Tom believe it or not Boots did not invent the growl sax. I growled in 1956 when just learning the Sax and I think Boots became famous sometime after that. They were growling in the 20's and 30's probably before Boots was born. Ha! Ha!

I was practicing Yakety Sax everyday from the first day I heard it. I still enjoy looking at people's faces when I kick it off.

That's all my buddy and I did was growl for the first 2 or 3 years in our rock & roll bands. But after we learned to play real tough tunes the right way there was no need for the gimmick anymore.

I might growl for a few notes here and there during the night, but it's only on tunes like Night Train etc. or some tune where it might be appropriate.

If a guy growls all night into his horn, it is more noise than music. You know what I mean?