Emil Hugo Flindt was born on September 9, 1887, in Davenport, Scott County, Iowa, USA, and passed away on February 2, 1961, in Maywood, Cook County, Illinois, USA. He is interred at Springdale Cemetery in Clinton, Iowa. Flindt was a musician and composer, known for his contributions to early 20th-century American music. He moved to Clinton in 1912, where he played at the Family Theatre, directed the Clinton Citizens' Band, and managed Flindt's Song Shop. He also served as the department manager of Hoffman Music Co.

During World War I, Flindt led the 126th Field Artillery Band and composed a melody known as "The Truck Driver's Dream," later introduced as "The Waltz of the Poppies." Although not widely recognized nationally, Flindt's work had a lasting impact, particularly his composition "The Waltz You Saved for Me," which became popular through various recordings by artists such as Wayne King, Merle Haggard, and Duke Ellington.

Flindt's career also intersected with the jazz scene, as he played violin in a duo with Fate Marable on riverboats, contributing to the spread of jazz music along the Mississippi River. Despite his lack of national fame, Emil Flindt's contributions to music, particularly through his waltz compositions, have left a lasting legacy.