Gene Watson’s Peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as ‘the singer’s singer’ – and rightly so!
All of Gene Watson’s Peers, who were contacted by The Gene Watson Fan Site, during 2017, were most gracious with their time and words.
It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Allen Frizzell, which he submitted to this site on Wednesday 25 October 2017.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Allen Frizzell who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Allen Frizzell
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 25 October 2017.
‘I think Gene Watson is a great country singer and he has always recorded great material.
He still sings as good as he always has, still singing his songs in the same key he recorded them in.
He is the real deal, what great country music is all about!’
Thank you, Allen Frizzell, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Allen Frizzell…
Allen Frizzell was born into a family rich in country music tradition.
Since the early 1950s, the Frizzell brothers have been prominent on the country music charts as artists and songwriters, having songs recorded by George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989), and Jewel.
(Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975)
Allen Frizzell is the youngest brother in this legendary family, his eldest brother being the legendary Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975).
Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975), a prolific artist and songwriting Country Music Hall of Fame member, is also known as the most influential vocalist of all-time in country music.
Allen Frizzell’s brother is David Frizzell, a Grammy Award-nominated, Academy of Country Music (ACM) and Country Music Association (CMA) Award winner, as well as two-time ‘Song of The Year’ honours.
Like Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) and David Frizzell, Allen Frizzell is more than a great vocalist; he truly captures the emotion of a song.
Allen Frizzell is also a talented musician and an outstanding songwriter, earning BMI’s prestigious million-air performance award; BMI’s official recognition of achievement in American music.
Allen Frizzell started out on his musical journey when he was nineteen years old.
Allen Frizzell started out with brother David Frizzell singing and playing the guitar; he later joined up with big brother Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) for a brief tour.
After touring with both brothers, Allen Frizzell soon realised he should be doing his own thing musically.
Allen Frizzell had become a Christian and felt the call to sing Gospel music. He proudly put together a little three-piece band; they worked a couple of places, but went no where fast.
It was at that point that Allen Frizzell began following in his older brother’s footsteps singing country music. Allen Frizzell assembled his own band and began working the American West Coast. It soon paid off; Allen Frizzell opened a show for Dottie West (Tuesday 11 October 1932 – Wednesday 4 September 1991), who was impressed with his talent and insisted that he move to Nashville and work for her, opening her show.
After almost a year of Dottie West’s persistence and right timing, Allen Frizzell finally got the courage to make the move. Allen Frizzell took Dottie West up on the offer, touring with some of the biggest names in the business. Nashville became Allen Frizzell’s home.
Allen Frizzell has recorded for a number of record labels, including Sound Factory, CMS Records, ABC-Dot / MCA Records and Sony Records.
Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) recorded Lefty Frizzell’s ‘Mom & Dad’s Waltz’ and included the track on ‘Sing Me Back Home’ (Capitol Records, 1968).
Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) recorded Lefty Frizzell’s ‘It Meant Goodbye To Me (When She Said Hello To Him)’ and included the track on ‘Pride In What I Am’ (Capitol Records, 1969).
Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) recorded Lefty Frizzell’s ‘I Never Go Around Mirrors’, which was co-written with Sanger D. ‘Whitey’ Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 – Saturday 12 January 2019), and included the track on ‘The Roots of My Raising’ (Capitol Records, 1976).
In June 1977, Willie Nelson saw the release of ‘To Lefty From Willie’ (Columbia Records, 1977), which was produced by Willie Nelson, and included the following tracks:
‘Mom & Dad’s Waltz’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975)
‘Look What Thoughts Will Do’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975), Jim Beck and Dub Dickerson
‘I Love You A Thousand Ways’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) and Jim Beck
‘Always Late (With Your Kisses)’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) and Blackie Crafford
‘I Want To Be With You Always’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) and Jim Beck
‘She’s Gone, Gone, Gone’, which was written by Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002)
‘Little Unfair’, which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 – Thursday 15 July 2010) and Chuck Howard
‘I Never Go Around Mirrors’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) and Sanger D. ‘Whitey’ Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 – Saturday 12 January 2019)
‘That’s The Way Love Goes’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) and Sanger D. ‘Whitey’ Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 – Saturday 12 January 2019)
‘Railroad Lady’, which was written by Jimmy Buffett and Jerry Jeff Walker (Monday 16 March 1942 – Friday 24 October 2020)
Willie Nelson’s ‘To Lefty From Willie’ (Columbia Records, 1977) reached No.2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1977, and No.91 on the Billboard Hot 100 Top pop music albums chart in 1977.
Between 1977 and 1985, Allen Frizzell saw the release of a number of non-album singles:
‘Leave My Chapter Out’, which was written by Sanger D. ‘Whitey’ Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 – Saturday 12 January 2019) and Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) (Dot Records, 1977)
‘She’s Livin’ It Up (& I’m Drinkin’ ‘Em Down)’ (written by Buck Moore and Bill Taylor) (Sound Factory Records, 1981)
‘Beer Joint Fever’, which was written by Sanger D. ‘Whitey’ Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 – Saturday 12 January 2019) (Sound Factory Records, 1981)
‘Where The Cheaters Go’, which was written by Larry Kingston (Sunday 10 August 1941 – Sunday 20 February 2005) (Epic Records, 1985)
‘It’ll Be Love By Morning’ (written by Allen Frizzell and Bo Roberts) (Epic Records, 1985)
Allen Frizzell has appeared on a number of high profile television shows, including ‘The Johnny Carson Show’, ‘That Nashville Music’, ‘Nashville Now’, ‘Hee Haw’, ‘The Don Kirshner Show’, ‘You Can Be A Star’ (as a celebrity judge), ‘New Country’, ‘Crook & Chase’, ‘Country Sportsman’ and ‘Music City Tonight’.
In September 1978, Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) saw the release of ‘The Way It Was in ’51’ (Capitol Records, 1978), which was produced by Kenneth F. ‘Ken’ Nelson (19 January 1911 – Sunday 6 January 2008), Charles ‘Fuzzy’ Owen (Tuesday 30 April 1929 – Tuesday 12 May 2020) and George Richey (Saturday 30 November 1935 – Saturday 31 July 2010), and included the following tracks:
‘The Way It Was in ’51’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) (No.82, 1978) / ‘Country music hadn’t gone to New York City yet, and the service man was proud of what he’d done, and Hank and Lefty crowded every jukebox, that’s the way it was in ’51’
‘Moanin’ The Blues’, which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953)
‘My Heart Would Know’, which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953)
‘Lovesick Blues’, which was written by Irving Mills (16 January 1894 – Sunday 21 April 1985) and Cliff Friend (1 October 1893 – Thursday 27 June 1974)
‘I Saw The Light’, which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953)
‘Mom & Dad’s Waltz’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975)
‘It Meant Goodbye To Me (When She Said Hello To Him)’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) and Abe Mulkey
‘I’m An Old, Old Man (Tryin’ To Live While I Can)’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975)
‘I Never Go Around Mirrors’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) and Sanger D. ‘Whitey’ Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 – Saturday 12 January 2019)
‘Goodbye, Lefty’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
Personnel involved in the recording of Merle Haggard‘s ‘The Way It Was in ’51’ (Capitol Records, 1978) included the following:
Roy Nichols (Friday 21 October 1932 – Tuesday 3 July 2001), Chip Young (Thursday 19 May 1938 – Saturday 20 December 2014), Bobby Thompson (Monday 5 July 1937 – Wednesday 18 May 2005), Bobby Wayne, Jody Payne and Tommy Collins (Sunday 28 September 1930 – Tuesday 14 March 2000) (guitar)
Norman Hamlet (steel guitar)
Dennis Hromek, Howard Lowe, Leon Copeland and Roy Huskey Jr. (Monday 17 December 1956 – Saturday 6 September 1997) (bass)
Biff Adam and Eddie Burris (drums)
Johnny Gimble (Sunday 30 May 1926 – Saturday 9 May 2015) (fiddle)
Glenn D. Hardin, Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins (Tuesday 18 January 1938 – Sunday 30 January 2022), Jerry Smith and George French (piano)
Bonnie Owens (Tuesday 1 October 1929 – Monday 24 April 2006) (vocals)
Merle Haggard‘s ‘The Way It Was in ’51’ (Capitol Records, 1978) reached No.30 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1978.
Gene Watson recorded Allen Frizzell’s ‘You’re Out Doing What I’m Here Doing Without’ (co-written with Bo Roberts) and included the track on ‘Sometimes I Get Lucky‘ (MCA Records, 1983); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983, and No.5 on the Canadian RPM Singles Chart in 1983.
David Frizzell recorded Allen Frizzell’s ‘500 Times’ and included the track on ‘David Frizzell’ (MCA Records, 1983).
In June 1983, David Frizzell saw the release of ‘On My Own Again’ (Viva Records, 1983); one of the included tracks was ‘We Won’t Be Hearing Always Late Anymore’ (written by David Frizzell), which featured guest vocals from Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) and Allen Frizzell.
Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989) recorded ‘I Never Go Around Mirrors’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) and Sanger D. ‘Whitey’ Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 – Saturday 12 January 2019), and included the track on ‘Don’t Close Your Eyes’ (RCA Records, 1988); the track was subsequently included on Keith Whitley’s ‘Kentucky Bluebird’ (RCA Records, 1991).
In 1992, Allen Frizzell saw the release of ‘A Piece of My Heart’ (CMS Records, 1992), a highly acclaimed album, which was released on The Netherlands-based CMS Records, and included the following tracks:
‘If I Was You’ (written by Allen Frizzell and J. McCollum)
‘Through Her Eyes’ (written by Allen Frizzell and L. Williams)
‘She Layed It On The Table’ (written by L. Williams)
‘Making Plans For One’, which was written by Sanger D. ‘Whitey’ Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 – Saturday 12 January 2019) and L. Williams
‘Right Way To Do Her Wrong’ (written by Allen Frizzell and J. McCollum)
‘Nobody But Her’ (written by J.W. Harper)
‘You Never Know How Good You Got It’ (written by Mark Nesler)
‘Photograph’ (written by Allen Frizzell and M. Swindale)
‘Over Hurt & Under Loved’ (written by Allen Frizzell and J. McCollum)
‘Sweet Sweet Rain’ (written by L Williams)
‘Second Chances’, which was written by Sanger D. ‘Whitey’ Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 – Saturday 12 January 2019) and Tommy Collins (Sunday 28 September 1930 – Tuesday 14 March 2000)
‘Piece of My Heart’, which was written by Danny Morrison (Sunday 22 April 1945 – Tuesday 14 February 2012)
Odd Jarle Hanssen recorded Allen Frizzell’s ‘You’re Out Doing What I’m Here Doing Without’ (co-written with Bo Roberts) and included the track on ‘I Know This Feeling’ (Odd Jarle Hanssen Music, 1993).
In November 2001, Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) saw the release of ‘Roots, Volume 1’ (ANTI Records / Epitaph Records, 2001), which was produced by Merle Haggard and Abe Manuel, and included the following tracks:
‘Always Late (With Your Kisses)’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) and Blackie Crafford
‘More Than My Old Guitar’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘If You’ve Got The Money (I’ve Got The Time)’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) and Jim Beck
‘Look What Thoughts Will Do’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975), Jim Beck and Dub Dickerson
‘My Baby’s Just Like Money’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975)
‘Honky Tonkin’, which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953)
‘Runaway Mama’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘I’ll Sign My Heart Away’, which was written by Hank Thompson (Thursday 3 September 1925 – Tuesday 6 November 2007)
‘I’ve Got A Tender Heart’, which was written by Hank Thompson (Thursday 3 September 1925 – Tuesday 6 November 2007)
‘The Wild Side of Life’ (written by William Warren and Arlie Carter)
‘Take These Chains From My Heart’, which was written by Fred Rose (Floyd Jenkins) (24 August 1898 – Wednesday 1 December 1954) and Hy Heath
‘I Want To Be With You Always’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) and Jim Beck
Personnel involved in the recording of Merle Haggard‘s ‘Roots, Volume 1’ (Epitaph Records, 2001) included the following:
Billy McGill, Chester Smith, Norman Stevens and Redd Volkaert (guitar)
Norman Hamlet (steel guitar)
Eddie Curtis (bass)
Johnnie Barber and Brooks Liggatt (drums)
Abe Manuel (fiddle, mandolin, vocals)
Doug Colosio (piano)
Theresa Lane Haggard (vocals, percussion)
Merle Haggard‘s ‘Roots, Volume 1’ (Epitaph Records, 2001), which was recorded, in 2001, at Tally Studio in Palo Cedro, California, reached No.47 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2001.
On Thursday 18 January 2007, Allen Frizzell saw the release of ‘I’m Just A Nobody’ (FHM Records, 2007), which included the following tracks:
‘I’m Gonna Live For Jesus – Because He Died For Me’
‘It’s Gonna Be Alright’
‘I Don’t Have A Mansion’
‘I Believe’
‘The Blood of Jesus’
‘Lord, Help Me Follow You’
‘Man of His Word’ (written by Allen Frizzell) / this track, which reached the Top 5 of the Southern Gospel Music, and No.1 on the Christian Country Music Charts, was nominated for ‘Song of The Year’ at the ICCMA’s in Nashville in 2009
‘Come To Jesus’
‘In The Garden’, which was written by Charles Austin Miles (7 January 1868 – Sunday 10 March 1946)
‘I’m Just A Nobody’
‘Farther Along’
Awarded The Agape ‘Outstanding Artist Achievement’ Award in 2008, Allen Frizzell and his family received The Agape ‘Group of The Year’ Award in 2009.
On Friday 18 April 2008, Allen Frizzell saw the release of ‘A Little Bit of Lefty Left In Me’ (FHM Records, 2008), which included the following tracks:
‘She’s Gone, Gone, Gone’, which was written by Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002)
‘That’s The Way Love Goes’, which was written by Sanger D. ‘Whitey’ Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 – Saturday 12 January 2019) and Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975)
‘Saginaw Michigan’ (written by Bill Anderson and Don Wayne)
‘I Want To Be With You Always’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) and Jim Beck
‘Traveling Blues’ (written by Shelly Lee Alley)
‘Mom & Dad’s Waltz’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975)
‘Long Black Veil’, which was written by Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 – Saturday 28 October 2006) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008)
‘I Never Go Around Mirrors’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) and Sanger D. ‘Whitey’ Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 – Saturday 12 January 2019)
‘A Little Bit of Lefty Left in Me’ (written by Larry Bastian)
‘I Love You A Thousand Ways’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) and Jim Beck
‘Always Late With Your Kisses’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) and Blackie Crafford
‘We Crucified Our Jesus’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975)
Allen Frizzell’s ‘A Little Bit of Lefty Left In Me’ (FHM Records, 2008), a tribute project to his older brother, the legendary Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975), included duets with his brother, David Frizzell and nephew, Jimmy Clay Frizzell.
In 2009, Allen Frizzell received the Texas ICGMA ‘Male Artist of The Year’ Award.
In 2010, Allen Frizzell was awarded with The Agape ‘Male Vocalist’ Award.
In 2011, CGM awarded Allen Frizzell & Family the ‘Group of The Year’ Award.
In 2012, The 53rd Annual ICGMA’s surprised Allen Frizzell as he closed out the awards show with the Prestigious 2012 ‘Living Legend’ Award.
In January 2013, Allen Frizzell celebrated a No.1 song, ‘I Believe’, on the Christian Voice Chart.
As of January 2013, the Frizzell brothers – Allen Frizzell, David Frizzell and Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) – have recorded, written, and published, hit songs in every decade since the 1950s, on the Billboard country music singles chart, on the Christian country music chart, and the Billboard pop music singles chart.
In 2015, Jimmy Clay Frizzell saw the release of ‘Jimmy Clay Frizzell’ (Nashville America Records, 2015), which was produced by Jimmy Clay Frizzell and David Frizzell, and included the following tracks:
‘Where Do I Go From Here’ (written by Jimmy Clay Frizzell)
‘Think of Me’ (written by Jimmy Clay Frizzell)
‘I’m Not Blue’ (written by Jimmy Clay Frizzell)
‘I Know You Love Me’ (written by Jimmy Clay Frizzell)
‘Hillbilly Heaven’ (written by Jimmy Clay Frizzell) / this track featured guest vocals from Allen Frizzell
‘It Could Be Love’ (written by Jimmy Clay Frizzell)
‘Let The Ice Cut The Whiskey’ (written by Jimmy Clay Frizzell)
‘Ain’t Love Something’ (written by Jimmy Clay Frizzell)
‘Long Gone Woman’ (written by Jimmy Clay Frizzell)
‘The Cheatin Song’ (written by Jimmy Clay Frizzell) / this track featured guest vocals from David Frizzell
‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ (written by Jimmy Clay Frizzell)
‘My Crazy Life’ (written by Jimmy Clay Frizzell)
‘Alone To Cry’ (written by Jimmy Clay Frizzell)
Personnel involved in the recording of Jimmy Clay Frizzell’s ‘Jimmy Clay Frizzell’ (Nashville America Records, 2015), which was recorded at Hilltop Recording Studio in Nashville, Frizzell Studio in Nashville and AMV Studio in Nashville, included the following:
Jimmy Clay Frizzell (vocals)
David Frizzell (acoustic guitar, harmonica, vocals)
Allen Frizzell (vocals)
Danny Muhammad (acoustic guitar, Dobro, banjo, mandolin)
Jimmy Fortune, Joy Frazier, Michael Black and Stacy Houston (background vocals)
Joel Key and Sam Anderson (acoustic guitar)
Greg Perkins (steel guitar, bass, fiddle, piano)
Brent Mason (guitar)
Mike Johnson (pedal steel guitar)
Mike Brignardello (bass)
Steve Turner and Chris Woods (drums)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
Tony Harrell (piano)
Liner notes on Jimmy Clay Frizzell’s ‘Jimmy Clay Frizzell’ (Nashville America Records, 2015) were provided by Allen Frizzell and David Frizzell.
Each year, Allen Frizzell travels throughout the United States and abroad, sharing his music & testimony.
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