Biography

Frazier was born in Spiro, Oklahoma but was raised in Bakersfield, California. As a teenager, he played with Ferlin Husky and on the program Hometown Jamboree; and released his first single, "Space Command", at age 14 in 1954.

Frazier's 1957 song Alley Oop, later taken to #1 in the US by The Hollywood Argyles was his first hit. After Hometown Jamboree went off the air, Frazier moved to Nashville, Tennessee and found work as a songwriter. Among his early successes was "Timber I'm Falling", a hit for Husky in 1964, and There Goes My Everything, a big hit for Jack Greene in 1966.

In 1966 he released his solo debut album Elvira, containing his song Elvira. His follow-up Tell It Like It Is (1967), was also a success.

While his singing success was limited, Frazier became an oft-covered songwriter. His tunes were recorded by O.C. Smith, George Jones (who recorded an entire album of Frazier's songs in 1968), Diana Ross, Engelbert Humperdinck, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jack Greene, Connie Smith (who also recorded an entire album of Frazier's songs in 1972), Willie Nelson, Brenda Lee, Carola, Charley Pride, Merle Haggard, Gene Watson, Elvis Presley, Moe Bandy, Roy Head, Charlie Louvin, Rodney Crowell, Dan McCafferty, and Ronnie Hawkins. In 1970, Frazier earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Song, which is awarded to the songwriter rather than the performer, for "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me), which became a #1 hit for Charley Pride. Many of the songs became hits into the 1980s; examples include the Oak Ridge Boys cover of "Elvira" and Emmylou Harris's version of "Beneath Still Waters". The cover of "Elvira" by the Oak Ridge Boys was a huge crossover hit, peaking at #1 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles and Tracks chart and #5 on the all genre Billboard Hot 100 and earned Frazier his second Grammy nomination for Best Country song. Anne Murray with Glen Campbell, George Strait, Randy Travis, and Patty Loveless have all also recorded Frazier tunes. Frazier himself charted eight times on the U.S. country charts.

He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1976.

In 1988, Frazier left the music industry and became a minister.

Discography

Albums

Year	Album	Label
1966	Elvira	Capitol
1967	Tell It Like It Is
1970	Singing My Songs	RCA Victor
1971	My Baby Packed Up My Mind and Left Me

Singles

Year	Single	Chart Positions				Album
1954	"Space Command"	—	—	—	—	single only
1966	"Elvira"	—	72	—	27	Elvira
	"Just a Little Bit of You"	—	108	—	—
	"Especially for You"	—	—	—	—
1967	"My Woman Up't and Gone"	—	—	—	—	Tell It Like It Is
	"Everybody Oughta Sing a Song"	28	—	23	—	singles only
1968	"The Sunshine of My World"	43	—	—	—
	"I Hope I Like Mexico Blues"	59	—	—	—
1969	"The Conspiracy of Homer Jones"	63	120	—	—
	"California Cotton Fields"	45	—	—	—	Singing My Songs
1970	"She Wants to Be Good"	—	—	—	—
	"The Birthmark Henry Thompson Talks About"	45	—	—	—	single only
1971	"Big Mable Murphy"	43	—	—	—	My Baby Packed Up My Mind and Left Me
	"My Baby Packed Up My Mind and Left Me"	—	—	—	—
	"High Steppin' Mama"	—	—	—	—	singles only
1972	"North Carolina"	42	—	55	—
1973	"Let That Lonesome Fiddle Man Take the Lead"	—	—	—	—

[ Source: Wikipedia ]