Musician Fatally Stabbed in Ontario

A blues musician was stabbed to death outside the Ontario Airport Hilton as he took a break from a performance at the hotel, police said Thursday.

Investigators said Neal Newman, 41, of Oak Hills was dead on arrival at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center after the apparently random attack about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Detectives said Newman was walking back and forth near the curb in front of the hotel, humming a tune to himself, when a man ran up and--”without a word”--slashed the musician’s neck.

As Newman staggered into the hotel seeking help, the assailant ran through the hotel parking lot, officers said.

Nothing was stolen.

Newman’s wife, Susan, said her husband had no known enemies. “He was always helping other people,” she said.

Born in Westchester County, N.Y., in 1959, Newman moved west as a young man, forging a successful career as a guitarist, singer and songwriter, his wife said. She said he at one time had a group, Big Neal and His Blue Rhythm Band, which performed in nightclubs throughout Southern California and made several recordings.