Dallas Frazier
b. 27 October 1939, Spiro, Oklahoma, USA. Frazier wrote realistically about his family's move to Bakersfield in his song California Cottonfields, which was recorded by Merle Haggard. In his teens, he won a talent contest sponsored by Ferlin Husky and became part of his roadshow, with Husky subsequently recording Timber, I'm Falling!. However, Frazier's first success as a songwriter was with a novelty about a cartoon caveman, Alley-Oop. This 1960 record by a studio band, the Hollywood Argyles, which included Frazier himself, was a US number l and the song was also covered by Dante And The Evergreens, the Beach Boys, Brian Poole And The Tremeloes, the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and the Dynasores. Frazier wrote several songs in the same vein, notably Mohair Sam, a hit for Charlie Rich, and Elvira, a minor US pop hit for Frazier himself in 1966. Frazier's writing displays versatility and his songs include There Goes My Everything ( Jack Greene, Engelbert Humperdinck, Elvis Presley), Son Of Hickory Holler's Tramp ( O.C. Smith), Beneath Still Waters ( Emmylou Harris), If My Heart Had Windows ( George Jones) and Fourteen Carat Mind ( Gene Watson). He wrote four US country number 1 hits for Charley Pride with A.L. Doodle Owens (All I Have To Offer You (Is Me), (I'm So) Afraid Of Losing You Again, I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me, Then Who Am I). Although he has a fine voice, Frazier has only had moderate success as a performer, notably with Everybody Ought To Sing A Song, Sunshine Of My World and The Birthmark Henry Thompson Talked About. In addition to his own albums, both George Jones and Connie Smith have recorded albums of his songs. Smith's IF IT AIN'T LOVE includes three duets with him. Although he has been involved with the ministry since 1976, many of his older songs have become successful. In 1981 the Oak Ridge Boys won a gold disc for their version of Elvira.