Boots Randolph Dies at 80

Boots Randolph, Nashville's most celebrated saxophonist and a member of the city's vaunted 'A-Team' of session musicians, died this afternoon after suffering a subdural hematoma last week. He was 80.

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

Mr. Randolph played a major role in the development of the Nashville Sound, where his always soulful playing galvanized popular recordings by the likes of Elvis Presley and Eddy Arnold.

As singular as his work as a sideman was, however, Mr. Randolph was best known for his 1963 hit Yakety Sax, his biggest solo hit, which he wrote.

Randolph played regularly in Nashville nightclubs for 30 years, becoming a tourist draw for the music-obsessed 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.

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