01-15-2022, 12:40 PM
Dallas Frazier, age 82. One of the last of a classic breed of Nashville songwriters that included the likes of Jack Clement, Harlan Howard and John D. Loudermilk, he had a plethora of mostly country hits. Yet his first claim to fame was the smash pop hit “Alley Oop” by the Hollywood Argyles. His family moved from Oklahoma to Bakersfield CA when he was a child and chronicled this in the song “California Cotton Fields” which was not only recorded by Merle Haggard but was also a moderate hit for Frazier himself. Among his other classics were “There Goes My Everything “, a hit for Jack Greene, and “All I Have to Offer You is Me”, which was a hit for Charley’s Pride. But perhaps his crowning achievement was “Elvira”, taken into the stratosphere by the Oak Ridge Boys. In 1981 the song was not only a #1 country hit but also reached #5 pop.
Both George Jones and Connie Smith recorded entire albums of Mr. Frazier’s songs. And while he retired in 1988 and became an ordained minister, he did continue to be a mentor to younger songwriters. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1976 and has had songs recorded by many major country stars. In addition to those already mentioned the likes of Willie Nelson, Elvis Presley, Rodney Crowell and others have recorded his songs.
Both George Jones and Connie Smith recorded entire albums of Mr. Frazier’s songs. And while he retired in 1988 and became an ordained minister, he did continue to be a mentor to younger songwriters. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1976 and has had songs recorded by many major country stars. In addition to those already mentioned the likes of Willie Nelson, Elvis Presley, Rodney Crowell and others have recorded his songs.