Floyd Newman

Floyd Newman (August 17, 1931 – May 23, 2023) was an American saxophonist, session musician and bandleader. As a baritone sax player, he was long associated with Stax Records, and as a member of The Mar-Keys’ horn section and the Memphis Horns.

Born in Memphis, in the late 1940s he became a member of the B.B. King Review, with, among others, George Coleman and George Joyner. Newman later moved to Detroit and recorded with Jackie Brenston, and toured with Sam Cooke before returning to Memphis. Newman also led a band featuring Howard Grimes on drums, Joe Woods on guitar and Isaac Hayes on keyboards, and which performed at the Plantation Inn. This line-up also recorded a 45, “Frog Stomp” (1963), co-written by Newman and Hayes. Newman and Hayes had previously coincided in Ben Branch’s house band at the Tropicana Club, with Hayes as a vocalist. The song's title inspired Daniel Johns from Australian rock band Silverchair to co-opt the title for their debut album, Frogstomp, after seeing it among manager John Watson's record collection.

As a member of the House horn section at Stax, in 1965 he went on to become a founding member of the Memphis Horns, with Wayne Jackson and Gene "Bowlegs" Miller on trumpets, and Andrew Love on tenor saxophone.

Newman died on May 23, 2023, at the age of 91.

Discography As leader/co-leader 1963: "Frog Stomp" / "Sassy" (Stax)

As sideman 1964: Pain in My Heart – Otis Redding 1965: Boss of the Blues – B. B. King 1965: The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads – Otis Redding 1965: Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul – Otis Redding 1965: In the Midnight Hour – Wilson Pickett 1966: The Exciting Wilson Pickett – Wilson Pickett 1966: Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul – Otis Redding 1966: The Soul Album – Otis Redding 1967: The Sound of Wilson Pickett – Wilson Pickett 1967: The Wicked Pickett – Wilson Pickett 1968: Tell Mama – Etta James 1968: I'm in Love – Wilson Pickett 1968: This Is Clarence Carter – Clarence Carter 1968: The Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding 1968: Aretha Now – Aretha Franklin 1969: Boz Scaggs – Boz Scaggs 1970: Melody Fair – Lulu 1970: To Bonnie from Delaney – Delaney & Bonnie 1971: Stephen Stills 2 – Stephen Stills 1973: Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky) – Aretha Franklin