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Perry Botkin Jr., the Grammy-winning composer who wrote the iconic theme song used by The Young and the Restless, passed away on Monday at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank at the age of 87. Botkin’s publicist confirmed the sad news. The cause of his death was not revealed.
The Young and the Restless Composer Passes Away
The YR theme was written in 1971 and started to be referred to as “Nadia’s Tune” in 1976 when it was used in promos by ABC’s Wide World of Sports for legendary Olympic gymnast Nadia Comăneci, the 14-year-old wunderkind who would go on to score a perfect 10 at the Olympic Games.
The track became so famous and well known that it led to Botkin landing a Grammy for best instrumental arrangement in 1977.
The Young and the Restless Twitter page sent condolences to Botkin’s family, calling him a “brilliant composer” and linking to a story about his death.
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Botkin also contributed theme songs to TV shows such as Happy Days and Mork and Mindy. He helped to create the soundtrack for The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. His first composing credit was for My Brother the Angel in 1965.
The writer and composer followed in his father’s footsteps, as Botkin Sr., had written the theme to The Beverly Hillbillies. The younger Botkin had attended Indiana University and later, the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, where he majored in film scoring.
An Oscar Award nominee for Stanley Kramer’s Bless the Beasts & Children in 1972, Botkin also arranged Glen Campbell’s hit song, “Wichita Lineman” and The Cascades’ “Rhythm of the Rain.”
Over his career, Botkin worked as an arranger with such producers as Phil Spector and Van Dyke Parks, as well as an array of singers, including Barbra Streisand, Sammy Davis Jr., The Everly Brothers, The Supremes, and Paul Williams. Most recently, his music was included on the soundtrack to the movie, Baby Driver.
Botkin is survived by his wife Liza, son David, and grandson Daniel Tyler Botkin. We at SoapHub send our condolences to his family.
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