Ted Newman (singer)

Ted Newman (born May 6, 1939) is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, teacher, and cowboy poet.[1] In 1957, his single “Plaything” was released on Rev Records and reached No. 45 on the Billboard Top 100.[2] The same year he made two appearances on Dick Clark's American Bandstand.[3] In January, 2009 The Associated Press selected Newman's poem "Plea to the Pres" as a winner in their poetry contest regarding the inauguration of President Barack Obama. In 2012, the Arizona Historical Society named him as one of 100 Arizona Culture Keepers for the Arizona Centennial celebration.

Early life

Newman was born in South Dakota, spent much of his childhood in Wyoming, and then moved to Arizona.[4] He attended Holbrook High School for three years and then moved to Phoenix, Arizona where he attended North Phoenix High School. He played quarterback at Holbrook,[5] and was a celebrated fullback for North Phoenix High.[6][7] He also performed and sang baritone solos for his high school's A Cappella Choir.[8] In 1957, The Arizona Republic reported that he was voted Most Outstanding Senior (male) at his high school.[9]

Recording success

While still in high school, Newman got his start in the music business recording a few jingles for local commercials.[10] During his senior year he recorded the single "Plaything" (written by Henry and Samuel Underwood) b/w "Unlucky Me" (written by Connie Conway) with Rev Records at Ramsey's Recording Studio (later Audio Recorders).[11] The single sold 20,000 copies in the first ten days.[12][13] After two and a half weeks it sold 100,000 copies, and eventually over 250,000 copies were purchased. In 1957, "Plaything" peaked at No. 45 on the Billboard Top 100. Building on his chart success, Newman performed on Dick Clark's American Bandstand,[14] the Guy Mitchell Show, and The Milt Grant Show.[15] He also opened for Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins on a six-week tour of Texas. His follow up album with Rev Records, "I Double Dare You" was considered a "flop".[16] He later recorded "Why Did You Break My Heart?" b/w "It's Hot in Here" and "Brigette" b/w 'Hey Little Freshman" with RCA Victor.[17][18][19]

College

Newman attended Arizona State University (ASU) on a football scholarship, but the NCAA prohibited student athletes on scholarships from collecting income from outside sources. Due to the success of "Plaything", he was already making money with his music. For this reason, and a knee injury, Newman chose to stop playing football and pursue his music career.[4][20][21][22]

While at ASU, Newman was part of a folk-song trio, the Balladeers, with fellow singers John Southern and Toby Constance.[23]

In 1960, Newman and two fellow ASU students decided to tour the world with their stringed instruments. Newman sold one of his guitars and an amplifier to help fund their six-month trip. Newman played guitar, John Southern played the banjo, and Ron Iverson provided vocals. They started out with $160 cash and paid for their rest of their travel expenses by performing and finding money-making opportunities along the way.[24] While in Spain, he recorded an album which made 17,400 pesetas, which was equal to about US$300. He also spent a week working as a coal miner in Cologne, Germany.[25]

During Christmas break, Newman worked at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel as a host taking care of children and teens whose parents were vacationing there. He took them on desert picnics, swimming parties, and other events.[26]

Career

Performing music

For several years, Ted Newman performed regularly at the Ramada Inn and The Other Place restaurant, both in Scottsdale, Arizona.

In 1993 he recorded a new album of his original songs entitled Where Does Love Go?[27] The album was arranged and produced by guitarist Billy Williams (who also worked with Lyle Lovett, Wanda Jackson, Mel Tillis)[28] and recorded by Grammy Award winning recording engineer, Jack Miller, at Jack Miller Productions in Phoenix.[4][29][30][31]

In 1996, he got together with Al Casey and Del Shannon to perform as the Ted Newman Trio. For a while, they performed every Thursday night at Monti's at the Ranch, in Mesa, Arizona.[32]

Military

Newman flew a helicopter for ten years in the Air National Guard,[20][33] and was a Captain in the U.S Army Reserve at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, Arizona.[25] He has toured veterans hospitals on many occasions to sing and perform for the hospitalized veterans.[34]

Teacher

While working on his teaching credential from New Mexico State University, he worked a variety of odd jobs including teaching ballroom dancing, running a chili plant, and managing a K-Mart. He worked for six years at a grade school in Deming, New Mexico, and then worked for many more years at Nevitt Elementary School, and later at Aguilar Elementary School in the Tempe Elementary School District. He used his music in the classroom as a teaching tool and wrote songs about the vulnerable childhood years, including warning against drug use and self-pity.[35] He also wrote songs about academic subjects.[33]

Poet and songwriter

Newman has written over 500 songs and poems. One of Newman's songs "The Great Sonoran Desert" has been illustrated and made into a children's book. He also created and performed "The Great Sonoran Desert Critter Show[36]" in which he gave children an educational presentation about desert animals.[37]

In January 2009, The Associated Press selected Newman's poem "Plea to the Pres" and nine other poems as winners in their poetry contest which asked for entries about the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Newman used the opportunity to ask President Obama to "be the President our country needs."[38][39] One of his poems, a tribute to actor Ben Johnson, titled "Ben Johnson Evening Star", which he co-wrote with historian Marshall Trimble, was printed in American Cowboy Magazine and True West Magazine.[20][40]

Newman wrote 18 original songs for a musical play, The Lost Dutchman, about the Superstition Mountains legend of the Lost Dutchman gold mine. The Arizona Musical Theatre Institute presented the musical in January 2001.[33]

His song "Those Who Served So Well" written for fallen police officers, has been shared with police departments across the country.[33]

Ranch hand

He has spent many summers working in Colorado as a wrangler, guide, and entertainer for special events.

Awards and legacy

In 2012, the Arizona Historical Society named him as one of 100 Arizona Culture Keepers for the Arizona Centennial.[41]

Discography
Artist Album Title Format Cat # Record Label Release Date
Doug Harden/Ted Newman The Storm/Plaything 7", Single 5061 Moonglow Records 1957
Ted Newman Plaything 7", Single 45-3505 Rev Records 1957
I Double Dare You/None of Your Tears 7" 45-3511 Rev Records 1957
Brigitte/Hey Little Freshman 7", Single 47-7251 RCA Victor 1958
It's Hot in Here/Why Do You Break My Heart 7", Single 47-7197 RCA Victor 1958
Where Does Love Go? CD Jack Miller Productions 2004

[18]

TV song placements

Two of Newman's Rev Records recordings, "Plaything" and "None of Your Tears" have been licensed by Fervor Records to television shows. His song "None of Your Tears" was played on episode 110 of the show Killing Kennedy, on the National Geographic channel. His song, "Plaything" was played on episode 205 of the show Wynonna Earp on the SyFy channel.[42]

References
  1. "Ted Newman Record Label Shots". www.colorradio.com. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  2. "Ted Newman Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  3. TV.com. "Ted Newman". TV.com. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  4. Bolyard, Paulette (June 16, 1993). "Teacher-songwriter Back Promoting His Music Again". The Arizona Republic. p. 16.
  5. "High School Football". The Arizona Republic. October 9, 1955.
  6. Kazy, Ted (November 23, 1956). "Newman Leads Mustangs To 39-26 Win Over Coyotes". The Arizona Republic.
  7. Harelson, Hugh (October 7, 1956). "Noyes Leads Amphi Win Over North". The Arizona Republic.
  8. "North Phoenix High A Cappella To Present 'Seven Last Words'". The Arizona Republic. April 7, 1957.
  9. "North High Names 10 Most Exceptional Seniors". The Arizona Republic. March 29, 1957.
  10. The Phoenix Sound: A History of Twang & Rockabilly Music in Arizona. Jim West
  11. "Ted Newman - Plaything". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  12. Smith, Patricia (August 7, 1957). "Phoenix Teenager's Record Climbs Toward Top Sellers". The Arizona Republic. p. 14.
  13. "Local Firm's Disc Hits Needle Big Boys". The Arizona Republic. November 24, 1957.
  14. TV.com. "American Bandstand: AB-10: Ted Newman". TV.com. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  15. Buchen, Charlotte (October 25, 1957). "Ted Newman Signs for Television Appearance". The Arizona Republic.
  16. Curtis, Jack (January 12, 1958). "'She is My Dream' New Tabs Offering". The Arizona Republic.
  17. Curtis, Jack (March 30, 1958). "Girl Chorus Features New Newman Tune". The Arizona Republic.
  18. "Ted Newman". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  19. "Tips on Coming Tops: Reviews of New Pop Records". Billboard. May 19, 1958.
  20. Lowe, Sam (January 10, 1999). "Challenge Sweet Music to His Ears". The Arizona Republic.
  21. Smith, Dean (August 25, 1957). "Young Feminine Fans Rack Rock N' Rolling Fullback". The Arizona Republic.
  22. McFarland, Bill (September 22, 1957). "Arizona State Fullback Is Also A Singing Star". The Arizona Republic. p. 14.
  23. "Trio Tries Out". The Arizona Republic. October 8, 1960.
  24. Curtis, Jack (February 18, 1961). "ASU Musical Trio Leaves Today to Work Way Around the World". The Arizona Republic.
  25. Wilmot, Vic (June 14, 1970). "Vic Wilmot". The Arizona Republic.
  26. "College Students Work On Holidays". The Arizona Republic. December 11, 1960.
  27. "Where Does Love Go - Ted Newman | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  28. "Billy Williams". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  29. "Jack Miller - Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall Of Fame". Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall Of Fame. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  30. "Jack Miller Productions". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  31. McElfresh, Robert Baird, Larry Crowley, Dave (1993-03-24). "DESERT-COOKED SOUNDS". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  32. Jones, Bill (September 13, 1996). "Apache Junction Looking to Form Its Own Society of the Arts". The Arizona Republic. p. 15.
  33. Holstein, Jo-An (January 6, 2001). "Songs Celebrate Open Spaces". The Arizona Republic. p. 21.
  34. "Star Peps Up Vets; More Visits Sought". The Arizona Republic. March 5, 1971.
  35. "Teacher-Songwriter Back Promoting His Music Again" Arizona Republic · Page 172, June 16, 1993
  36. Rodgers, Larry (March 30, 2000). "Fair Puts Pets on Parade". The Arizona Republic.
  37. "Arizona authors sign books in Chandler - Raising Arizona Kids Magazine". www.raisingarizonakids.com. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  38. Press, NANCY BENAC, The Associated. "Odes to Obama: A poem or 2 for the new president". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  39. "Gilbert Poet Garners Widespread Attention: Retired Teacher's Work Chosen by Associated Press as Part of Its 'Ode to Obama' Contest". The Arizona Republic. January 21, 2009. p. 40.
  40. "Ben Johnson's Last Trail Ride". True West Magazine. 2016-03-11. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  41. Steckner, Susie (March 12, 2014). "Volunteer Strikes a Chord with Hospice of the Valley Patients". The Arizona Republic. p. 22.
  42. "Music by Ted Newman". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
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