Background
Brian Newman was born on June 10, 1981 and raised in Mentor and Concord Township in Cleveland, Ohio. He told his mother at age twelve that he wanted to grow up to be a New York City jazz musician.
Brian Newman was born on June 10, 1981 and raised in Mentor and Concord Township in Cleveland, Ohio. He told his mother at age twelve that he wanted to grow up to be a New York City jazz musician.
He is most known for his numerous performances with Lady Gaga and her surprise appearances at his performances in New York City. Brian began playing at age nine and made his public debut at age 14. He is a 1999 graduate of Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin High School and currently lives in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New New York
Concerning his youth in Cleveland, Newman stated, "That"s one thing Cleveland and my family taught me well—the importance of hard work..There are a lot of hard workers in Cleveland." Newman attended the University of Cincinnati"s College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Newman is married to Mission Exotic World 2008, burlesque dancer Angie Pontani. Their marriage was covered extensively by the New York City media including a full color spread in the New York Daily News.
Along with other graduates from Cincinnati"s College-Conservatory of Music, Brian began performing in venues across New York City including the Oak Room at the Plaza Hotel, and Duane Park. Newman has also performed trumpet for Tony Bennett and Mark Murphy.
When he first arrived in New York, Newman served bar and waited tables between performances to help make ends meet.
Newman"s music was featured in the 2011 film, Friends With Kids. Collaboration with Lady Gaga
Newman has performed with Gaga on her A Very Gaga Thanksgiving special, The Today Show, the Music Television Video Music Awards, and British Broadcasting Corporation Radio. Newman arranged and appeared on Lady Gaga"s jazz album with Tony Bennett, “Cheek to Cheek”.
Gaga has also made random surprise appearances at Newman"s gigs throughout the city which have been covered by major media outlets including Music Television, Video Hits One, East!, and The New York Post.
Newman"s trumpet performance with Gaga can also be heard on the A Very Gaga Holiday European Parliament.