Though he worked for years as a solo folk artist,
Hoyt Axton is
best known for writing "Joy to the World," the smash hit in
the early '70s for Three
Dog Night.
Born on May 25, 1938, in Duncan, Okla., Axton was raised
by his mother, who quit teaching to write songs, including
the 1956 Elvis
Presley hit "Heartbreak Hotel." She taught her
son about music, enrolling him in piano lessons as a child.
While a teenager, Axton taught himself guitar and played
with friends throughout his college years.
After serving briefly in the Navy, Axton headed to California,
where he toured the coffeeshop circuit playing folk music.
In 1962, his song "Greenback Dollar" became a minor hit for
the Kingston
Trio, earning him a contract with Horizon
Records. Over the next decade he released five solo
albums that achieved moderate success. However, it was
the pop group Three Dog
Night, which Axton periodically supported, that
gave his career its biggest boost. The band released their
rendition of Axton's "Joy to the World" (RealAudio
excerpt) as the last track of their 1970 album,
Naturally. The song remains Axton's most
recognizable tune.
Having secured his niche as a pop songwriter, Axton spent
most of the '70s writing songs for established acts,
including Steppenwolf, ("The Pusher"
and "Snowblind Friend") and Ringo Starr.
He also worked as an actor, appearing in the 1979 movie
"Black Stallion."
After suffering a stroke in 1996, Axton's health continued to
fail. He died Oct. 26, 1999, at the age of 61.
Other birthdays Thursday: Jessi Colter, 53;
John Grimaldi,
45; and Pop
Stoneman, 1893–1968.
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