David Newman (jazz musician)
Encyclopedia
David "Fathead" Newman was an American jazz saxophonist.
, Newman's professional career as a musician began in 1954 as a member of the 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 attended 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 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.
With Lee Morgan
With Lonnie Smith
With Cornell Dupree
With BB King
With John Stein
With JW-Jones
Other appearances
Biography
Born in Corsicana, TexasCorsicana, Texas
Corsicana is a city in Navarro County, Texas, United States. It is located on Interstate 45 some fifty-five miles south of downtown Dallas. The population was 24,485 at the 2000 census...
, Newman's professional career as a musician began in 1954 as a member of the Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
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
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
where he graduated from Lincoln High School
Lincoln High School (Dallas, Texas)
Lincoln High School is public secondary school located in South Dallas, Texas . Lincoln High School enrolls students in grades 9-12 and is a part of the Dallas Independent School District...
. After high school, he started playing flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
and tenor saxophone
Tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
at local shows. He attended Jarvis Christian College
Jarvis Christian College
Jarvis Christian College is an independent four year, historically black college affiliated with the Christian Church . It is located in Hawkins, Texas. It was founded in 1912, and is currently headed by President Cornell Thomas....
where he studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
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
Buster Smith
Henry "Buster" Smith , also known as Professor Smith, was an American jazz alto saxophonist and mentor to Charlie Parker. Smith was instrumental in instituting the Texas Sax Sound with Count Basie and Lester Young in the 1930s...
, Charlie Parker's
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
mentor, playing many one-nighters with musicians such as T-Bone Walker
T-Bone Walker
Aaron Thibeaux "T-Bone" Walker was a critically acclaimed American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, who was one of the most influential pioneers and innovators of the jump blues and electric blues sound. He is the first musician recorded playing blues with the...
at dance halls all over the central United States.
At one of these many gigs, he met Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
, and in 1954, Newman joined Charles in his band as the baritone saxophone
Baritone saxophone
The baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece...
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
Herbie Mann
Herbert Jay Solomon , better known as Herbie Mann, was a Jewish American jazz flutist and important early practitioner of world music...
, 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
Fathead (album)
Fathead, Ray Charles Presents David 'Fathead' Newman is the debut release of jazz saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman...
recorded in 1958, but not released until 1960, and the second, The Sound of the Wide Open Spaces, with James Clay
James Clay (musician)
James Earl Clay was an American hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist and flutist. While in school Clay played alto saxophone, became a professional musician, and played with local bands in Dallas, including with Booker Ervin...
, produced by Cannonball Adderley, the following year.
Always a musicians' musician, Newman is best known for his hard bop
Hard bop
Hard bop is a style of jazz that is an extension of bebop music. Journalists and record companies began using the term in the mid-1950s to describe a new current within jazz which incorporated influences from rhythm and blues, gospel music, and blues, especially in the saxophone and piano...
style that has influenced generations of saxophone players of different genres. He also played R&B and blues, appearing on recordings with Stanley Turrentine
Stanley Turrentine
Stanley William Turrentine, also known as "Mr. T" or "The Sugar Man", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.-Biography:Turrentine was born in Pittsburgh's Hill District into a musical family...
, Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
, B. B. King
B. B. King
Riley B. King , known by the stage name B.B. King, is an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter.Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at No.3 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. According to Edward M...
, the Average White Band, Jimmy McGriff
Jimmy McGriff
James Harrell McGriff was an American hard bop and soul-jazz organist and organ trio bandleader who developed a distinctive style of playing the Hammond B-3 organ.-Early years and influences:...
, Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
, John Stein, Natalie Cole
Natalie Cole
Natalie Maria Cole , is an American singer, songwriter and performer. The daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, Cole rode to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits "This Will Be ", "Inseparable" and "Our Love"...
, Hank Crawford
Hank Crawford
Bennie Ross "Hank" Crawford, Jr. was an American R&B, hard bop, jazz-funk, soul jazz alto saxophonist, arranger and songwriter...
, Aaron Neville
Aaron Neville
Aaron Neville is an American soul and R&B singer and musician. He has had four top-20 hits in the United States along with four platinum-certified albums...
, Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
, Richard Tee
Richard Tee
Richard Tee was a pianist, studio musician, singer and arranger.Tee graduated from the High School of Music and Art and attended the Manhattan School of Music. Though better known as a studio and session musician, Tee led a jazz ensemble, the Richard Tee Committee, and was a founding member of the...
, Dr. John
Dr. John
Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
, Cheryl Bentyne of The Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer is an American vocal music group. There have been two manifestations of the group, with Tim Hauser being the only person to be part of both...
and country/tex-mex artist Doug Sahm
Doug Sahm
Douglas Wayne Sahm , was an American musician from Texas. Born in San Antonio, Texas, he was a child prodigy in country music, but became a significant figure in blues rock and other genres. Today Sahm is considered one of the most important figures in what is identified as Tejano music...
.
In Ray
Ray (film)
Ray is a 2004 biographical film focusing on 30 years of the life of rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles. The independently produced film was directed by Taylor Hackford and starred Jamie Foxx in the title role; Foxx received an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance.Charles was set to...
, the 2004 biographical film about Ray Charles, Newman was portrayed by Bokeem Woodbine
Bokeem Woodbine
Bokeem Woodbine is an American film and television actor.-Personal life:Woodbine was born in Harlem, New York to an actress mother. He attended the prestigious Dalton School in New York before transferring to the also prestigious LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in the city...
.
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.
As leader
- Fathead: Ray Charles Presents David 'Fathead' NewmanFathead (album)Fathead, Ray Charles Presents David 'Fathead' Newman is the debut release of jazz saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman...
(1960) Atlantic RecordsAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
1304 - The Sound of the Wide Open Spaces with James ClayJames Clay (musician)James Earl Clay was an American hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist and flutist. While in school Clay played alto saxophone, became a professional musician, and played with local bands in Dallas, including with Booker Ervin...
(1960) Riverside RecordsRiverside RecordsRiverside Records was a United States record label specializing in jazz. Founded by Orrin Keepnews and Bill Grauer under his firm Bill Grauer Productions, Inc. in 1953, the label was a major presence in the jazz record industry for a decade...
12-327 - Straight Ahead (1961) Atlantic 1366
- Fathead Comes On (1962) Atlantic 1399
- House of David (1967) Atlantic 1489
- Double Barrelled Soul with Jack McDuffJack McDuff"Brother" Jack McDuff was an American jazz organist and organ trio bandleader who was most prominent during the hard bop and soul jazz era of the 1960s, often performing with an organ trio.-Career:...
(1968) Atlantic 1498 - Bigger and Better (1968) Atlantic 1505
- The Many Facets of David Newman with Clifford JordanClifford JordanClifford Laconia Jordan was a jazz saxophone player. While in Chicago, he performed with Max Roach, Sonny Stitt, and some rhythm and blues groups. He moved to New York City in 1957, after which he recorded three albums for Blue Note. He also recorded with Horace Silver, J.J. Johnson, Kenny...
(1968) Atlantic 1524 - Captain Buckles (1971) Cotillion RecordsCotillion RecordsCotillion Records was a subsidiary of Atlantic Records and was active from 1968 through 1985. The label was originally formed as an outlet for blues and deep Southern soul; its first single, Otis Clay's version of "She's About A Mover", reached the R&B charts. Cotillion's catalog quickly expanded...
18002 - Lonely Avenue (1972) Atlantic 1600
- The Weapon (1972) Atlantic 1638
- Newmanism (1974) Atlantic 1662
- Mr. Fathead (1976) Warner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
BS 2917 - Concrete Jungle (1977) Prestige RecordsPrestige RecordsPrestige Records was a jazz record label founded in 1949 by Bob Weinstock. The company was located at 203 South Washington Avenue in Bergenfield, New Jersey, and recorded hundreds of albums by many of the leading jazz musicians of the day, sometimes issuing them under the names of several...
10104 - Keep the Dream Alive (1977) Prestige 10106
- Front Money (1977) Warner Bros. BS 2984
- Back To Basics (1977) Milestone RecordsMilestone RecordsMilestone Records is a United States based jazz record label, founded in 1966 by Orrin Keepnews and Dick Katz in New York City. The company was incorporated into Fantasy Records in 1972, since then it has been used for reissues as well as for new recordings....
9188 - Scratch My Back (1979) Prestige 10108
- Resurgence (1980) Muse RecordsMuse RecordsMuse Records was an American record label which released jazz and blues music.Muse was founded in the early 1970s by Joe Fields, who had previously worked as an executive for Prestige Records in the 1960s...
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 RecordsCandid RecordsCandid Records was founded as a subsidiary of Archie Bleyer's Cadence label in New York City in 1960. The jazz writer and civil rights activist, Nat Hentoff, worked as the label's A&R director, aiming to create a representative catalog of the jazz of the day...
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 MarsalisEllis Marsalis, Jr.Ellis Marsalis is an American musician. He can usually be seen performing on Fridays at Snug Harbor jazz bistro in New Orleans.- Life and career :...
, Cornell DupreeCornell DupreeCornell Luther Dupree was an American jazz and R&B guitarist. He worked at various times with Bill Withers, Donny Hathaway, King Curtis and Steve Gadd, appeared on David Letterman, and wrote a book on soul and blues guitar: Rhythm and Blues Guitar ISBN 0-634-00149-3...
,... (1990) Amazing Records 1021 - Bluesiana Triangle (1990) Windham Hill Jazz WD-0125 – with Bluesiana TriangleBluesiana TriangleBluesiana Triangle was an American jazz, blues and funk group, with Dr. John , David "Fathead" Newman , and Art Blakey . They released two albums for Windham Hill Records...
- Bluesiana II (1991) Windham Hill 10133 – with Bluesiana Triangle
- Mr. Gentle Mr. Cool (1994) Kokopelli RecordsKokopelli RecordsKokopelli Records was a record label established by jazz flautist Herbie Mann during the 1990s. Mann had previously established Embryo Records during his tenure at Atlantic Records.-Discography:*1994: Deep Pocket - Herbie Mann...
- Under a Woodstock Moon (1996) Kokopelli
- Chillin (1999) HighNote RecordsHighNote RecordsHighNote Records is an American record label based in New York City, specializing in jazz music.HighNote was founded by Joe Fields, who worked for Prestige Records as an executive in the 1960s and founded Muse Records in the 1970s. He co-founded HighNote and its sister label, Savant Records, in...
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 CharlesRay Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
- The Great Ray CharlesThe Great Ray CharlesThe Great Ray Charles is Ray Charles' second album for Atlantic Records, released in 1957. Later CD re-issues often include as a bonus, six of eight tracks from The Genius After Hours.-Original LP release:Side A#"The Ray" – 4:00...
(1957) - Yes Indeed!Yes Indeed!Yes Indeed!! is a R&B/soul album by Ray Charles, released in 1958 by Atlantic. It was the second of three Atlantic LPs that compiled Charles' hit singles for the label...
(1958) - Ray Charles at NewportRay Charles at NewportRay Charles at Newport is a 1958 live album of Ray Charles' July 5, 1958 performance at the Newport Jazz Festival. All tracks from this album, along with all tracks from his 1959 Herndon Stadium performance in Atlanta, were also released on the 1987 Atlantic compilation, Ray Charles, Live...
(1958) - What'd I SayWhat'd I Say (album)What'd I Say is a studio album recorded by Ray Charles in New York City and released in 1959.What'd I Say peaked at #20 on the Billboard "Pop Albums" chart in 1962...
(1959) - The Genius of Ray CharlesThe Genius of Ray CharlesThe Genius of Ray Charles is a 1959 album by Ray Charles. In 2003, the album was ranked number 263 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time....
(1959) - Ray Charles in PersonRay Charles in PersonIn Person is a live album recorded by Ray Charles on May 28, 1959 on a rainy night in Atlanta, Georgia at Morris Brown College's Herndon Stadium. All tracks from this album together with those from Ray Charles at Newport were also released on the 1987 Atlantic compilation CD, Ray Charles Live.The...
(1960) - The Genius Hits the RoadThe Genius Hits the RoadThe Genius Hits the Road is a 1960 album by Ray Charles. It is a concept album of sorts with the theme revolving around various parts of the U.S...
(1960) - The Genius After HoursThe Genius After HoursThe Genius After Hours is a 1961 album by Ray Charles. All of the songs were taken from the same three studio sessions that created the album The Great Ray Charles which featured the use of both a trio and a septet; the latter arranged by Quincy Jones...
(1961) - Sweet & Sour TearsSweet & Sour TearsSweet & Sour Tears is a 1964 album by Ray Charles. It is a concept album featuring songs with titles or lyrics referring to crying. In 1997, Rhino Records reissued the album on compact disc with seven bonus tracks from his early career that added to the "crying" theme.-Side one:# "Cry" - 3:34#...
(1964) - Berlin, 1962
With Lee Morgan
Lee Morgan
Edward Lee Morgan was an American hard bop trumpeter.-Biography:...
- Sonic BoomSonic Boom (Lee Morgan album)Sonic Boom is an album by jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan released on the Blue Note label. It was recorded on April 14 & 28 1967 with the CD reissue adding tracks recorded on September 12 & October 10, 1969 which were first released on the original double LP edition of The Procrastinator. The album now...
(1967)
With Lonnie Smith
Lonnie Smith (jazz musician)
Dr. Lonnie Smith is a jazz Hammond B3 organist and pianist.-Biography:He was born in Lackawanna, New York, into a family with a vocal group and radio program. Smith says that his mother was a major influence on him musically, as she introduced him to gospel, classical, and jazz music...
- Think!Think! (album)Think! is the second album by American organist Lonnie Smith recorded in 1968 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Matt Collar awarded the album 4½ stars and stated "Think!, organist Lonnie Smith's 1968 sophomore effort for Blue Note, is easily one of the strongest...
(1968)
With Cornell Dupree
Cornell Dupree
Cornell Luther Dupree was an American jazz and R&B guitarist. He worked at various times with Bill Withers, Donny Hathaway, King Curtis and Steve Gadd, appeared on David Letterman, and wrote a book on soul and blues guitar: Rhythm and Blues Guitar ISBN 0-634-00149-3...
- Teasin
With BB King
- There Must Be a Better World SomewhereThere Must Be a Better World SomewhereThere Must Be a Better World Somewhere is a 1981 album by B. B. King. It was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording the following year.-Track listing:# "The Victim" – 6:18# "More, More, More" – 4:39...
(1981) - Let the Good Times RollLet the Good Times Roll (album)Let the Good Times Roll: The Music of Louis Jordan is a tribute album by blues musician B. B. King. The album is made up entirely of covers of songs by the jazz saxophonist and singer Louis Jordan. It was released in 1999 on MCA Records....
(1999)
With John Stein
- Green Street (1999)
With JW-Jones
JW-Jones
JW-Jones is a Canadian blues guitarist, singer and band leader. Jones is signed to the NorthernBlues Music label in Toronto, Canada, CrossCut Records in Europe, and Ruf Records in USA. In the last decade, he has released six albums and played in 17 countries, 4 continents, over 260 cities and...
- Kissing in 29 Days (2006)
Other appearances
- The Atlantic Family Live at MontreuxThe Atlantic Family Live at MontreuxThe Atlantic Family Live at Montreux is a live recording made at the 1977 Montreux Jazz Festival. It featured the Don Ellis Orchestra together with the Average White Band and guest musicians...
(1977)
External links
- Official site
- http://www.starpulse.com/music/David_%22Fathead%22_Newman/P109515/unknown/0/0/0/
- http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/card/0,,473109,00.html
- http://members.tripod.com/~hardbop/fathead.html
- http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=20489
- The Hard Bop Homepage
- Worcester Radio Interview with David Newman
- [ David Newman discography at Allmusic.com]