RICHARDSON, Texas (Dec. 13, 2005) — Texas jazz legend David “Fathead” Newman will perform at The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) on Saturday, January 14 at 8 p.m. in UTD’s Conference Center Auditorium. Fee support for the concert is provided by the Carl J. Thomsen Fund for Student Enrichment.
Performing with Newman will be UTD faculty member Kelly Durbin on piano, as well as popular local musicians James Gilyard on bass and Andrew Griffith on drums.
 Texas jazz legend David Fathead Newman, who played with the Ray Charles Band for 12 years, will perform live at UTD on Jan. 14. |
Newman has worked as a studio musician with artists such as Hank Crawford, Aretha Franklin, Aaron Neville and Herbie Mann. While touring in the 1940s, he met Ray Charles. Newman went on to play with the Ray Charles Band for 12 years. He has appeared on David Sanborn’s Night Music, Late Show with David Letterman and Saturday Night Live. Newman has recorded albums with Franklin, Ben E. King, Natalie Cole and B.B. King. The Washington Post calls his most recent CD, I Remember Brother Ray, a “sincere, evocative and soulful homage” to the late Charles.
Newman, portrayed by actor Bokeem Woodbine, was featured in the recent movie, Ray, for which Jamie Foxx received an Oscar.
A graduate of the University of North Texas, Durbin’s professional credits include work with James Clay, Chuck Rainey, Billy Hart, Louis Hayes, Ed Soph, Lynn Seaton, Hank Crawford, Sebastian Whittaker and Roseanne Vitro. Gilyard, who has more than 39 years of performing experience, has recorded four albums and was nominated for Jazz Artist of the Year in a 1996 Dallas Observer reader’s poll. Linda Jones of The Dallas Morning News’ Guide Live called Griffith “a fixture in the rhythm sections of notable Dallas jazz veterans.”
Tickets for the concert are $20 for general admission and free at the door to UTD students with a valid identification. Office hours for advance purchase are from 2 to 5 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. To purchase tickets using Visa, MasterCard or Discover, please call 972-883-2552.
More information about the concert can be found at http://ah.utdallas.edu/season0506/newman.htm.
For information about the many musical, arts, theatre, dance and other performances and exhibitions held throughout the year at UTD, please call 972-UTD-ARTS (972-883-2787), e-mail utdarts@utdallas.edu, or visit the School of Arts and Humanities’ website at http://ah.utdallas.edu/. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations may call 972-883-2982, Texas Relay Operator: 1-800-RELAYVV.
About UTD
The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor®, enrolls nearly 14,500 students. The school’s freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores. The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. For additional information about UTD, please visit the university’s website at www.utdallas.edu.