Gene Watson's Peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as 'the singer's singer' - and rightly so!
All of Gene Watson's Peers, who were contacted during 2011, were most gracious with their time and words.
It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Dallas Frazier, which he submitted to this site on Sunday 14 August 2011.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Dallas Frazier who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Dallas Frazier and Gene Watson at a 'Country's Family Reunion' recording in Nashville on Wednesday 6 October 2010
Dallas Frazier
This quote was submitted on Sunday 14 August 2011.
'It's my pleasure to give a quote for Gene's Fan Site.
The first time I heard 'Fourteen Carat Mind', I was blown away!
Gene Watson is a man who can deliver the freight!
A songwriter couldn't ask for more.
I'll always be one of his fans'
Thank you, Dallas Frazier, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Dallas Frazier...
Dallas Frazier was born Dallas June Frazier on Friday 27 October 1939 in Spiro, Oklahoma and was raised in Bakersfield, California; he has become one of the genre of country music's most enduring songwriters.
Dallas Frazier was skilled on a number of musical instruments by the age of twelve; while still in his teens, he became a featured member of Ferlin Husky's band, cutting his first solo single, 'Space Command', in 1954; Ferlin Husky (Thursday 3 December 1925 - Thursday 17 March 2011).
Soon after, Dallas Frazier was named a regular performer on 'Hometown Jamboree', where he was often paired with fellow teen star Molly Bee.
Dallas Frazier's 1957 song, 'Alley Oop', later taken to No.1 in the United States by The Hollywood Argyles, was his first hit. After 'Hometown Jamboree' went off the air, Dallas Frazier moved to Nashville, where he found work as a songwriter.
In 1963, Bonnie Owens (Tuesday 1 October 1929 - Monday 24 April 2006) recorded Dallas Frazier's 'Why Don't Daddy Live Here Anymore' (co-written with Fuzzy Owen) for Tally Records; the track, reached No.25 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1963, was subsequently included on Bonnie Owens' 'Don't Take Advantage of Me' (Capitol Records, 1965).
Among Dallas Frazier's early successes was 'Timber I'm Falling', a hit for Ferlin Husky (Thursday 3 December 1925 - Thursday 17 March 2011) in 1964; the track was included on Ferlin Husky's 'By Request' (Capitol Records, 1964) and reached No.13 on the Billboard country music singles chart.
In June 1966, Dallas Frazier saw the release of his first solo album, 'Elvira' (Capitol Records, 1966); the title track reached No.72 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1966, while 'Just A Little Bit of You' reached No.108 on the Billboard Hot 200 pop music singles chart, also in 1966.
Dallas Frazier's first solo album, 'Elvira' (Capitol Records, 1966) included the following tracks:
'Especially For You' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'She's A Yum-Yum' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'Whoop It On 'Um' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'Alley Oop' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'Walkin' Wonder' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'Done Made Up My Mind' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'Mohair Sam' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'Baby, Ain't That Fine' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'That Ain't No Stuff' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'Been Rained On' (written by Dallas Frazier)
It was also in 1966 when Dallas Frazier's career caught fire; in addition to releasing his own debut album, 'Elvira' (Capitol Records, 1966), he wrote three successful country music hit singles; Connie Smith recorded 'Ain't Had No Loving' (No.2, 1966), George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013) recorded 'I'm A People' (No.6, 1966) and Jack Greene (Tuesday 7 January 1930 - Thursday 15 March 2013) recorded 'There Goes My Everything' (No.1 for seven weeks in December 1966 / January 1967).
In July 1967, Dallas Frazier saw the release of 'Tell It Like It Is' (Capitol Records, 1967), which included the following tracks:
'Don't Come Knocking On My Door' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'Write That Down' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'Tell It Like It Is' (written by George Davis and Lee Diamond)
'My Woman Up't & Gone' (written by Dallas Frazier) / this track was released as a single in 1966, but it did not chart on the Billboard country music singles chart or the Billboard pop music singles chart
'Honk'n Tonk' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'Hard Working Days Are On Their Way For Nannie Mae' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'Ain't Nothin' Shakin' (But The Leaves)',which was written by Dallas Frazier and Arthur Leo 'Doodle' Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 - Monday 4 October 1999)
'Green Green Grass of Home', which was written by Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 - Sunday 30 October 2016)
'Clawhammer Clyde' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'Ain't Had No Lovin' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'Hurtin' From The Hunger For Your Love' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'Home In My Hand' (written by Dallas Frazier)
Red Sovine (Wednesday 17 July 1918 - Friday 4 April 1980) recorded Dallas Frazier's 'There Goes My Everything' and included the track on 'The Nashville Sound of Red Sovine' (Starday Records, 1967).
Between 1967 and 1969, Dallas Frazier saw the release of a number of non-album singles, including the following:
'Everybody Oughta Sing A Song' (No.28, 1967)
'The Sunshine of My World' (No.43, 1968)
'I Hope I Like Mexico Blues' (No.59, 1968)
'The Conspiracy of Homer Jones' (No.63, 1969)
As the 1960s drew to a close, Dallas Frazier's songs remained popular material for other country music artists; in addition to supplying more country music hit songs for George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013), Jack Greene (Tuesday 7 January 1930 - Thursday 15 March 2013) and Connie Smith, Dallas Frazier's compositions were recorded by Willie Nelson, Brenda Lee and Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 - Saturday 12 December 2020).
Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 - Wednesday 6 April 2016) also included three Dallas Frazier songs on 'The Legend of Bonnie & Clyde' (Capitol Records, 1968); 'Love Has A Mind of Its Own', 'The Train Never Stops (At Our Town)' and 'Will You Visit Me On Sundays?'.
In the 1970s, Dallas Frazier's success only increased.
In 1970, Dallas Frazier saw the release of 'The Birthmark Henry Thompson Talks About', a non-album single, which reached No.45 on the Billboard country music singles chart.
In May 1970, Dallas Frazier saw the release of 'Singing My Songs' (RCA Records, 1970), which included the following tracks:
'There Goes My Everything' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'California Cottonfields' (written by Dallas Frazier and Earl Montgomery) (No.45, 1969)
'All I Have To Offer You Is Me', which was written by Dallas Frazier and Arthur Leo 'Doodle' Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 - Monday 4 October 1999)
'Lord, Is That Me', which was written by Dallas Frazier and Sanger D. 'Whitey' Shafer(Wednesday 24 October 1934 - Saturday 12 January 2019)
'If My Heart Had Windows' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'Sweetheart, Don't Throw Yourself Away' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'I'm So Afraid of Losing You Again', which was written by Dallas Frazier and Arthur Leo 'Doodle' Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 - Monday 4 October 1999)
'I Just Got Tired of Being Poor' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'Will You Visit Me On Sundays?' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'She Wants To Be Good' (written by Dallas Frazier)
In July 1971, Dallas Frazier saw the release of 'My Baby Packed Up My Mind & Left' (RCA Records, 1971), which included the following tracks:
'My Baby Packed Up My Mind & Left Me', which was written by Dallas Frazier and Arthur Leo 'Doodle' Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 - Monday 4 October 1999)
'I'm Finally Over You' (written by Dallas Frazier and Sanger D. 'Whitey' Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 - Saturday 12 January 2019)
'Where Is My Castle' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'White Fences & Evergreen Trees' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'Touching Home', which was written by Dallas Frazier and Arthur Leo 'Doodle' Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 - Monday 4 October 1999)
'Big Mable Murphy' (written by Dallas Frazier) (No.43, 1971)
'Got My Mind On The Border of Mexico' (written by Dallas Frazier)
'She Wakes Me With A Kiss Every Morning', which was written by Dallas Frazier and Arthur Leo 'Doodle' Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 - Monday 4 October 1999)
'Ode To A Child of The Wind', which was written by Dallas Frazier and Arthur Leo 'Doodle' Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 - Monday 4 October 1999)
'Where Did They Go, Lord', which was written by Dallas Frazier and Arthur Leo 'Doodle' Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 - Monday 4 October 1999)
Dallas Frazier became one of Nashville's most sought-after writers, composing hits for Elvis Presley (Tuesday 8 January 1935 - Tuesday 16 August 1977), Moe Bandy, Roy Head, Rodney Crowell and Ronnie Hawkins, as well as Ferlin Husky (Thursday 3 December 1925 - Thursday 17 March 2011), Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 - Saturday 12 December 2020) and Jack Greene (Tuesday 7 January 1930 - Thursday 15 March 2013).
Between 1971 and 1973, Dallas Frazier saw the release of a number of non-album singles, including the following:
'High Steppin' Mama' / this track was released as a single in 1971, but it did not chart
'North Carolina' (No.42, 1972)
'Let That Lonesome Fiddle Man Take The Lead' / this track was released as a single in 1973, but it did not chart
In 1972, Dallas Frazier joined Connie Smith for three cuts on 'If It Ain't Love & Other Great Dallas Frazier Songs' (RCA Records, 1972).
In 1972, Stoney Edwards (Tuesday 24 December 1929 - Saturday 5 April 1997) recorded Dallas Frazier's 'Tell Me That You Love Me', which was co-written with Arthur Leo 'Doodle' Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 - Monday 4 October 1999), and included the track on 'Stoney Edwards' (Capitol Records, 1972).
On Monday 25 July 2005, England's Hux Records released Stoney Edwards' 'Stoney Edwards' (Capitol Records, 1972), along with Stoney Edwards' 'She's My Rock' (Capitol Records, 1973), as a special '2-for-1' CD set (HUX 069).
On Sunday 10 October 1976, Dallas Frazier was inducted into The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In the 1980s, Dallas Frazier's songs continued to hit the Billboard country music singles chart.
Emmylou Harris recorded Dallas Frazier's 'Beneath Still Waters' and included the track on 'Blue Kentucky Girl' (Warner Bros. Records, 1979); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in May 1980.
The Oak Ridge Boys recorded Dallas Frazier's 'Elvira' and included the track on 'Fancy Free' (MCA Records, 1981); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in May / June 1981, and No.5 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in the summer of 1981.
On Saturday 3 October 1981, Gene Watson's recording of 'Fourteen Carat Mind', which was written by Dallas Frazier and Larry Lee Favorite (1939 - Saturday 26 May 2001), made its debut on the Billboard country music singles chart where it remained for nineteen weeks.
Gene Watson enjoyed a happy start to the new year when the single 'Fourteen Carat Mind' enjoyed the honour of spending one week at No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart in January 1982 (Saturday 9 January 1982 - Saturday 16 January 1982); the track was included on Gene Watson's 'Old Loves Never Die' (MCA Records, 1981).
Country music artists, including George Strait, Randy Travis and Patty Loveless, have also found success with Dallas Frazier's compositions.
However, in 1988, Dallas Frazier retired from song-writing, leaving Nashville to pursue a career in the ministry.
• Visit Dallas Frazier's official site at dallasfraziermusic.com
