The Professional Work of Dallas Frazier
Dallas Frazier was one of country music's most prolific songwriters from the mid-60s through the mid-80s. In 1960, Dallas had a major hit as a songwriter with Alley Oop. The Hollywood Argyles took his song to number one on the pop charts. The smash single sold over a million copies. Three years later, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, USA where he launched a successful career writing songs for country music artist.
Dallas Frazier was born on October 27, 1939, in Spiro, OK. Raised in Bakersfield, CA, he was skilled on a number of musical instruments by the age of 12. While still in his teens, he became a featured member of Ferlin Husky,s band, cutting his first solo single, Space Command, in 1954.
From 1954-1958, he worked as a feature singer on Cliffie Stone's Hometown Jamboree program. The legendary program was broadcast over radio station KXLA out of Pasadena, California, five days a week. On Saturdays, it was broadcast over KCOP, Channel 13 in the Los Angeles area. Dallas was often paired with fellow teen star Molly Bee on the program.
After the Hometown Jamboree was canceled at the end of the decade (1959), Frazier moved to Nashville (1963) and began songwriting after inking a writing contract with Blue Crest Music. One of his first country music compositions was a Ferlin Husky hit called Timber I'm Falling (No. 13, 1964).
Two years later, Dallas broke into the spotlight when three of his compositions topped the country music charts. There Goes My Everything (Jack Greene: No. 1, 1967), Ain't Had No Lovin' (Connie Smith: No. 2, 1966), and I'm a People (George Jones: No. 6, 1966), established Dallas as a compelling songwriter. In 1967, There Goes My Everything was named Song of the Year, by the Country Music Association (CMA). Based on the popularity and chart success of that song, Jack Green (the artist) was named Male Vocalist of the Year, by CMA in 1967.
Dallas recorded for Capitol Records (1967 ~ 1969) and during period, he charted with four minor singles. Not much improved for Dallas during a subsequent stint with RCA from 1969 ~ 1972). Nevertheless, Frazier's niche was songwriting and he remained a highly sought-after write as Jones, Greene and Smith, continually reached out to Dallas for more of his songs.
Dallas’ success only increased as he generated a pair of chart topping singles for Charley Pride; (All I Have to Offer You Is Me (No. 1, 1969) and I’m So Afraid of Losing You Again (No. 1, 1969). Many of his songs rose to the upper-chart levels such as, Touching Home (Jerry Lee Lewis, No. 3, 1971), Elvira (Oak Ridge Boys, No. 1, 1981) and Fourteen Carat Mind (Gene Watson, No. 1, 1981).
Frazier tunes were also recorded by Willie Nelson, Brenda Lee, Merle Haggard, Elvis Presley, Moe Bandy, Rodney Crowell, Ronnie Hawkins, George Strait, Randy Travis, and Patty Loveless.
Dallas Frazier was honored with a cache of awards that include, BMI Certificate of Achievement (There Goes My Everything, 1967); CMA Song of the Year (There Goes My Everything, 1967); Nashville Songwriters Association Song of the Year (There Goes My Everything, 1967); Nashville Songwriters Association Songwriter of the Year (1967); Music City News Songwriter of the Year (1982) and BMI Robert J. Burton Award: Country Song of the Year (Elvira, 1982). He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1976.
In 1988, Frazier retired from songwriting, leaving Nashville to pursue a career in the ministry.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------Frazier, Dallas Song Catalog:
- Ain't Had No Lovin - Artists: Connie Smith (1966)
- All I Have to Offer You Is Me - Artists: Charley Pride (1969)
- Alley Oop - Artist: The Hollywood Argyles (1960)
- Beneath Still Waters - Artists: Emmylou Harris (1980)
- Elvira - Artists: Oak Ridge Boys (1980)
- Fourteen Carat Mind - Artists: Gene Watson (1981)
- If My Heart Had Windows - Artists: George Jones (1967)
- I'm a People - Artists: George Jones (1966)
- (I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again - Artists: Charley Pride (1969)
- Johnny One-Time - Artists: Brenda Lee (1968)
- Mohair Sam - Artist: Charlie Rich (1965)
- Say It's Not You - Artists: George Jones (1968)
- Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp - Artist: Johnny Darrell (1970)
- The Baptism of Jesse Taylor - Artists: Johnny Russell (1973)
- There Goes My Everything - Artist: Jack Greene (1967)
- Touching Home - Artists: Jerry Lee Lewis (1971)
- Until My Dreams Come True - Artists: Jack Greene (1969)
- What's Your Mama's Name Child - Artists: Tanya Tucker (1973)
- Where Did They Go Lord - Artists: Elvis Presley (1971)
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Researched, compiled and written by Richard Bell, Country Music Historian, Roots of Country Music, Dec. 14, 2010.
