Through the late 1960s and early 1970s he continued to be disappointed in his own record sales, but as a songwriter he was much in demand. The death of a friend from a drug overdose inspired him to write "The Pusher," which achieved hit status for Steppenwolf. Hoyt's own struggles with addiction helped shape some of his other songs through the years, including "Snowblind Friend," and a decade later, "The No No Song," which struck gold for Ringo Starr. One of his biggest breaks as a composer occurred when he was the opening act for Three Dog Night and they heard his "Joy To The World." It soon became the group's first number-one, and they later successfully recorded his "Never Been To Spain."
Eventually Hoyt's own singing efforts began to pay dividends, allowing him to hit the charts with several songs, among them 1974's "Boney Fingers," and 1979's "Della and the Dealer." His record sales were up and down over the last two decades of his life, but he continued recording and acting too. Unfortunately, a 1995 stroke began a period of ill health and he died in 1999 at age 61, leaving behind a rich legacy of unforgettable music.
Article comments
1 - Tom
Do you know where one could find a copy of the music video he did late in his career or Heartbreak Hotel?
2 - Big Geez
No, I sure don't. Maybe it will ring a bell with another reader.