David "Fathead" Newman

David "Fathead" Newman (February 24, 1933 – January 20, 2009) Newman was a leading proponent of the "Texas Tenor" saxophone style, a big-toned, bluesy approach popularized by jazz tenor players from that state.

Early life Newman was born in Corsicana, Texas, United States, on February 24, 1933, but grew up in Dallas, where he studied first the piano and then the saxophone. According to one account, he got his nickname "Fathead" in school when "an outraged music instructor used it as an epithet after catching Newman playing a Sousa march from memory rather than from reading the sheet music, which rested upside down on the stand."

Inspired by the jump blues bandleader Louis Jordan, Newman took up the alto saxophone in the seventh grade, and was mentored by former Count Basie saxophonist Buster Smith. Newman went on to Jarvis Christian College on a music and theology scholarship but quit school after three years and began playing professionally.

Many of Charles's seminal recordings during the 1950s and early 1960s feature a saxophone solo by Newman. These include hits such as "Lonely Avenue", "Swanee River Rock", "Ain't That Love", "The Right Time" (with Newman on alto sax), and "Unchain My Heart". Charles said that Newman "could make his sax sing the song like no one else". As Newman himself put it: "I became famous for playing 8-bar and 12-bar solos!" but not released until 1960, and the second, The Sound of the Wide Open Spaces!!!!, with James Clay, produced by Cannonball Adderley.

Newman also played R&B and blues, appearing on recordings with Jimmy Scott, 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-rock/tex-mex artist Doug Sahm. The late Roy Hargrove, trumpeter, band leader and composer (1969–2018) credits hearing Newman play while Hargrove was still a high school student and being enthralled by his jazz improvisation. Newman performed with Hargrove and recorded several tunes on Hargrove's 1995 album, Family.

Personal life

Death Newman died in Kingston, New York, on January 20, 2009, at the age of 75, of pancreatic cancer. (Warner Bros., 1976) Front Money (Muse, 1981) Still Hard Times (Muse, 1982) Heads Up (Atlantic, 1987) Fire! Live at the Village Vanguard (Atlantic, 1989) with Hank Crawford, Stanley Turrentine Blue Head (Candid, 1989) with Clifford Jordan Blue Greens & Beans (Timeless, 1990) with Marchel Ivery & the Rein de Graaff Trio Return to the Wide Open Spaces (Amazing, 1990) with Ellis Marsalis Jr. and Cornell Dupree Bluesiana Triangle (Windham Hill, 1990) with Bluesiana Triangle Bluesiana II (Windham Hill, 1991) with Bluesiana Triangle Mr. Gentle Mr. Cool (Kokopelli, 1994) Under a Woodstock Moon (Kokopelli, 1996) Chillin' (HighNote, 1999) Keep the Spirits Singing (HighNote, 2001) Davey Blue (HighNote, 2001) The Gift (HighNote, 2003) Song for the New Man (HighNote, 2004) I Remember Brother Ray (HighNote, 2005) Cityscape (HighNote, 2006) Life (HighNote, 2007) Diamondhead (HighNote, 2008) The Blessing (HighNote, 2009)

As sideman With Laverne Butler A Foolish Thing to Do (Maxjazz, 2000)

With Ray Charles The Great Ray Charles (Atlantic, 1957) Yes Indeed! (Atlantic, 1958) Ray Charles at Newport (Atlantic, 1958) What'd I Say (Atlantic, 1959) The Genius of Ray Charles (Atlantic, 1959) Ray Charles in Person (Atlantic, 1960) The Genius Hits the Road (ABC-Paramount, 1960) The Genius After Hours (Atlantic, 1961) Sweet & Sour Tears (ABC-Paramount, 1964) Jazz at the Philharmonic: Ray Charles - Berlin 1962 (Pablo, 1996)

With Hank Crawford The Soul Clinic (Atlantic, 1962) From the Heart (Atlantic, 1962) Double Cross (Atlantic, 1968) Mr. Blues Plays Lady Soul (Atlantic, 1969) Night Beat (Milestone, 1989) Tight (Milestone, 1996)

With Cornell Dupree Teasin' (Atlantic, 1974)

With Eddie Harris The Electrifying Eddie Harris (Atlantic, 1967) With Randy Johnston Detour Ahead (HighNote, 1998 ) With JW-Jones Kissing in 29 Days (NorthernBlues, 2006)

With B. B. King There Must Be a Better World Somewhere (MCA, 1981) Let the Good Times Roll (MCA, 1999)

With Charles Kynard The Soul Brotherhood (Prestige, 1969)

With Junior Mance I Believe to My Soul (Atlantic, 1968) Live at the Top (Atlantic, 1968) Truckin' and Trakin' (Bee Hive, 1983)

With Herbie Mann The Inspiration I Feel (Atlantic, 1968) Mississippi Gambler (Atlantic, 1972) Hold On, I'm Comin' (Atlantic, 1973) First Light (Atlantic, 1974) Waterbed (Atlantic, 1975) Surprises (Atlantic, 1976) Reggae II (Atlantic, 1976)

With Arif Mardin Journey (Atlantic, 1974) With Jimmy McGriff The Starting Five (Milestone, 1987) The Dream Team (Milestone, 1997) Straight Up (Milestone, 1998) Feelin' It (Milestone, 2001) With Meeco Amargo Mel (Connector, 2009)

With Jane Monheit Never Never Land (N-Coded, 2000) With Buddy Montgomery Ties of Love (Landmark, 1987) So Why Not? (Landmark, 1988) With Lee Morgan Sonic Boom (Blue Note, 1967)

With Don Patterson Mellow Soul (Prestige, 1967)

With Jimmy Scott All the Way (Sire, 1992)

With Shirley Scott Shirley Scott & the Soul Saxes (Atlantic, 1969)

With Lonnie Smith Think! (Blue Note, 1968) Boogaloo to Beck: A Tribute (Scufflin' Records, 2003)

With John Stein Green Street (Challenge, 1999)

Other appearances The Atlantic Family Live at Montreux (Atlantic, 1977)