Floyd Newman was a saxophone, session musician, and bandleader who lived from August 17, 1931, until May 23, 2023. He spent a lot of time working with Stax Records as a baritone saxophonist and as a member of the Memphis Horns and The Mar-Keys’ horn section.
He was born in Memphis and joined the B.B. King Review in the late 1940s, along with George Coleman and George Joyner, among others. Later, Newman relocated to Detroit, worked with Jackie Brenston on recordings, and then went on tour with Sam Cooke before returning to Memphis. At the Plantation Inn, Newman also played in a band with Howard Grimes on drums, Joe Woods on guitar, and Isaac Hayes on keyboards. The 45 “Frog Stomp,” co-written by Newman and Hayes, was also recorded with this lineup.
Floyd Newman: Former Stax musician and bandmate of B.B. King diest at 92
Floyd Newman, a saxophone and former Stax Records musician who performed with Memphis music greats including B.B. King, has passed away.
The Stax Museum of American Soul Music reports that he passed away on Tuesday at the age of 91.
2018 saw the donation of a saxophone by Newman, a saxophonist, bandleader, and high school band instructor, to the Stax Museum in Memphis.
The Stax museum claims that Newman, who began his career performing at the Plantation Inn nightclub in West Memphis, Arkansas, was the first person chosen to join B.B. King’s first band.