Boots Randolph

Born: Homer Louis Randholph III, 3 June 1925, Padu

Known as "Mr. Saxophone", Randolph was of that self-contained caste that improvised the orthodox Nashville sound from a notation peculiar to city studios, and thus had first refusal on countless daily record dates in "Music City USA" until well into the 60s. Although the "western swing' element of C&W had always admitted woodwinds, his employment was vital in widening the genre's range of instrumentation, as the country capital beckoned purveyors of more generalized pop. Indeed, as a solo star, Randolph entered the US pop charts himself with 1963"s "Yakety Sax" tour de force. As well as refashioning on disc the diversity of "Tequila", "Hi-Heel Sneakers", "Willie And The Hand Jive" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water". He also ventured into the soul field with a version of the Phil Upchurch Combo's "You Can't Sit Down". Although "Yakety Sax' resurfaced as the traditional closing theme to UK television's Benny Hill Show, Randolph will be remembered chiefly as an accompanist heading horn sections for artists of such immeasurable fame as Elvis Presley - notably on 1960"s Elvis Is Back! - and Roy Orbison for whom he became ". . . a good luck charm. I'd pay him even if he didn't play."

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