Guitarist and Blues Legend Cal Newman Dies Aged 69
Guitarist Cal Newman who dedicated his life to the blues scene in Cardiff, Wales has died at the age of 69.
Newman, who was brought from Birmingham to Wales as a baby after being abandoned at birth, lost his short battle with cancer on August 12.
Despite living an unsettled early life, he found his calling at the age of eight when he first experienced blues music and taught himself to sing and play guitar.
From the age of 15, he worked on farms to support himself but continued to develop his musical talents and gave his first concert at the age of 17.
His talents eventually came to the attention of the Welsh Arts Council who invited him to set up a workshop for aspiring guitarists.
In the early days, Cal played the smoky clubs and bars of Cardiff’s Dockland going on to tour Britain.
He went on to perform with his Muddy River Blues Band at St David’s Hall before hosting TV show, Sounds of Britain.
He was commissioned to compose theme music for many television documentaries in collaboration with Wayne Warlow, top music director in Wales at that time.
For 15 years throughout the 70s and 80s, Cal hosted the show at the Inn On The River in Grangetown in Cardiff, and played with every major Welsh musician during that time including the grandfather of Welsh blues Steve Finn.
His singing captured the mood of the songs from Muddy Waters to Ry Cooder and allowed his audience to experience the emotions of the singer and the songs.
As well as an accomplished performer of the blues, ragtime and slide, Cal was also a musicologist and an expert in the history of blues music.
His own album Windin Boy featured in the top ten of the Independent chart.
Cal settled down to family life in the town of Llantwit Major with his then wife Marion, along with his three children Dean, Glen and Lisa.
He turned down gigs that would take him away from his family so that he could devote himself to them.
If it meant being taken away for long periods of time, fame and fortune would always take second place.
Cal met Ani, the love of his life, in the early ‘70s and they were soul mates for more than 40 years.
His family say he was loved and respected by all who met him, and will be greatly missed.