Whatever Happened To Hoyt Axton?

Hoyt Axton came out of the state of Oklahoma (by the way, his mother Mae Boren Axton co-wrote the Elvis classic 'Heartbreak Hotel!), served in the United States Navy and then pursued a career in music.

And what a career it was!

[juliehutson]

I absolutely adore Hoyt Axton ♥️he sang me to sleep at night.. as a 6 yr old girl dad left mom played Hoyt every night in the early 70s saw him numerous times at the Icehouse in LA. My dads best friend Terry Jacobs did lighting for him! He Will always be among my Hero's Hoyt John Wayne Jesus!!♥️♥️♥️♥️

[maybee...]

I will always remember my Dad singin along with Hoyt on the radio, "I don't give a damn about a green backed dollar"... spend it fast as I can... I was 5 when he (my Dad) was killed, so this remains one of my favorite memories, love Hoyt always.

[garyheaton]

One of the nicest, most down to earth people I have EVER met. A true gentleman indeed.
His passing was a great loss to this world, but not knowing him or not hearing of him is even worse.
RIP Hoyt, we will miss you pal.

[gratefulpipeandcigar]

My mom and dad raised me on some Hoyt Axton. I was just a little boy in the 70s and I still love going back and listening to Hoyt Axton.

[qxpxqx]

This review needs 1000x the "likes". HOYT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

[thomasswafford]

A trucker friend of mine met him. He was admiring his tour bus and had no idea who he was. My friend said Axton was very friendly. I wish I could have met him, truly one of the greats.

[bkbk]

Thanks for posting this. As a vocalist, Hoyt is one of my heroes, right up there with Eric Burdon, Peter Wolf, Nina Simone, Willier Dixon, etc. etc. I saw those I just mentioned, just wish I'd had a chance to see Hoyt.
I find it a crying shame that most people don't even know the name "Hoyt Axton" these days, he should by all rights be a legend. I describe him as one of America's best (possibly THE best) virtually unknown singer songwriters. From Voodoo Blues to Della and the Dealer, Joy to the World to the Pusher, Gypsy Moth to Boney Fingers, Daddy walked in Darkness to Never been to Spain, all amazing songs sung by an amazing voice. My personal favorite is Wild Bull Rider.
I front a band in Asheville, NC, the Hazy 88's, we do all sorts of music, most RnB or Rock n Roll based, and some originals, and plan to work up a set of Hoyt's music. I really look forward to performing some of his works, paying homage where due, and keeping Hoyt's name alive.
Cheers!

[JerryStanaway]

Axton also wrote "Greenback Dollar" which was a hit single by the Kingston Trio.

[dongeeguy]

Our group opened for Hoyt once at the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach. He was a good friend of our lead singer. What I remember most was the outrageous Panama Red he shared with us just before we went on stage.

[gordenscottfan]

Hoyt Axton, about the best small venue show you could have ever wanted....saw him 3 times in clubs with less then 400 people. Hoyt was a live performer and his records did not compete with his in personal performance... .

[beesarebeautiful]

Hoyt was just the absolute best - what a talent and personality.

[Turkeyinthehay]

Love Hoyt! I was raised on his music and to this day, his albums are cherished by family.

[georgefleming]

I like the 1960's Hoyt best. In 1963 on Hootenanny he did Downbound Train and One More Round. He came out on stage with his beat-up old guitar, threw one foot up onto a chair and blew the place away. Just astonishing. Fantastic. That was the first time I heard him perform.

Those were the days of Greenback Dollar and Saturday's Child and Jane, Jane, Jane and Young Man and Brisbane Ladies and Blue Prelude and Thunder N' Lightnin' and Hoochie Coochie Man and many other songs no one will ever do nearly as well as Hoyt did, with his magnificent voice and fine guitar playing and irreverent, humorous style.

No doubt part of his overwhelming effect was that he was a real man, big and dark and strong, someone you wouldn't tangle with, a boxing champion in the US Navy. The ladies loved him and all his friends said he was great fun.

That slide guitar riff he did on the 1965 Bonanza episode "Poor Howard" is as haunting a sound as you will ever hear. It is on youtube. It began the song "Endless Road", another fine song he did in the inimitable and magnificent style of those days. Too bad he sang only a few lines of it on that Bonanza show.

This early work is available at:


There is a lot of it on youtube, but I find that the sound is not nearly as good as you get on an original LP.

The stuff Hoyt did in the 1970's and later does not come up to his earlier work, although it is worth a listen.

[carmelitagood]

I am still watching Gunsmoke on MeTV. Thanks MeTV. Gunsmoke has always been my favorite Western show.

[randyjohnson]

God bless you on your journey Hoyt.A real gift to us all the big man Hoyt Axton.

[ronniebrown]

i really liked his "beyond these rose"...listened to him a lot in the early to late 70s in santa cruz, california

[WickedScott]

I honestly was hoping for a happier ending than that. RIP Hoyt!

[bobjennykizziar]

Used to go to the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach get there early, sit at the front table. It was a little club and my date and I would only be about three feet from the stage every time he played there. Only thing that ever came close was as a few years later stoned at the Fillmore in San Francisco. 🐣

[skullduggery]

my favorite song by him is 'sunrise' from my griffin is gone.

[johnaherne]

Della and the Dealer turned us on when we were young, but we can't turn back the years