Homer “Boots” Randolph
June 3, 1927 – July 3, 2007
Boots Randolph was an American horn player whose saxophone was a major part of what is know in country music as the “Nashville Sound.” But perhaps his biggest legacy is his tune, “Yakety Sax,” which is known the world over as the Benny Hill theme song. During a career that spanned the better part of four decades, Randolph shared the stage with countless A-List performers and played on recordings by the likes of Elvis Presley, Al Hirt, Roy Orbison, REO Speedwagon, Jerry Lee Lewis and Brenda Lee. Boots Randolph died of a brain hemmorhage at the age of 80.
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Boots was the best! I am a Birmingham, Al. saxophone player (clubs) and played with Boots and Tom Cherry (guitar and alto sax) on two different occasions in 2006. Boots hung around after the gig and we drank and talked (I was surprised he drank draft beer). Boots talked about all the great musicians he had played with (the million dollar band) and how he was the last one left. He told how a friend (in Indiana) called Chet Atkins in Nashville to ask if he could help him get started. Chet told him he needed a gimic, a special sax song (thus, the birth of yakety sax). Boots told me to keep in touch and I wish I had. I grew up learning his songs and learning his style, there was a lot more talent there than most people realize. I did get pictures of Boots and I holding up our Selmer Super 80’s and Tom Cherry also got in one picture with us. Now Tom is gone also. I cherish the memory and enjoy the pictures. Boots was the best! Ken Bonham, Birmingham Alabama.
Aloha!
I started my sax career emulating Boots! In 67 I was at the Navy School of music in Little Creek VA. Me and another tenor man Dave Waltz were playing a duet of Yakkety Sax when the commander of Music School stopped us and hauled us into his private office. We thought we were in for some trouble but he sat us down on a white leather couch in a plush surrounding the like of which I never saw in the Navy and turned on his Hi Fi rig.
He said he wanted us to hear some JAzz sax. We listened to this remarkable tenor playing and later he told us it was his own private recording of Boots playing Jazz. Well we were amazed! Sure didn’t sound like the reed slapping Boots sound. We were just glad we didn’t get into trouble at the time.I’m still playing and learned Boots up graded faster version of Yakkety sax but at 63 I can see I can no longer keep up with the man…Good playing to all you Boots fans! Jim Boulton Hayward CA and Kauai Hawaii
Great story James! Thanks for sharing – and keep on playin!
Vince