David Newman
David "Fathead" Newman (February 24, 1933 – January 20, 2009) was an American jazz and rhythm-and-blues saxophonist, who made numerous recordings as a session musician and leader, but is best known for his work as a sideman on seminal 1950s and early 1960s recordings by Ray Charles. The AllMusic Guide to Jazz wrote that "there have not been many saxophonists and flutists more naturally soulful than David 'Fathead' Newman." Newman was a leading proponent of the "Texas Tenor" saxophone style, a big-toned, bluesy approach popularized by jazz tenor players from that state. |
Birth and Death Data: Born (Corsicana (city in and county seat of Navarro County, Texas, United States)), Died January 20, 2009 (Kingston (city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, United States) )
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1954 - 1958
Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | 1382 | 10-in. | 11/18/1954 | Blackjack | Ray Charles | instrumentalist, baritone saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 1383 | 10-in. | 11/18/1954 | I've got a woman | Ray Charles | instrumentalist, baritone saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 1384 | 10-in. | 11/18/1954 | Greenbacks | Ray Charles | instrumentalist, baritone saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 1385 | 10-in. | 11/18/1954 | Come back | Ray Charles | instrumentalist, baritone saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 1513 | 10-in. | 4/23/1955 | A fool for you | Ray Charles | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 1514 | 10-in. | 4/23/1955 | This little girl of mine | Ray Charles | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 1998 | 10-in. | 5/16/1956 | Lonely avenue | Ray Charles ; William Peeples | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 1999 | 10-in. | 5/16/1956 | I want to know | Ray Charles | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 2000 | 10-in. | 5/16/1956 | Leave my woman alone | Ray Charles | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 2231 | 10-in. | 11/27/1956 | It's all right | Ray Charles | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 2232 | 10-in. | 11/27/1956 | Ain't that love? | Ray Charles | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 2233 | 10-in. | 11/27/1956 | Get on the right track baby | Ray Charles | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 2234 | 10-in. | 11/27/1956 | Rockhouse part 1 | Ray Charles | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 2235 | 10-in. | 11/27/1956 | Rockhouse part 2 | Ray Charles | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 2706 | 10-in. | 5/28/1957 | Swanee river rock | Ray Charles | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 2707 | 10-in. | 5/26/1957 | That's enough | Ray Charles ; Raelets (Musical group) | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 2708 | 10-in. | 5/28/1957 | Talkin' 'bout you | Ray Charles ; Mary Ann Fisher | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 2709 | 10-in. | 5/28/1957 | What kind of man are you | Ray Charles ; Mary Ann Fisher | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 2710 | 10-in. | 5/26/1957 | I want a little girl | Ray Charles | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 2968 | 10-in. | 2/20/1958 | Yes indeed | Ray Charles ; The Cookies (Musical group) | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 2969 | 10-in. | 2/20/1958 | I had a dream | Ray Charles ; The Cookies (Musical group) | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 2971 | 10-in. | 2/20/1958 | Tell all the world about you | Ray Charles ; Raelets (Musical group) | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 3194 | 10-in. | 10/28/1958 | (Night time is) the right time | Ray Charles ; Raelets (Musical group) | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
| Atlantic | 3196 | 10-in. | 10/28/1958 | Tell me how do you feel | Ray Charles ; Raelets (Musical group) | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Newman, David," accessed January 10, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/377829.
Newman, David. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 10, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/377829.
"Newman, David." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 10 January 2026.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Newman, David, 1933-2009 - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n88664598
Wikidata: David "Fathead" Newman - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q720206
VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/39562791
MusicBrainz: David “Fathead” Newman - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/9dddb428-ab9c-4a7d-8d97-d805839a4f73
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