years since we last saw him, but we have great memories! Payson was always intuitive, flexible & playful. He kept the spirit of youth & a twinkle in his eye. I remember loaning him Harry Potter DVDs, so he could bond with his grandchildren. We also bonded over donating an unused guitar that he was able to find a home for - his willingness to give & share were contagious. Our family is so glad to have been touched by his magic. 

I work at one of the music schools where Payson taught. Some time after he could no longer continue teaching with us due to his health, I got a call one day from a man with a deep, wizened voice, asking about advanced bagpipe lessons. I answered the man with delight as I always love getting inquiries about unusual instrument lessons, and said "Bagpipe lessons! Unfortunately we don't have anyone with us who teaches the bagpipes, but allow me to refer you to the local bagpipe player's association..." yada, yada, yada. The man answered, "Oh, fascinating. Anyway, Fiona, this is Payson..." and he went back into his regular speaking voice to ask me something work-related. 

The man was a treasure, with a great sense of humor, and I wish I had more conversations with him. I remember getting to know Payson one evening as he and I had a long conversation about the value in old friendships, and among other things I discovered how he had been a fierce advocate for civil rights as a young man. There was a depth to Payson that I regret only getting to see a glimpse of. He will be missed.