Friday, March 29, 2024

RIP Composer Perry Botkin Jr, 87, Wrote “The Young and the Restless” Theme, Many Other Hits

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Composer Perry Botkin Jr has died at age 87. He’s probably most famous for writing the theme music for “The Young and the Restless” with Barry DeVorzon — still used for the show since 1973. In 1976, the music was renamed “Nadia’s Theme” for the 1976 Olympics and gymnast Nadia Comenici. “Nadia’s Theme” went to the top of the charts then.

Botkin and DeVorzon also wrote the hit “Bless the Beasts and the Children” also with DeVorzon, made famous by The Carpenters. It was the title music for a failed film, but the song went on to have its own life.

That wasn’t the only hit theme song Botkin was associated with. He also arranged and composed music for “Happy Days,” “Mork and Mindy,” and many others. He wrote the “Mork and Mindy” theme, as well. He wrote four songs with the late Harry Nilsson. Botkin Jr. also arranged the strings on dozens of his albums including Carly Simon’s “Playing Possum” and Barbra Streisand’s “Stoney End.”

Botkin had the gene. His father, Perry Sr., counted among his work all the music for “The Beverly Hillbillies”

Awards:
1971 – Academy Award nomination – Best Song, “Bless the Beasts and Children”, with Barry DeVorzon
1977 – Grammy Award winner – Best Instrumental Arrangement – “Nadia’s Theme (The Young and the Restless)”, with Barry DeVorzon and Harry Betts.

 

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
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