Dallas Frazier was a hit-making country music songwriter known for writing “Elvira,” which was a hit for the Oak Ridge Boys.
- Died: Friday, January 14, 2022. (Who else died on January 14?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 82.
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Country music hit-maker
Dallas Frazier was a legendary country music songwriter who wrote number one hit songs for the Oak Ridge Boys and Emmylou Harris. He was still a teenager when he started working with country music icon Ferlin Husky and released his first single, “Space Command,” at the age of 14. The first hit song he wrote was “Alley Oop,” which he recorded in 1957 that became a number one song for The Hollywood Argyles. His songs were covered by many top country artists including “Elvira” by the Oak Ridge Boys, “Beneath Still Waters,” by Emmylou Harris and “All I Have to Offer You (Is Me),” a number one song for Charley Pride. Frazier left the music industry in the 1980s and became a minister.
Notable Quote
“We were part of The Grapes of Wrath. We were the Okies who went out to California with mattresses tied on the tops of their Model A Fords. My folks were poor. At twelve I moved away from home, with my folks’ permission. Ferlin [Husky] offered me a job, and I started working with him when I was twelve. Then I recorded a side for Capitol Records when I was fourteen, and I did some country. I cut in the big circular building that’s still out there on Hollywood and Vine.” – 2008 in Perfect Sound Forever
Tributes to Dallas Frazier
Full Obituary: Variety
