From the Los Angeles Times:David "Fathead" Newman, a jazz saxophonist who was a key member of Ray Charles' band for a dozen years and later became a high-profile session player, has died. He was 75.
Newman died Tuesday of pancreatic cancer at a hospital in Kingston, N.Y., according to his wife and manager, Karen Newman.
Newman's saxophone can be heard on many of Charles' landmark hits, including "I Got a Woman," "What'd I Say" and "Lonely Avenue." And it was Charles who helped Newman get his first album as a leader with the 1958 Atlantic Records release "Fathead: Ray Charles Presents David Newman."
In addition to those great Charles tracks, my favorite "Fathead" Newman memories are via the late, great Texas musician Doug Sahm, a favorite of mine since the mid-70's, and on whose Atlantic Record sessions Newman played.
2 comments:
I did not know Fat Head played on Doug's records. Thank you, I've always enjoyed his music.
One example is that sublime sax break on "Tennessee Blues"---all Fathead.
Thx for visiting the blog!
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