Hoyt Axton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hoyt Axton
Hoyt Axton on July 4, 1976
Background information
Birth name	Hoyt Wayne Axton
Born	(1938-03-25)March 25, 1938 Duncan, Oklahoma, U.S.
Origin	Comanche, Oklahoma
Died	October 26, 1999(1999-10-26) (aged 61) Victor, Montana, U.S.
Genres	Country, folk, blues, rock
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter actor
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1962–1999
Labels	A&M Records, Brylen Records, Vee Jay Records

Hoyt Wayne Axton (March 25, 1938 – October 26, 1999) was a talented American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor. He became well-known in the early 1960s. People loved his folk music style and his strong, deep voice.

Hoyt Axton wrote many popular songs. Some of his most famous hits include "Joy to the World", "No No Song", "Greenback Dollar", "Della and the Dealer", and "Never Been to Spain". Besides music, he was also a busy actor. He played father figures in movies like The Black Stallion (1979) and Gremlins (1984).

Early Life and Family

Hoyt Axton was born in Duncan, Oklahoma. He spent his younger years in Comanche, Oklahoma, with his brother John. His mother, Mae Boren Axton, was a famous songwriter. She helped write "Heartbreak Hotel", a huge hit for Elvis Presley. Interestingly, Elvis later recorded some of Hoyt's own songs too!

Hoyt's father, John Thomas Axton, was a naval officer. In 1949, the family moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where his father was stationed. Hoyt finished high school there in 1956. After a small incident on graduation night, he left town.

He went to Oklahoma State University on a scholarship. He played football there. However, he soon left to join the U.S. Navy. He served on two ships, the USS Princeton and the USS Ranger.

Hoyt Axton had some famous relatives. He was a cousin of musician Arlo Guthrie. He was also a first cousin to David Boren. David Boren was a governor and a U.S. Senator for Oklahoma.

Music and Acting Career

After leaving the Navy, Hoyt Axton started singing folk songs. He performed in coffee houses and clubs in Southern California. In the early 1960s, he released his first folk album, The Balladeer. This album featured his song "Greenback Dollar". This song became a big hit for the Kingston Trio in 1963.

Axton released many albums throughout the 1960s and 1970s. His singing style was known for his unique bass-baritone voice. This voice later became even deeper. He had some smaller hits of his own, like "Boney Fingers" and "Della and the Dealer".

Hoyt Axton also had a successful acting career. He first appeared on TV in 1963. He was on shows like Hootenanny and Bonanza. In 1966, he made his movie debut in Smoky. He became very well-known in the 1970s and 1980s for his movie roles. These included The Black Stallion (1979) and Gremlins (1984). He also appeared on TV shows like McCloud and WKRP in Cincinnati.

He even sang jingles for commercials! He sang "The Ballad of Big Mac" for McDonald's and "Head for the Mountains" for Busch beer. In 1991, he was honored with an induction to The Walk of Western Stars.

Many of Hoyt Axton's songs became famous when other artists sang them.

• "Joy to the World" was a huge hit for Three Dog Night in 1971. It was the top song of the year!
• "Never Been to Spain" was covered by Three Dog Night and Elvis Presley.
• "Greenback Dollar" was a hit for the Kingston Trio.
• "No No Song" became a top hit for Ringo Starr.

Other famous singers like Joan Baez, John Denver, and Glen Campbell also covered his songs. Hoyt Axton sang duets with Linda Ronstadt and Tanya Tucker. He named his record label "Jeremiah" after the bullfrog in his song "Joy to the World".

Personal Life

Hoyt Axton was married four times and had five children. One of his children, Matt Axton, is also a musician.

Later Years and Legacy

Hoyt Axton passed away at his home in Victor, Montana, on October 26, 1999. He was 61 years old.

In 2007, Hoyt Axton and his mother, Mae Boren Axton, were honored. They were both inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Music Videos

Famous Songs Written by Hoyt Axton

Hoyt Axton wrote or co-wrote many songs that became popular. Here are some of them:

• "Greenback Dollar" - covered by the Kingston Trio and others.
• "Have a Nice Day" (1971) - covered by Bing Crosby and John Davidson.
• "Less Than The Song" (1972) - covered by Joan Baez, John Davidson, and Patti Page.
• "Lion In The Winter" (1974) - a duet with Linda Ronstadt.
• "Southbound" (1975) - covered by Three Dog Night and Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen.
• "No No Song" (1975) - became a #3 hit for Ringo Starr.
• "Never Been to Spain" - covered by Three Dog Night, Waylon Jennings, Elvis Presley, and Cher.
• "Joy to the World" - a huge hit for Three Dog Night in 1971.
• "Lightning Bar Blues" (1973) - covered by Commander Cody, Linda Ronstadt, and Arlo Guthrie.
• "Sweet Misery" (1974) - covered by John Denver and Martha Reeves.
• "Sweet Fantasy" (1974) - covered by Glen Campbell and David Clayton-Thomas.
• "Ease Your Pain" (1971) - covered by Anne Murray and Jackie DeShannon.
• "When the Morning Comes" (1974) - a duet with Linda Ronstadt.
• "You Taught Me How to Cry" - a 1977 duet with Tanya Tucker.
• "Boney Fingers" (1974) - a duet with Renee Armand.
• "Jealous Man" (1976) - performed on WKRP in Cincinnati.
• "Della and the Dealer" (1979) - also performed on WKRP.
• "Evangelina" (1974) - covered by Arlo Guthrie and Jonathan Edwards.
• "Flash of Fire" (1976) - co-written by Cathy Smith.
• "Gypsy Moth" (1976) - covered by Freddie White.
• "In a Young Girl's Mind" (1975) - covered by Johnny Cash.

Film and Television Roles

Film Appearances

• Smoky (1966) – Fred Denton
• The Black Stallion (1979) – Alec's father
• Skinflint: A Country Christmas Carol (1979, TV Movie) – Cyrus Flint
• Cloud Dancer (1980) – Brad's mechanic
• Liar's Moon (1982) – Cecil Duncan
• The Junkman (1982) – Himself / Cap. Gibbs / Rev. Jim Beam (voice)
• Endangered Species (1982) – Ben Morgan
• The Black Stallion Returns (1983) – Narrator (voice)
• Heart Like a Wheel (1983) – Tex Roque
• Deadline Auto Theft (1983) – Captain Gibbs
• Fred C. Dobbs Goes to Hollywood (1983)
• Gremlins (1984) – Randall Peltzer
• Act of Vengeance (1986, TV Movie) – Silous Huddleston
• Retribution (1987) – Lt. Ashley
• Christmas Comes to Willow Creek (1987, TV Movie) – Al Bensinger
• Guilty of Innocence: The Lenell Geter Story (1987, TV Movie) - Charlie Hartford
• Dixie Lanes (1988) – Clarence Laidlaw
• Disorganized Crime (1989) – Sheriff Henault
• We're No Angels (1989) – Father Levesque
• Buried Alive (1990, TV Movie) – Sheriff Sam Eberly
• Harmony Cats (1992) – Bill Stratton
• Space Case (1992) - Charlie
• Season of Change (1994) – Big Upton
• Kingfish: A Story of Huey P. Long (1995, TV Movie) – Huey P. Long, Sr.
• Number One Fan (1995) – Lt. Joe Halsey
• King Cobra (1999) – Mayor Ed Biddle

Hoyt Axton also wrote songs for several films. These included Outlaw Blues (1977), The Legend of Hillbilly John (1972), Buster and Billie (1974), Mitchell (1975), and The Junkman (1982).

Television Appearances

• The Story of a Folksinger (TV special, 1963) - Himself
• Hootenanny (1964) – Himself
• Bonanza (1965, Season 6, Episode 27: "Dead and Gone") – Howard Mead
• Iron Horse (1966) – Slash Birney
• I Dream of Jeannie (1966, Season 2, Episode 7: "Fastest Gun in the East") – Bull
• The Midnight Special (1973) (musical guest)
• The Hoyt Axton Country Western Boogie Woogie Gospel Rock and Roll Show (1975) – Himself. This NBC TV special featured Linda Ronstadt, Arlo Guthrie, and Ringo Starr.
• The Bionic Woman (1976) – Buck Buckley
• Dinah! (1976) (musical guest)
• McCloud (1977) – Johnny Starbuck
• Hee Haw (1977) (musical guest)
• Flying High (1978) - Himself
• Hee Haw Honeys (1979) (musical guest)
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1979) (musical guest)
• WKRP in Cincinnati (1979, performed "Della and the Dealer" and "Jealous Man") – T.J. Watson
• Austin City Limits (1979) (musical guest)
• The Dukes of Hazzard (1981) (musical guest)
• Flo (1981) (musical guest)
• Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1982, Season 1, Episode 3: "Challenges," and Episode 8: "Rodeo", in which he sang "I Dream of Highways") – Cooper Johnson
• The Rousters (1983–1984) – Cactus Jack Slade
• Diff'rent Strokes (1984-1985) – Wes McKinney
• Domestic Life (1984) – Rip Steele
• Faerie Tale Theatre (1984, "Goldilocks and the Three Bears") – Forest Ranger
• Cover Up (1984) - John Cody
• Glitter (1985) - Christie's father
• The Steel Collar Man (series pilot, 1985) - Red
• Trapper John, M.D. (1985) - Jack Dearborne
• Dallas: The Early Years (1986, TV Movie) – Aaron Southworth
• Murder, She Wrote (1988) – Sheriff Tate
• Midnight Caller (1990) – Ralston Cash Dollar
• Growing Pains (1990) – Claver Jackson
• Doorways (1993, series pilot) - Jake Mitchell

In 1992, Hoyt Axton narrated a documentary called The Alaska Highway: 1942-1992. This film was about the history of the Alaska Highway. He also hosted and narrated a series called Life and Times on The Nashville Network. In this series, he would introduce and close each show about a different country music star.