Obit: David 'Fathead' Newman (20 Jan 2009)

Subject: Obit:Tenor Sax great 'Fathead' Newman, 20 Jan 2009
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 04:04 PM

Links tend to die, so I'll post the text from the link Spaw posted, http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=28759:

SOURCE: All About Jazz Publicity

David David "Fathead" Newman succumbed to pancreatic cancer yesterday, Tuesday January 20, 2009. He was 75.

We'll post additional news when we receive it.


About David "Fathead" Newman

David "Fathead" Newman was born in Corsicana, Texas on February 24, 1933. His family soon moved to Dallas, where they settled and David stayed through graduating Lincoln High School. After school, David found gigs in local bands. He received a scholarship to Jarvis Christian College where he studied theology and music.

After two years of college, David decided to go on the road full time with Buster Smith (Charlie Parker's mentor). The band played lots of one-nighters and dance halls, touring Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and sometimes California. On one of those tours, David met Ray Charles.

Ray was working as a sideman with another group on the night's roster. They immediately bonded, both musically and as friends. When Ray started his own band, he called on David to be part of his group. In 1954, David began a twelve year association with the Ray Charles Band. David began as the baritone player and soon became the star tenor soloist.

In 1959, David recorded his first album as a leader titled, "Fathead: Ray Charles Presents 'Fathead'" on Atlantic records. It included Newman's dramatic and now famous rendition of Hard Times.

He returned to Dallas for a short time and led his own bands. Then he moved to New York City where his career took off in many directions.

Newman recorded many albums for Atlantic records, as well as Warner Brothers and Prestige. During this time in NYC, David gigged with Lee Morgan, Kenny Drew Sr., Billy Higgins, Kenny Dorham and so many other of the great jazz musicians hanging out on the New York scene. He gigged around the East Coast with his own quartet and soon began touring Europe and Japan as a leader.

As a studio musician he was very busy working on lots of recording projects with the likes of Herbie Mann, Aretha Franklin, Hank Crawford, Aaron Neville, to name a few. After meeting at a studio session, David joined forces with Herbie Mann during "The Family of Mann" era. Cal Tjader (later Roy Ayres) were part of this outstanding group.

It was now time for David Newman to focus on his personal choices and let the public know more about the music that he chose to play. In 1980, Newman, determined to pursue his own musical identity, recorded several mainstream jazz albums for the Muse label. Artists such as Cedar Walton, Jimmy Cobb, Buster Williams, Louis Hayes, and other fine NY musicians, helped round out the rhythm sections.

David returned to Atlantic Records in the late eighties to record several albums. One of he recordings was done live at the Village Vanguard in NYC, featuring Stanley Turrentine and Hank Crawford.

Newman's next recordings were on the Kokopelli label. This was a new label owned by Herbie Mann. David recorded a beautiful CD in tribute to Duke Ellington, titled Mr. Gentle, Mr. Cool. David produced the next one on Kokopelli, titled Under A Woodstock Moon.

The late nineties brought David to the High Note label where he has recorded six successful CDs. The most recent, I Remember Brother Ray, was released in January 2005 and became the #1 Most Played Jazz Album nationwide.

David Newman has appeared on many television shows including Saturday Night Live, David Sanborn's Night Music, David Letterman, and various featured news segments. David appeared in Robert Altman's film Kansas City and did a national tour with the Kansas City Orchestra, for Verve Records.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fathead passes on......
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 03:51 PM

Rest in Peace...

Subject: RE: Obit: Fathead passes on......
From: gnu
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 03:43 PM

Missed this.... RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fathead passes on......
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 12:15 PM

I looked to see if he was interviewed on Fresh Air, a good place to look for in-depth interviews, but he wasn't there.

Here he is at IMDb, and there may be some YouTube links out there.

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: Fathead passes on......
From: fat B****rd
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 03:40 PM

RIP Fathead. I've been listening to his work wqith Ray Charles for years. He appears, playing,in the film 'Kansas City'.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fathead passes on......
From: Severn
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 01:48 PM

On great records with people from Ray Charles, whose band featured him as a soloist for years, to Dr. John, Doug Sahm and countless sessions and Atlantic records recordings. One of the gooduns.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fathead passes on......
From: Big Mick
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 10:02 AM

What chops, and what a touch! That man just made it seamless. A true musician's musician.

God be good to him,

Mick

Subject: RE: Obit: Fathead passes on......
From: Wesley S
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 09:49 AM

He played on dozens of classic records. I'll bet most people are unaware of how often they were listening to him. He'll be missed.

Subject: Obit: Fathead passes on......
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 09:38 AM

At 75 and still one of the greats on Tenor, David "Fathead" Newman died of pancreatic cancer. Great artist with a friggin' beautiful sound.......An Obit

Sad...

Spaw