David Newman (jazz musician)
David "Fathead" Newman (February 24, 1933 – January 20, 2009) was an American saxophonist.
Biography
Born in Corsicana, Texas, his professional career 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 Dallas, where he graduated from Lincoln High School. 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
Fathead: Ray Charles Presents David 'Fathead' Newman (1960) Atlantic Records 1304
The Sound of the Wide Open Spaces with James Clay (1960) Riverside Records 12-327
Straight Ahead (1961) Atlantic 1366
Fathead Comes On (1962) Atlantic 1399
House of David (1967) Atlantic 1489
Double Barrelled Soul with Jack McDuff (1968) Atlantic 1498
Bigger and Better (1968) Atlantic 1505
The Many Facets of David Newman with Clifford Jordan (1968) Atlantic 1524
Captain Buckles (1971) Cotillion Records 18002
Lonely Avenue (1972) Atlantic 1600
The Weapon (1972) Atlantic 1638
Newmanism (1974) Atlantic 1662
Mr. Fathead (1976) Warner Bros. Records BS 2917
Concrete Jungle (1977) Prestige Records 10104
Keep the Dream Alive (1977) Prestige 10106
Front Money (1977) Warner Bros. BS 2984
Back To Basics (1977) Milestone Records 9188
Scratch My Back (1979) Prestige 10108
Resurgence (1980) Muse Records 5234
Still Hard Times (1982) Muse 5283
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
Bluesiana Triangle with Art Blakey and Dr. John (1990) Windham Hill Records WD-0125
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 The Great Ray Charles (1957)
Yes Indeed! (1958)
Ray Charles at Newport (1958)
What'd I Say (1959)
The Genius of Ray Charles (1959)
Ray Charles in Person (1960)
The Genius Hits the Road (1960)
The Genius After Hours (1961)
Sweet & Sour Tears (1964)
Berlin, 1962
With Lee Morgan Sonic Boom (1967)
'With Cornell Dupree' Teasin' (1973)
With John Stein Green Street (1999)
With JW-Jones Kissing in 29 Days (2006)
Other appearances The Atlantic Family Live at Montreux (1977)
Translation of "David Newman (jazz musician)"
German: David Newman (Jazzmusiker), Dutch: David Newman (jazzmuzikant), Polish: David Newman.
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