The son of famed country/rock & roll songwriter Mae Axton (“Heartbreak Hotel”), Hoyt Axton followed in his mother's footsteps by writing hits that appealed to the country, pop, and rock markets in the 1960s and '70s. Among the best-known of these are “Never Been to Spain," “Joy To the World” (Three Dog Night), “No No Song” (Ringo Starr), “The Pusher” (Steppenwolf) and “Greenback Dollar” (The Kingston Trio). In addition, Axton had a prolific career as a performer and recording artist and appeared as an actor in a number of films and TV shows. Axton suffered a stroke in 1995, sending his health on a downward spiral, and he died in 1999.