David Frizzell
Encyclopedia
David Frizzell is an American
country music singer. He is the younger brother of country music legend Lefty Frizzell
. His career first started in the late 1950s, but his biggest success came in the '80s, 30 years into his career.
, Arkansas
, in 1941. He began performing in his brother's show at the age of 12. He toured with his brother throughout the 1950s and 1960s and served in the U.S. Air Force
during the Vietnam War
. He signed with Columbia Records
in 1970 and finally achieved solo success, placing the single "I Just Can't Help Believing" on the Billboard
top-40 country charts.
Frizzell appeared regularly on Buck Owens'
All American TV Show during the 1970s, and recorded for Capitol Records
. In 1981, he recorded his first number-one country hit, "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma
," a duet with Shelly West
. The song won the Country Music Association's
Song of the Year and Vocal Duet of the Year awards in 1981 and was featured in Clint Eastwood's
film Any Which Way You Can
. Frizzell and West also won the Academy of Country Music
award for Vocal Duo of the Year in 1981 and 1982.
In August 1982, Frizzell scored his only solo number-one country single with "I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home
", which was nominated for Song of the Year
in the 1982 Grammy Awards. He continued to tour and record with West until 1986.
After he parted ways with Shelly West, Frizzell continued to record solo albums, but he has not kept up the phenomenal popularity he commanded during the early 1980s. He is currently touring and working on a television tribute to his late brother, Lefty Frizzell.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country music singer. He is the younger brother of country music legend Lefty Frizzell
Lefty Frizzell
Lefty Frizzell , born William Orville Frizzell, was an American country music singer and songwriter of the 1950s, and a proponent of honky tonk music. His relaxed style of singing was an influence on later stars Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, George Jones and John Fogerty...
. His career first started in the late 1950s, but his biggest success came in the '80s, 30 years into his career.
Biography
Frizzell was born in El DoradoEl Dorado, Arkansas
El Dorado , a multi-cultural arts center: South Arkansas Arts Center , an award-winning renovated downtown, and numerous sporting, shopping, and dining opportunities. El Dorado is the population, cultural, and business center of the 7,300 mi² regional area...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, in 1941. He began performing in his brother's show at the age of 12. He toured with his brother throughout the 1950s and 1960s and served in the U.S. Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. He signed with Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in 1970 and finally achieved solo success, placing the single "I Just Can't Help Believing" on the Billboard
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
top-40 country charts.
Frizzell appeared regularly on Buck Owens'
Buck Owens
Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. , better known as Buck Owens, was an American singer and guitarist who had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band, the Buckaroos...
All American TV Show during the 1970s, and recorded for Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
. In 1981, he recorded his first number-one country hit, "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma
You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma
"You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma" is a 1981 single from the film "Any Which Way You Can" and was performed by David Frizzell and Shelly West. "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma" was written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, Larry Collins and Sandy Pinkard would become Shelly West's debut on...
," a duet with Shelly West
Shelly West
Shelly West is an American country music singer. Her mother was the country music star Dottie West, whose career spanned three decades. Shelly West is best known for having hit duets with David Frizzell, and for their #1 hit "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma"...
. The song won the Country Music Association's
Country Music Association
The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre...
Song of the Year and Vocal Duet of the Year awards in 1981 and was featured in Clint Eastwood's
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
film Any Which Way You Can
Any Which Way You Can
* Beers To You** Written by Steve Dorff , John Durrill , Sandy Pinkard and Snuff Garrett ** Sung by Ray Charles and Clint Eastwood* Any Which Way You Can...
. Frizzell and West also won the Academy of Country Music
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
award for Vocal Duo of the Year in 1981 and 1982.
In August 1982, Frizzell scored his only solo number-one country single with "I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home
I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home
"I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home" is a 1982 single written by Dewayne Blackwell and recorded by David Frizzell. "I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home" would be David Frizzell's only number one on the country chart as a solo artist...
", which was nominated for Song of the Year
Grammy Award for Song of the Year
The Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year...
in the 1982 Grammy Awards. He continued to tour and record with West until 1986.
After he parted ways with Shelly West, Frizzell continued to record solo albums, but he has not kept up the phenomenal popularity he commanded during the early 1980s. He is currently touring and working on a television tribute to his late brother, Lefty Frizzell.
Albums
| Year | Album | US Country | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Carryin' On the Family Names (with Shelly West Shelly West Shelly West is an American country music singer. Her mother was the country music star Dottie West, whose career spanned three decades. Shelly West is best known for having hit duets with David Frizzell, and for their #1 hit "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma"... ) |
6 | Warner/Viva |
| 1982 | The David Frizzell & Shelly West Album (with Shelly West) | 8 | |
| The Family's Fine, But This One's All Mine | 7 | ||
| 1983 | Our Best to You (with Shelly West) | 24 | |
| On My Own Again | 32 | Viva | |
| 1984 | In Session (with Shelly West) | 33 | |
| Solo | — | ||
| Golden Duets (The Best of Frizzell & West) (with Shelly West) | 45 | ||
| 1993 | My Life Is Just a Bridge | — | RCA |
| 1999 | For the Love of Country | — | Kingston |
| 2010 | Frizzell & Friends – This Is Our Time | — | Nashville American |
Singles
| Year | Song | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
CAN Country | |||
| 1970 | "L.A. International Airport" | 67 | — | singles only |
| "I Just Can't Help Believing" | 36 | — | ||
| 1971 | "Goodbye" | 73 | — | |
| 1973 | "Words Don't Come Easy" | 63 | — | |
| "Take Me One More Ride" | 94 | — | ||
| 1976 | "A Case of You" | 100 | — | |
| 1981 | "Lefty" (with Merle Haggard Merle Haggard Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,... ) |
45 | — | Carryin' On the Family Names |
| 1982 | "I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home "I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home" is a 1982 single written by Dewayne Blackwell and recorded by David Frizzell. "I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home" would be David Frizzell's only number one on the country chart as a solo artist... "A |
1 | 3 | The Family's Fine, But This One's All Mine |
| "Lost My Baby Blues" | 5 | 5 | ||
| 1983 | "Where Are You Spending Your Nights These Days" | 10 | 13 | On My Own Again |
| "A Million Light Beers Ago" | 39 | 38 | ||
| 1984 | "Black and White" | 64 | — | |
| "Who Dat" | 60 | — | Solo | |
| "When We Get Back to the Farm (That's When We Really Go to Town)" |
49 | 43 | ||
| "No Way Jose" | 49 | 38 | single only | |
| 1985 | "Country Music Love Affair" | 63 | — | Solo |
| 1986 | "Celebrity" | 71 | — | singles only |
| 1987 | "Beautiful Body" | 74 | — |
- A"I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home" also peaked at #20 on the RPMRPM (magazine)RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
Top Singles chart in Canada.
Singles with Shelly West
| Year | Song | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
CAN Country | |||
| 1981 | "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma" is a 1981 single from the film "Any Which Way You Can" and was performed by David Frizzell and Shelly West. "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma" was written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, Larry Collins and Sandy Pinkard would become Shelly West's debut on... " |
1 | 13 | Carryin' on the Family Names |
| "A Texas State of Mind" | 9 | — | ||
| "Husbands and Wives Husbands and Wives (song) Country music duo Brooks & Dunn covered the song on their 1998 album If You See Her. Featuring lead vocals from Ronnie Dunn, their version was the album's third single, reaching the top of the country singles charts in December 1998. It was also a Top 40 pop hit, peaking at #36 on the Billboard Hot... " |
16 | 38 | ||
| 1982 | "Another Honky-Tonk Night on Broadway" | 8 | 20 | The David Frizzell & Shelly West Album |
| "I Just Came Here to Dance" | 4 | 9 | ||
| "Please Surrender" | 43 | — | Our Best to You | |
| 1983 | "Cajun Invitation" | 52 | — | |
| "Pleasure Island" | 71 | — | In Session | |
| 1984 | "Silent Partners" | 20 | 20 | |
| "It's a Be Together Night" | 13 | 40 | Golden Duets (The Best of Frizzell & West) | |
| 1985 | "Do Me Right" | 60 | — |