Teddy Randazzo, 68; Co-Wrote Songs Recorded by Hundreds

Teddy Randazzo, 68, the co-author of more than 600 songs for acts including the Temptations and Little Anthony and the Imperials, died Friday in Orlando, Fla. The cause of death was not reported.

Working with Bobby Weinstein and others, Randazzo wrote such hits as “Goin Out of My Head,” “Hurt So Bad” and “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle.”

A native of New York City, Randazzo was an accomplished child accordion player. He began his career at age 15 as lead singer of a group called the Three Chuckles. The group’s first hit, “Runaround,” rose to No. 20 on the Billboard charts and sold more than 1 million copies.

Randazzo started a solo career in 1957 and found modest success over the next seven years before meeting Weinstein.

The duo’s songs have been recorded by more than 350 artists, including Linda Ronstadt, Frank Sinatra, Queen Latifah and Luther Vandross. The duo split up in 1970 with Weinstein becoming an executive for Broadcast Music Inc. and Randazzo becoming a producer for Motown Records.