Songwriter Dallas Frazier, a multi-Grammy winner who is enshrined in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, died on Friday, according to a report. He was 82.
Frazier built a career on his notable songwriting ability, creating hits like Hollywood Argyles’ 1960 hit “Alley Oop”, The Oak Ridge Boys’ 1981 classic “Elvira,” and the 1971’s Jack Greene-recorded “There Goes My Everything.”
“Dallas Frazier is among the greatest country songwriters of all time,” said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Billboard reported.
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Frazier, who was born in Spiro, Oklahoma, also co-wrote numerous No. 1 hits with A.L. “Doodle” Owens, including 1969’s “All I Have to Offer You (Is Me),” which was Charley Pride’s first No. 1 Billboard Hot Country Songs hit. Pride scored two other No. 1 country hits alongside Frazier and Owens, including “(I’m So) Afraid of Losing You Again,” in 1969, “I Can’t Believe That You’ve Stopped Loving Me,” in1970, and “Then Who Am I,” in 1974. (Pride died in 2020 to COVID-19-related complications).
Recording Artist Connie Smith, BMI’s Clay Bradley and Songwriter Dallas Frazier during Sugar Hill Records’ “Long Line of Heartaches” Reception With Connie Smith on Sept. 8, 2011, at the BMI offices in Nashville, Tennessee. (Getty Images)
“He could convey infectious fun with ‘Elvira,’ and then write something as stunningly sad and true as ‘Beneath Still Waters,'” Young added. “His songs helped Connie Smith to become a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was a man of kindness, generosity, and faith, who overcame a hardscrabble upbringing to offer smiling gifts to all of us. He lived a beautiful life of a beautiful mind.”
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In 1976, Frazier was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and he continued producing top hits.
Dallas Frazier performs at “Songs That Tell a Story,” the final Marty Stuart Artist-in-Residence Show at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on September 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Getty Images)
Frazier wrote “Beneath Still Waters” for Emmylou Harris in 1980, which became a No. 1 country hit. He also co-wrote Tanya Tucker’s “What’s Your Mama’s Name?” which became her first No. 1 hit, Billboard reported.
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Frazier’s applauded writing ability created a magical feel to listeners, he said in an interview in 2018 with journalist Tom Roland.
Dallas Frazier, left, and Marty Stuart perform at “Songs That Tell a Story,” the Third of Three Marty Stuart Artist-in-Residence Shows at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Sept. 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Getty Images)
“I’ve noticed this all my life in writing songs, there’s a thing called feel, and it’s magic when you get ahold of it,” Frazier said. “It can make or break a record. You can have a great song and all, but if it doesn’t have that feel, it just doesn’t do anything. ‘Elvira’ had the feel. And The Oaks, what a tremendous cut. With Richard Sterban doing his thing on it and the horns just making it first class…it had so much magic in it, it’d just raise the hair on your arms.”
