Teddy Randazzo
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Teddy Randazzo (May 13, 1935 - November 21, 2003) was a Brooklyn born pop songwriter who composed 1960s hit songs such as "Goin' Out of My Head" and "Hurt So Bad".
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[edit] Early years
In the early years of rock and roll, Randazzo played with a group called The Three Chuckles and appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show numerous times. Their first hit "Runaround", sold more than 1 million copies. He co-starred in rock revues staged by the legendary disc jockey Alan Freed, appearing with such artists as Chuck Berry and LaVern Baker. Randazzo also had some starring roles and often performed in such rock films as Hey, Let's Twist, The Girl Can't Help It, Rock, Rock, Rock and Mr. Rock and Roll in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
[edit] Hit-making years
With his composing partner, Bobby Hart, Randazzo wrote a string of major hits for other artists including "Pretty Blue Eyes", (actually co-penned with Bob Weinstein) a #1 hit for Steve Lawrence. He also penned a number of songs for Little Anthony and the Imperials, including "Goin' Out of My Head" which was covered by numerous artists including The Zombies and Frank Sinatra; "Hurt So Bad", which was also covered by The Lettermen as well as Linda Ronstadt, who took it to #1 again, a true rarity for any song, and "I'm on the Outside Looking In." "Goin' Out of My Head" was not a #1 song for Little Anthony. The Lettermen combined it with "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" in a medley. Many of Randazzo's tunes became pop classics, recorded by a gamut of industry giants from Ella Fitzgerald to (as mentioned previously) Frank Sinatra. "I've lost count on how many versions there are," Randazzo once said.
Randazzo also wrote "Yesterday Has Gone" recorded by the UK rock band, Cupid's Inspiration in 1968.
[edit] Later life and death
Randazzo, who had been popular as a teen idol in Hawaii, married a Hawaii native and divided his time between the islands and family in Florida for most of the latter half of his life. He described himself as a "lost native of Hawaii." He continued his work in music, concentrating on local musicians. Randazzo co-produced (with Frank Day) and arranged the song and album Honolulu City Lights, writing the music for the string accompaniment. The song was a hit, the album has become a classic, and the song was later recorded by other artists including The Carpenters.
Randazzo died in his sleep at age 68, while on vacation in Orlando, Florida.
[edit] Songwriters Hall of Fame
Randazzo and his writing partner, Bobby Hart, were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007.
