Saxophonist. A key contributor to the "Nashville Sound" of the early 1960s, his high-spirited style embraced country, jazz, and rock and roll. He combined all these elements in his best known hit, the roguish instrumental single "Yakety Sax" (1963). Homer Louis Randolph III was born in Paducah, Kentucky. His father was a bandleader and he learned to play several instruments by ear, settling on the tenor sax while a member of the US Army Band during World War II. Following his discharge he formed a semi-professional band with his brother Bob (who had nicknamed him "Boots") and performed throughout the Midwest. In 1958 he was discovered by guitarist Chet Atkins and began his career as a studio artist, settling in Nashville in 1961. Randolph's distinctive sax can be heard 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", and Al Hirt's "Java", among many other recordings. "Yakety Sax", which he also wrote, was his one big hit. "I'll hang my hat on that song", he said in 1990. "It's kept me alive. Every sax player in the world has tried it. Some are good, some are awful". For many years the tune was the closing theme of TV's "The Benny Hill Show". In addition to his sessions work, Randolph recorded over 40 albums on the Monument label and his own Nashville nightclub from 1977 to 1994. He continued to tour and record until shortly before his death. He is a member of the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.
Saxophonist. A key contributor to the "Nashville Sound" of the early 1960s, his high-spirited style embraced country, jazz, and rock and roll. He combined all these elements in his best known hit, the roguish instrumental single "Yakety Sax" (1963). Homer Louis Randolph III was born in Paducah, Kentucky. His father was a bandleader and he learned to play several instruments by ear, settling on the tenor sax while a member of the US Army Band during World War II. Following his discharge he formed a semi-professional band with his brother Bob (who had nicknamed him "Boots") and performed throughout the Midwest. In 1958 he was discovered by guitarist Chet Atkins and began his career as a studio artist, settling in Nashville in 1961. Randolph's distinctive sax can be heard 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", and Al Hirt's "Java", among many other recordings. "Yakety Sax", which he also wrote, was his one big hit. "I'll hang my hat on that song", he said in 1990. "It's kept me alive. Every sax player in the world has tried it. Some are good, some are awful". For many years the tune was the closing theme of TV's "The Benny Hill Show". In addition to his sessions work, Randolph recorded over 40 albums on the Monument label and his own Nashville nightclub from 1977 to 1994. He continued to tour and record until shortly before his death. He is a member of the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.
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