Hoyt Axton

Country and folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist Hoyt Axton – born in Duncan, Oklahoma on March 25, 1938 – was best known for writing or co-writing the hits “Joy to the World” (Three Dog Night), “Greenback Dollar” (The Kingston Trio), “Never Been to Spain” (Three Dog Night / Elvis Presley), and “The No No Song” (Ringo Starr). The cousin of folks singer Arlo Guthrie and son of songwriter Mae Boren Axton, who co-wrote “Heartbreak Hotel” (Elvis Presley), Hoyt Axton began his musical journey after he was discharged from the US Navy. He began performing folk songs at clubs and coffee houses in Southern California. He released his debut album, The Balladeer: Recorded Live at the Troubadour, in 1962 which was swiftly followed by the album Greenback Dollar. The Kingston Trio then released their version of the song “Greenback Dollar,” which Hoyt had co-written with Ken Ramsey. While he continued to release his own albums – including Hoyt Axton Explodes! (1964), Long Old Road (1964), My Griffin is Gone (1969), Joy to the World (1971), and Less Than the Song (1973) – he didn’t achieve commercial success on the Country Music Album chart until 1974’s Life Machine (number 21). He released several more Top 40 albums including Southbound (1975), Fearless (1976), Snowblind Friend (1977), Road Songs (1978), A Rusty Old Halo (1979), Where Did the Money Go? (1980), and Live! (1981). Hoyt Axton also scored some hit singles with “When the Morning Comes” with Linda Ronstadt (1974), “Boney Fingers” with Renee Armand (1974), “Flash of Fire” (1976), “Della and the Dealer” (1979), “A Rusty Old Halo” (1979), and more. Throughout Hoyt Axton’s career, his songs were covered by a myriad of artists including Glen Campbell, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, John Denver, Harry Belafonte, David Clayton-Thomas, and many others. He also had a successful career as an actor, appearing in many films and television series. After suffering two heart attacks in one week, Hoyt Axton died in Victor, Montana on October 26, 1999, at the age of 61.