Beatien Yazz (May 29, 1929 – June 20, 2021), also called Jimmy Toddy, was a Navajo American painter and teacher born near Wide Ruins, Arizona.
Hoska Ye Ta Das Woot was born to Joe and Desbah Toddy on the Navajo Reservation near Wide Ruins, Arizona.
Bill and Sallie Lippencott, who ran the Wide Ruins Trading Post, recognized his talent and encouraged his art.
[2] During World War II, Yazz lied about his age in order to serve in the United States Marine Corps as a Code talker, utilizing his knowledge of the Navajo language.
He created some tiles for Gila Pottery, designed fabric on commission for Tumble-weed Prints, and had his work reproduced as greeting cards for a number of companies.
[2] Probably his most famous painting was an untitled one that art director Gary Burden found at a yard sale for 25 cents and later used for the front sleeve of The Eagles' 1974 album On The Border.