SwingDJs

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/01 ... .html?_r=1

KINGSTON, N.Y. (AP) -- David ''Fathead'' Newman, a jazz musician who played with the Ray Charles Band and won fame as a tenor sax soloist, has died at age 75.

I always think of him when I play songs the Kansas City Soundtrack. The inside cover has a great photo of him playing the sax.

He played on a few tracks on JW Jones 2nd last CD, including solos on JW's cover of "Hallelujah I Love Her So". A great sax player, an unfortunate loss.

He was a good man. I had the privilege of meeting him a couple of times. At one of the Great Southwest Lindy Fests, he told great stories of playing gigs with Buster Smith before his tenure with Ray Charles. I feel lucky to have gotten to see him last year in DC at Twins Jazz. It was a great time; the club was intimate and he talked with crowd between shows.