Boots “Yakety Sax” Randolph & Lyricist Hy Zaret Have Died
Two men who had important roles in pop music and culture have sadly died this week.
Boots Randolph, whose legendary saxophone playing on songs like “Yakety Sax” made him one of Nashville’s top musicians, died on Tuesday. He recorded more than 40 albums and as a session musician played on many hits - including Elvis Presley’s “Return to Sender,” Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman,” Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “I’m Sorry,” REO Speedwagon’s “Little Queenie” and Al Hirt’s “Java.”
Lyricist Hy Zaret, who wrote the words to one of the most frequently recorded songs of the 20th century - “Unchained Melody,” died on Monday about a month shy of his 100th birthday. Not only did the song score Zaret an Academy Award nomination, but the the song has been recorded more than 300 times by artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, Lena Horne, U2, Guy Lombardo, Vito & the Salutations and Joni Mitchell.
Hypeful’s friend Chris noted that the only song that should be played is “Yakety Taps” - and sadly that song has not been written. Instead, please enjoy “Yakety Sax”.
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