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On this day, March 25, 1938, Hoyt Axton was born.
For some reason, I've missed his birthday all this time, until now.
Hat tip, This Day in Country Music
March 25th: On this day
1938
Born on this day, Hoyt Axton, US singer, songwriter and actor who wrote songs for Elvis Presley, Three Dog Night, John Denver, Ringo Starr and Glen Campbell. Had his own hits with "When The Morning Comes" and "Flash Of Fire". Acting roles included Bionic Woman and McCloud. Axton died of a heart attack on October 26th 1999, aged 61.
1938
Born on this day, Hoyt Axton, US singer, songwriter and actor who wrote songs for Elvis Presley, Three Dog Night, John Denver, Ringo Starr and Glen Campbell. Had his own hits with "When The Morning Comes" and "Flash Of Fire". Acting roles included Bionic Woman and McCloud. Axton died of a heart attack on October 26th 1999, aged 61.
Hat tip, This Day in Music
What Happened Today In Music
October 26th
1999 - Hoyt Axton
American singer, songwriter and actor Hoyt Axton died of a heart attack in Victor, Montana aged 61. He wrote songs for, Elvis Presley, Three Dog Night, (1971 US No.1 'Joy To The World'), John Denver, Ringo Starr, Glen Campbell. His mother Mae Boren Axton wrote 'Heartbreak Hotel'.
October 26th
1999 - Hoyt Axton
American singer, songwriter and actor Hoyt Axton died of a heart attack in Victor, Montana aged 61. He wrote songs for, Elvis Presley, Three Dog Night, (1971 US No.1 'Joy To The World'), John Denver, Ringo Starr, Glen Campbell. His mother Mae Boren Axton wrote 'Heartbreak Hotel'.
Now there was a musical family.
Hoyt Axton
Hoyt Axton on July 4, 1976
Background information
Birth name: Hoyt Wayne Axton
Born: March 25, 1938; Duncan, Oklahoma, U.S.
Origin: Comanche, Oklahoma
Died: October 26, 1999 (aged 61); Victor, Montana, U.S.
Genres: Country, folk, blues, rock
Occupation(s): Vocals, guitar
Years active: 1960–1999
Website: https://web.archive.org/web/20050826150814/http://sixcats.com/axton/hoyt.htm
Hoyt Wayne Axton (March 25, 1938 – October 26, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor. He became prominent in the early 1960s, establishing himself on the West Coast as a folk singer with an earthy style and powerful voice. Among his best-known songs are "Joy to the World", "The Pusher", "No No Song", "Greenback Dollar", "Della and the Dealer", and "Never Been to Spain".
He was also a prolific character actor, appearing in dozens of film and television roles over several decades, memorably as a father figure in a number of films, including The Black Stallion (1979) and Gremlins (1984).
{snip}
Early life
Born in Duncan, Oklahoma, Axton spent his preteen years in Comanche, Oklahoma, with his brother, John. His mother, Mae Boren Axton, a songwriter, co-wrote the classic rock 'n' roll song "Heartbreak Hotel", which became a major hit for Elvis Presley. Some of Hoyt's own songs were also later recorded by Presley. Axton's father, John Thomas Axton, was a naval officer stationed in Jacksonville, Florida; the family joined him there in 1949.
Axton graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1956 and left town after Knauer's Hardware Store burned down on graduation night, a prank gone wrong.
He attended Oklahoma State University on a scholarship, and he played football for the school, but he left to enlist in the US Navy. In the Navy, Axton held the rank of petty officer second class and served on two ships, the USS Princeton (CV-37) and the USS Ranger (CVA-61).
Axton was the first cousin of David Boren, who served as governor of Oklahoma and three terms in the United States Senate, and as president of the University of Oklahoma.
{snip}
Personal life and death
Axton was married four times; the first three ended in divorce. He had five children.
Axton struggled with cocaine addiction, and several of his songs, including "The Pusher", "Snowblind Friend", and "No No Song", partly reflect his negative drug experiences. He was a proponent of medical marijuana use for many years until his wife Deborah and he were arrested in February 1997 at their Montana home for possession of about 500 g (1.1 lb) of marijuana. His wife later explained that she offered Axton marijuana to relieve his pain and stress following his 1995 stroke. They were fined and given deferred sentences. Axton never fully recovered from his stroke, and he used a wheelchair much of the time afterwards. Axton died at age 61 at his home in Victor, Montana, on October 26, 1999, after suffering two heart attacks in two weeks.
On November 1, 2007, Axton and his mother Mae were both inducted posthumously into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
{snip}
Hoyt Axton on July 4, 1976
Background information
Birth name: Hoyt Wayne Axton
Born: March 25, 1938; Duncan, Oklahoma, U.S.
Origin: Comanche, Oklahoma
Died: October 26, 1999 (aged 61); Victor, Montana, U.S.
Genres: Country, folk, blues, rock
Occupation(s): Vocals, guitar
Years active: 1960–1999
Website: https://web.archive.org/web/20050826150814/http://sixcats.com/axton/hoyt.htm
Hoyt Wayne Axton (March 25, 1938 – October 26, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor. He became prominent in the early 1960s, establishing himself on the West Coast as a folk singer with an earthy style and powerful voice. Among his best-known songs are "Joy to the World", "The Pusher", "No No Song", "Greenback Dollar", "Della and the Dealer", and "Never Been to Spain".
He was also a prolific character actor, appearing in dozens of film and television roles over several decades, memorably as a father figure in a number of films, including The Black Stallion (1979) and Gremlins (1984).
{snip}
Early life
Born in Duncan, Oklahoma, Axton spent his preteen years in Comanche, Oklahoma, with his brother, John. His mother, Mae Boren Axton, a songwriter, co-wrote the classic rock 'n' roll song "Heartbreak Hotel", which became a major hit for Elvis Presley. Some of Hoyt's own songs were also later recorded by Presley. Axton's father, John Thomas Axton, was a naval officer stationed in Jacksonville, Florida; the family joined him there in 1949.
Axton graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1956 and left town after Knauer's Hardware Store burned down on graduation night, a prank gone wrong.
He attended Oklahoma State University on a scholarship, and he played football for the school, but he left to enlist in the US Navy. In the Navy, Axton held the rank of petty officer second class and served on two ships, the USS Princeton (CV-37) and the USS Ranger (CVA-61).
Axton was the first cousin of David Boren, who served as governor of Oklahoma and three terms in the United States Senate, and as president of the University of Oklahoma.
{snip}
Personal life and death
Axton was married four times; the first three ended in divorce. He had five children.
Axton struggled with cocaine addiction, and several of his songs, including "The Pusher", "Snowblind Friend", and "No No Song", partly reflect his negative drug experiences. He was a proponent of medical marijuana use for many years until his wife Deborah and he were arrested in February 1997 at their Montana home for possession of about 500 g (1.1 lb) of marijuana. His wife later explained that she offered Axton marijuana to relieve his pain and stress following his 1995 stroke. They were fined and given deferred sentences. Axton never fully recovered from his stroke, and he used a wheelchair much of the time afterwards. Axton died at age 61 at his home in Victor, Montana, on October 26, 1999, after suffering two heart attacks in two weeks.
On November 1, 2007, Axton and his mother Mae were both inducted posthumously into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
{snip}
Since his mom wrote a hit for Elvis, let's start with the King:
elvis presley-never been to spain (elvis on tour 1972)
386,825 views
elvispresleyILU
Published on Mar 27, 2008
the king!
386,825 views
elvispresleyILU
Published on Mar 27, 2008
the king!
Here's Hoyt Axton himself. Per the information at Youtube, "This performance was recorded live at Church Street Station in Orlando, Florida." It looks like a really swell joint, doesn't it?
Hoyt Axton - Boney Fingers
27,951 views
onemediamusic
Published on May 3, 2015
Hoyt Wayne Axton (March 25, 1938 – October 26, 1999) was an American folk music singer-songwriter, and a film and television actor. He became prominent in the early 1960s, establishing himself on the West Coast as a folk singer with an earthy style and powerful voice.
Hoyt Axton's highest charting song in the US was 'Boney Fingers', which peaked at number 8 on Billboard magazine's 'Hot Country Songs' chart.
This performance was recorded live at Church Street Station in Orlando, Florida.
27,951 views
onemediamusic
Published on May 3, 2015
Hoyt Wayne Axton (March 25, 1938 – October 26, 1999) was an American folk music singer-songwriter, and a film and television actor. He became prominent in the early 1960s, establishing himself on the West Coast as a folk singer with an earthy style and powerful voice.
Hoyt Axton's highest charting song in the US was 'Boney Fingers', which peaked at number 8 on Billboard magazine's 'Hot Country Songs' chart.
This performance was recorded live at Church Street Station in Orlando, Florida.
I could never leave this one out:
Hoyt Axton - Joy To The World (Live at Farm Aid 1985)
29,248 views
Farm Aid
Published on Jan 18, 2013
Hoyt Axton performs "Joy To The World" live at the Farm Aid concert in Champaign, Illinois on September 22, 1985. Farm Aid was started by Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp in 1985 to keep family farmers on the land and has worked since then to make sure everyone has access to good food from family farmers. Dave Matthews joined Farm Aid's board of directors in 2001.
For more information about Farm Aid, visit: http://farmaid.org/youtube
Farm Aid's performances are donated by the artists in order to raise funds and raise awareness for family farmers. They've raised their voices to help — what can you do?
29,248 views
Farm Aid
Published on Jan 18, 2013
Hoyt Axton performs "Joy To The World" live at the Farm Aid concert in Champaign, Illinois on September 22, 1985. Farm Aid was started by Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp in 1985 to keep family farmers on the land and has worked since then to make sure everyone has access to good food from family farmers. Dave Matthews joined Farm Aid's board of directors in 2001.
For more information about Farm Aid, visit: http://farmaid.org/youtube
Farm Aid's performances are donated by the artists in order to raise funds and raise awareness for family farmers. They've raised their voices to help — what can you do?
Or this:
Easy Rider (1969) The Pusher (Opening Scene)
335,725 views
W. Carter
Published on Apr 28, 2014
Directed by Dennis Hopper. Starring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Jack Nicholson. Wyatt and Billy are two motorcycle riders (bikers) on their way to Mardis Gras, and encounter hitchhikers, a drunken lawyer, a jail cell, a whorehouse and the death of a friend. Music by Steppenwolf, The Pusher.
335,725 views
W. Carter
Published on Apr 28, 2014
Directed by Dennis Hopper. Starring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Jack Nicholson. Wyatt and Billy are two motorcycle riders (bikers) on their way to Mardis Gras, and encounter hitchhikers, a drunken lawyer, a jail cell, a whorehouse and the death of a friend. Music by Steppenwolf, The Pusher.
On drums, Joey Edmonton:
Thu Oct 26, 2023: On October 24, 1946, Jerry Edmonton, of Steppenwolf, was born.
Wed Oct 26, 2022: On October 24, 1946, Jerry Edmonton, of Steppenwolf, was born.
Tue Oct 24, 2017: Happy 71st birthday, Jerry Edmonton.
Back to Hoyt Axton -- and his mom:
Thu Oct 26, 2023: On this day, October 26, 1999, Hoyt Axton died.
Sun Apr 9, 2023: On this day, April 9, 1997, Mae Boren Axton died.
Wed Oct 26, 2022: On this day, October 26, 1999, Hoyt Axton died.
Wed Oct 28, 2020: On October 26, 1999, Hoyt Axton died.
Thu Oct 26, 2017: Eighteen years ago today, Hoyt Axton died.
4 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
