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David "Fathead" Newman (February 24, 1933 – January 20, 2009) was an Americanmarker saxophonist.

Biography

Born in Corsicanamarker, Texasmarker, Newman's professional career as a musician began in 1954 as a member of Ray Charles' Band.

Newman got his nickname in high school music class. Mr. Miller, his then music teacher, saw his music upside down on the stand, and knowing that Newman couldn't read music very well at the time, walked over and tapped him on his head with the conductor's baton and called him "Fathead." The entire classroom laughed, and Newman, having good humor, did not find it derogatory. The name stuck with him, but he said he preferred to be called "David."

He moved to Dallasmarker, where he graduated from Lincoln High Schoolmarker. After high school, he started playing flute and tenor saxophone at local shows. He then received a scholarship to Jarvis Christian College, where he studied theology and music. Newman stayed in college for two years and decided to move onto the road to further his music career. He played and toured with Buster Smith, Charlie Parker's mentor, playing many one-nighters with musicians such as T-Bone Walker at dance halls all over the central United States.

At one of these many gigs, he met Ray Charles, and in 1954, Newman joined Charles in his band as the baritone saxophone player (although he is more famous as a tenor saxophone and flute player) and began a twelve year gig with Charles. He later joined Herbie Mann, with whom he played for another ten years.

Over the years up to 2008, Newman recorded over thirty-eight albums under his own name, including his first, Fathead, Ray Charles Presents David 'Fathead' Newman recorded in 1958, but not released until 1960, and the second, The Sound of the Wide Open Spaces, with James Clay, produced by Cannonball Adderley, the following year.

Always a musicians' musician, Newman is best known for his hard bop style that has influenced whole generations of saxophone players of different genres. He also played R&B and blues, appearing on recordings with Stanley Turrentine, Aretha Franklin, B. B. King, the Average White Band, Jimmy McGriff, Eric Clapton, John Stein, Natalie Cole, Hank Crawford, Aaron Neville, Queen Latifah, Richard Tee, Dr. John, Cheryl Bentyne of The Manhattan Transfer and country/tex-mex artist Doug Sahm.

In Ray, the 2004 biographical film about Ray Charles, Newman was portrayed by Bokeem Woodbine.

On January 22, 2008, Newman sat in as a guest with the CBS orchestra on the Late Show with David Letterman.

On January 20, 2009, Newman died from complications of pancreatic cancer.

Discography

As leader or co-leader



  • Heads Up (1987) Atlantic 81725
  • Fire! Live at the Village Vanguard (1990) Atlantic 81965
  • Blue Head Live, with Clifford Jordan (1990) Candid Records 70941
  • Blue Greens and Beans with Marchel Ivery and the Rein DeGraaff Trio (1990) Timeless 351
  • Return to the Wide Open Spaces Live, with Ellis Marsalis, Cornell Dupree,... (1990) Amazing Records 1021
  • Bluesiana II with Dr. John,... (1991) Windham Hill 10133
  • Mr. Gentle Mr. Cool (1994) Kokopelli Records 1300
  • Under a Woodstock Moon (1996) Kokopelli 1314
  • Chillin' (1999) HighNote Records 7036
  • Keep the Spirits Singing (2001) HighNote 7057
  • Davey Blue (2001) HighNote 7086
  • The Gift (2003) HighNote 7104
  • Song for the New Man (2004) HighNote 7120
  • I Remember Brother Ray (2005) HighNote 7135
  • Cityscape (2006) HighNote 7150
  • Life (2007) HighNote 7166
  • Diamondhead (2008) HighNote 7179
  • The Blessing (2009) HighNote 7195


As sideman

With Ray Charles

With Lee Morgan

With Cornell Dupree
  • Teasin' (1973)


With John Stein
  • Green Street (1999)


With JW-Jones
  • Kissing in 29 Days (2006)


Other appearances

With Bluesiana Triangle
  • Bluesiana Triangle
  • Bluesiana Triangle II


References

  1. Feather, Leonard & Gitler, Ira The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz Oxford University Press US, 2007 ISBN 019532000X, 9780195320008 at Google Books
  2. Atlantic Records discography at bsnpubs.com
  3. Riverside Records discography at jazzdisco.org
  4. Prestige Records discography at jazzdisco.org
  5. Radio station WBGO (Newark, NJ) blog entry on David Newman's death
  6. Cotillion Records discography at bsnpubs.com
  7. Warner Bros. Records discography at bsnpubs.com
  8. Muse Records discography at jazzdiscography.com


External links




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