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In
any discussion about the greatest
voices
in country music, David Frizzell’s name is certain to come up at least
among those who know country music. And it’s not just because he bears
a vocal
resemblance to his older brother, that ultimate stylist, Lefty
Frizzell.
While both share the forlorn, stripped-down quality of singing that is
so
essential to interpreting traditional country themes, David’s voice is
even
more resonant and nuanced, a perfect instrument for electrifying the
lyrics of
a song.
While
still a teenager, David Frizzell left home to perform and tour with his
legendary brother. In that role, he worked the concert circuit with
many of the
mightiest names in country music. By his 18th birthday, Frizzell began recording country
and rockabilly albums for
Columbia Records. Although a four-year hitch in the military slowed his
emerging
musical career, Columbia immediately re-signed Frizzell after his
discharge.
In
spite of the difficulty of working in Lefty’s
shadow, David gradually created his own artistic identity. He recorded
and
charted the first country version of “L.A. International Airport” —
months
before Susan Raye made it a hit-and followed it with a Top 40 rendition
of “I
Just Can’t Help Believing,” the B. J. Thomas pop favorite. Frizzell
then
parlayed his recording successes into headlining country shows in Las
Vegas.
This bold move opened the Vegas gates for many other country
acts.
In the early 1980s,
Frizzell founded the
musical duo of Frizzell & West. His partner in this
exciting enterprise was
the gorgeous and gifted Shelly West,daughter of country superstar
Dottie West.
After recording “You’re The Reason God Made Oklahoma”
to showcase
their fresh-as-Spring sound, Frizzell & West
suffered the indignity of
being turned down as an act by every major country label. Then
their producer,
Snuff Garrett, played the song for Clint Eastwood.
Eastwood
loved it and insisted on adding “You’re The Reason God Made Oklahoma”
to the soundtrack of his forthcoming film, Any
Which Way You Can. This
vote of confidence soon earned Frizzell & West a record contract
with
Warner Bros. Then things really started to happen. A small radio
station in
Tulare, California was the first to play it, when it was still an album
track.
Other stations quickly followed, prompting Warner Bros. to release it
as a
single. In short order, the song that nobody wanted became a smash hit.
Frizzell
& West went on to become one of the hottest and most-awarded acts
in the
business. They recorded five albums together, won the Country
Music
Association’s Vocal Duo of the Year award for 1981 and
1982, won the Academy
of Country Music award for Vocal Duet of the Year for 1981 and 1982
as well
as the ACM
Song of the Year award in 1981 and sold out arenas
worldwide. Frizzell and West garnered Music City News Awards for
Duet of
the Year in 1981 and 1982 and 1983 as well as Music
City News’ Song of the Year award in 1982.
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During
his duet years with West, Frizzell continued his solo career. He scored
a huge
chart topping hit with “I’m Gonna
Hire A Wino To Decorate Our Home.” The
record, which has since become a standard, was recently featured on
CMT’s 40
Greatest Drinking Songs in Country Music, making #17 in the
countdown. Also, making #6 in CMT’s
countdown of
the 100 Greatest Duets is “You're
The Reason God Made Oklahoma.”
Besides
his CMA awards, Frizzell has won numerous performing and recording
trophies
from the Academy of Country Music, Billboard and Music City News. In
addition,
he has been nominated for three Grammys, both as part
of Frizzell &
West duet and as a solo act.
Apart
from taping a live concert TV special and touring to support his new
album FRIZZELL
& FRIENDS –“This Is Our Time”,
Frizzell is also working on
a
television tribute to Lefty Frizzell and a series of children's records
and
books, projects that promise to keep this prolific artist, producer
and songwriter
busier than ever.
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