Sax player Boots Randolph dead at 80

yahoo.com ^ | 07/03/07

[lunarbicep]

Boots Randolph, whose spirited saxophone playing on songs like "Yakety Sax" made him one of Nashville's top musicians, died Tuesday. He was 80.

Randolph suffered a cerebral hemorrhage June 25 and had been hospitalized in a coma. He was taken off a respirator earlier Tuesday, said Betty Hofer, a publicist and spokeswoman for the family.

Randolph played regularly in Nashville nightclubs for 30 years, becoming a tourist draw for the city much like Wayne Newton in Las Vegas and Pete Fountain in New Orleans.

He recorded more than 40 albums and spent 15 years touring with the Festival of Music, teaming with fellow instrumentalists Chet Atkins and Floyd Cramer.

As a session musician, he played on Elvis Presley's "Return to Sender," Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman," Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Round the Christmas Tree" and "I'm Sorry," REO Speedwagon's "Little Queenie," Al Hirt's "Java" and other songs including ones by Buddy Holly and Johnny Cash.

In 1963 he had his biggest solo hit, "Yakety Sax," which he wrote

[KingSnorky]

He died with his Boots on.

[dfwgator]

A sad day for all fans of Benny Hill. RIP Boots.

[Maximus of Texas]

This blows.

[swatbuznik]

Aaah, dang, when I was kid I would listen to my parents’ records for hours, and his were my favorites!

[50sDad]

Did you know Jane Levies of Frasier fame started as a Benny Hill Girl? Ah, the halcyon days of college, drinking and watching Benny chase and be chased by stocking-clad women at high speed...

[kalee]

ping

[umgud]

Gotta love Boots. ZSorry to see a great talent gone.

[Obadiah]

These Boots aren’t made for walkin’.

[girlangler]

Ping.

[JellyJam]

As a session musician, he played on Elvis Presley’s “Return to Sender,” Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman,” Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Round the Christmas Tree” and “I’m Sorry,” REO Speedwagon’s “Little Queenie,” Al Hirt’s “Java” and other songs including ones by Buddy Holly and Johnny Cash.

What a legacy. RIP, Boots.

[MCH]

Used to play the sax as a kid. Being able to play Yakety Sax was something to aspire to.

[Responsibility2nd]

As a child, I went to sleep many nights back in the mid sixties even though my dad was playing Boots Randolph's 'Yakety Sax' very loudly on the hi-fi.

Ahh, the memories!

We still have that old hi-fi. I wonder if we still have that Boot Randolph album?

[Migraine]

He could blow it warm or he could blow it cool; he was just the best, that’s all. My favorite was a Christmas album called “Boots and Stockings”; it doesn’t get much better.

[golas1964]

May God rest his soul.

[dave k]

One of the major influences on Captain Geech and The Shrimp Shack Shooters...(see the movie "That Thing You Do" for further clarification!)

In all seriousness, he was a great session musician. RIP, Boots.

[Grammy]

Thanks g.a. I will let Mr. G know. He will be sad.

[Shadowstrike]

Hope he’s playing inHeaven today.

Prayers for his family.

[Revolting cat!]

Boots Returned to Sender (Address Unknown)!

[Billthedrill]

Yeppers. RIP, Boots.

Now if I could just get "Yackety Sax" out of my head...