Jazz musician David 'Fathead' Newman dies in NYsource:
www.Newsday.com21 January 2009
KINGSTON, N.Y. - Jazz musician, David "Fathead" Newman,
who was a tenor soloist with the
Ray Charles Band, has died in
upstate
New York.
His manager, Karen Newman, said Newman died Tuesday night of
pancreatic cancer in a hospital in Kingston, N.Y. He was 75.
A Dallas native, Newman left college to tour with
Charlie
Parker's mentor, Buster Smith.
According to his Web site, Newman spent 12 years with the Ray
Charles Band starting in 1954. He began as the baritone player and
became the star tenor soloist.
He returned to Dallas and led his own bands before moving to New
York City. As a studio musician he worked on recording projects
with musicians including Herbie Mann, Aretha Franklin and
Aaron
Neville.
Funeral plans were not announced.