One of the leading “Texas Tenors,” David “Fathead” Newman was born in Corsicana, Texas and spent his childhood in Dallas. His parents introduced him to jazz through the music of Glenn Miller, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, and Duke Ellington. "And of course, there was the blues background,” said Newman. “T-Bone Walker and Lowell Fulson were from the Dallas, Tex., area, and you were just surrounded by the blues. It was all so natural."

Although he preferred jazz, Newman said learning other musical styles was a necessity. “I loved the bebop jazz of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, but during my younger years bebop wasn't accepted by a majority of the people," he said. "You couldn't make a living playing just bebop. You had to play some blues or some swing."

While playing in the band at Lincoln High School in Dallas, Newman acquired his nickname when his band teacher noticed he had his music upside-down and called him “Fathead.” The name stuck. After high school, Newman played with local bands and received a scholarship to Jarvis Christian College where he studied theology and music. Ultimately he learned to play not only baritone and tenor, but also alto and soprano sax and flute.

After two years of college, Newman went to work full time with Buster Smith (Charlie Parker's mentor), touring Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and sometimes California. After meeting Ray Charles on one of these tours, Newman played in Charles's band from 1950-1959, at first as a baritone saxman and later as the star tenor soloist. Taking off on his own, he moved to New York and worked with Lee Morgan, Kenny Drew Sr., Billy Higgins, and Kenny Dorham. He toured in Japan and Europe, and became a busy studio musician, recording with Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Hank Crawford, Dr. John, and Art Blakey, and joining Herbie Mann’s “Family of Mann” project.

In the 1980s, Newman worked with outstanding rhythm sections that included Cedar Walton, Buster Williams, Louis Hayes, and Jimmy Cobb. He has appeared on many television shows including Saturday Night Live, David Sanborn's Night Music, David Letterman, and in Robert Altman's film "Kansas City." He has recorded for Atlantic, Muse, Kokopelli, with the Kansas City Orchestra on Verve, and most recently with High Note (2004’s “Song for a New Man”).