Guyton was born the son of a jazz drummer turned Methodist minister so music was always a cherished and integral part of his life as was an appreciation for the jazz standards and the big band sound. When he was a child, his Pappi would setup his drums and crank the stereo and Guyton would carry around his radio transmitter microphone (one of many he went through as a child) singing and performing for the joy of it. He performed his first solo at the age of 5 in his father’s first church, Child’s Park United Method Church in heart of the inner city in St. Petersburg, Florida. In this sometimes violent environment, the church was the heart of the community which was reflected in the rich, deep gospel that was the core of the church family. Surrounded by gospel at church and old school jazz at home, Guyton developed an early understanding and appreciation for the raw emotion and strength that music holds and how true musicianship and musicality brings those feelings to life.

Starting at age 13, he took a year of piano lessons, with the encouragement and support of his parents. Although he chafed under the rigid and restrictive structure of lessons and didn’t practice as he should have, he still jumped from “John Thompson’s Book I”, to “Piano Literature Volume III” in one year’s time, showing the raw talent and feel he had for the piano. However, interested in singing more than playing piano, he quit the lessons and turned his focus to an increasing number of appearances in his father’s ever-changing churches. At the age of 15, after singing in many wedding ceremonies for free (as favors for friends or family), Guyton was finally handed a check for his performance. He was officially on the path to making music his profession.

At 23, Guyton met his mentor, Michael Coffman, an extremely skilled and talented pianist and accompanist who was brought up on the classic American standards. Michael took him in and taught him many old school jazz standards, introducing him to singing in country clubs and other live music venues. Michael and Guyton teamed up both as a duo and as featured performers in larger bands to play some of the most prestigious clubs in North Florida, including Sawgrass, The Plantation, and the Ritz Carlton at Amelia Island. Under Michael’s tutelage on performance (including a crash course on music theory!), Guyton developed a strong ability to sight read music and improvise when the situation demanded it. As Michael described the sometimes necessary improvisation, “arrangements while you wait”!

Guyton moved to Atlanta when he was 24 to forge a life in a bigger city where new and different opportunities might be available. In Atlanta, and ultimately in venues around the country, Guyton had the opportunity to play a wide variety of unique and (sometimes) off-beat venues. Sometimes it didn’t work out, but other times connections were made, leading to his being featured in places that never had live music before. During an audition for an upscale restaurant in Atlanta, Guyton so impressed the owner that he was hired on the spot as their new solo piano player. He went on to entertain the clientele of the Peasant Uptown for several years. During his time at the restaurant, he honed his entertainer skills and developed the ability to connect with his audience on a very personal and intimate level.

In 2011, Guyton worked with a 17-piece orchestra that played larger venues and festivals around Atlanta, specializing in the big band and swing style. Also in 2011, Guyton met David Reeb, an accomplished pianist and regular player in several live music venues around Atlanta. They quickly developed a friendship and a natural musical chemistry. As a team, Guyton and David began creating their own, unique arrangements of a wide range of classic and jazz standards that resulted in new takes on well-known songs that showcase not only their musical talent, but also their arranging skills. Their musical relationship has continued to grow and evolve as they have performed throughout Atlanta, where they bring their own unique twist to American Songbook jazz and standard classics. Engagements for Guyton and David in 2013 include a performance with Ben Bailey and Chris Riggenbach at the unique and intimate Velvet Note in Alpharetta, Georgia, and their first European tour, with stops in Germany and the Netherlands.