Dallas Frazier "I'm basically country because of being raised in the heart of country music--but I have a lot of blues in my soul. My style might be credited to a very Earthy upbringing." "I sorta live my songs as I write 'em. A lot of times my melodies come first. When I write a song I usually finish it up complete in my head before I ever set it down or even know what it's really about. I know it's been brewing, but I just have to wait for the right day to fish it out. "Some songs are born out of sheer pressure. In 1965 while writing for Jim Reeve's Enterprises, Ray Baker, who was the plug man for the company, came to me and told me he had been with Charlie Rich earlier in the day. He said that he had told Charlie that I had a smash for him. I asked Ray which song he had in mind. Ray responded, 'I don't know, I figured you could come up with one.' HA. I started working that night, fishing for an idea but to no avail. I got up early the next morning - wrote 'Mohair Sam,' - put it on tape and then Ray took it to Charlie for a 10:00 A.M. recording session. Charlie cut it and it was a smash! It still remains one of my favorites!" Birth Name: Dallas June Frazier Induction Year: 1976 Date of Birth: 10/27/1939 Place of Birth: Spiro, OK Former Occupations: cotton picker Education: Grade School--East Bakersfield (1953) High School--McFarland High School (from 1954-1957) College--Emmanuel Bible College (from 1985-1988); graduated with a BA in Christian Education Graduate--Emmanuel Bible College (from 1988-1989); earned a Masters degree in Theology Career Milestones: 1952--discovered at a talent contest (which he won) in Bakersfield, CA by Ferlin Husky 1954-1958--worked as a feature singer on Cliffie Stone's "Hometown Jamboree" television show in Los Angeles, CA 1954--signed first recording contract with Capitol Records 1954--published his first song, "Ain't You Had No Bringin' Up At All", and recorded it for Capitol 1960--had first major hit as a songwriter with "Alley Oop", which went to #1 on the charts and sold over a million copies (recorded by the Hollywood Argyles) 1963--moved to Nashville on September 5; started working with Ferlin Husky 1963--signed on as a writer with Blue Crest Music 1970--debuted as a recording artist on RCA 1974--signed as a writer with Acuff-Rose Awards: 1967--BMI\Certificate of Achievement\There Goes My Everything\won in pop and country categories 1967--CMA\Song of the Year\There Goes My Everything 1967--Nashville Songwriters Association\Song of the Year\There Goes My Everything 1967--Nashville Songwriters Association\Songwriter of the Year 1969--CMA\Triple Play Award 1982--Music City News\Songwriter of the Year 1982--BMI/Robert J. Burton Award (Country Song of the Year)\Elvira Catalog Highlights Alley Oop Artists: Hollywood Argyles (1960), Dante and the Evergreens (1960), Dallas Frazier Mohair Sam Artists: Charlie Rich (1965), Peggy Lee (1965), Dallas Frazier (1966) There Goes My Everything Artists: Jack Greene (1966), Ferlin Husky, Elvis Presley, Englebert Humperdinck, Dallas Frazier Ain't Had No Lovin' Artists: Connie Smith (1966), Dallas Frazier If My Heart Had Windows Artists: George Jones (1967), Patty Loveless, Dallas Frazier (1970) Johnny One-Time Co-writer: A.L. "Doodle" Owens Artists: Brenda Lee (1968), Willie Nelson Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp Artists: O.C. Smith (1968), Johnny Darrell, Dallas Frazier (1970) All I Have to Offer You Is Me Co-writer: A.L. "Doodle" Owens Artists: Charley Pride (1969), Dallas Frazier (1970) Where Did They Go Lord Co-writer: A.L. "Doodle" Owens Artists: Elvis Presley (1971) Touching Home Co-writer: A.L. "Doodle" Owens Artists: Jerry Lee Lewis (1971) The Baptism of Jesse Taylor Co-writer: Sanger D. "Whitey" Shafer Artists: Oak Ridge Boys, Johnny Russell Elvira Artists: Dallas Frazier (1966), Oak Ridge Boys (1980), Kenny Rogers Fourteen Carat Mind Co-writer: Larry Lee Artists: Gene Watson (1981) What's Your Mama's Name Child? Artists: Tanya Tucker (1973) If This Is Our Last Time Artists: Brenda Lee Say It's Not You Artists: George Jones (1968) (I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again Artists: Charley Pride (1969) Until My Dreams Come True Artists: Jack Greene (1969) I'm a People Artists: George Jones (1966) Beneath Still Waters Artists: Emmylou Harris (1980) Comments: Wrote first song at 10 years old. The song "If My Heart Had Windows" was written for Frazier's wife Sharon Wrote "Alley Oop" while working at a cotton gin in Pond, CA "There Goes My Everything" was inspired by a close friend's divorce A street named Elvira in East Nashville, TN gave Frazier the idea for the song "Elvira."