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 in 2006, 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 Corey Frizzell, which he submitted to this site on Wednesday 16 August 2006.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Corey Frizzell who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Corey Frizzell
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 16 August 2006.
‘Being a part of a legendary country music family, I have had the opportunity to be around many great country artists in my life.
Gene Watson has always been one of my favourite singers; definitely in my top five most vocal talents.
This year Gene was so gracious to be a part of my first solo art exhibition ‘Roots’, a tribute to my musical heritage in portraiture and I will always be thankful and a fan’
Thank you, Corey Frizzell, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Corey Frizzell…
Corey Frizzell grew up as a member of a very important and influential family within the country music community.
(Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975)
When you hear the name Frizzell, you don’t think of art, you think of country music, you think of Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975).
The Frizzell family’s music roots run very deep, with legendary family members, including Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975), David Frizzell and Allen Frizzell, all having great hits of their own.
Although these roots are part of Corey Frizzell’s heritage, he took a very different path, one not filled with music, but with boxing and art.
Over the years, drawing became a hobby for Corey Frizzell, taking a back seat to his boxing career.
Though Corey Frizzell’s passion for boxing kept him in and out of the ring for eight years, his love for drawing has always been there. Still this former Golden Gloves Champion has perfected his craft, starting with cartoons and later moving on to comic book art.
Corey Frizzell spent most of his early years drawing murals of comic book heroes for friends. It would be years before Corey Frizzell would draw his first portrait inspired by one drawn by his aunt Betty, a former artist, which hung in his dad’s office. Corey Frizzell has fallen in love with portrait artwork in pencil and has developed his own technique and style, creating portraits since 1998.
Corey Frizzell’s portraits have become a new focus in his life; he is not just drawing portraits for family and friends anymore. For the last few years, Corey Frizzell has been commissioned by the public to create his custom portraits.
Corey Frizzell has also had the opportunity to create custom portraits for collectors of his work in the entertainment fields, including movie, music and sports.
In 2006, Corey Frizzell spent the majority of his time creating portraits of the stars for the stars. For the first time, you would see the name Frizzell, which is so strongly associated with country music, on portraits of other great artists in the country music field, including George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), Mark Chesnutt, Brad Paisley and Alan Jackson.
In June 2006, Corey Frizzell had his first solo art exhibition at The Renaissance Center in Dickson, Tennessee.
This show was aptly named ‘Roots’ since it was a tribute to Corey Frizzell’s musical heritage in portraiture.
Not only did Corey Frizzell create custom portraits of Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975), David Frizzell and his dad, Allen Frizzell, from personal family photographs, but Corey Frizzell also met with several other great country music artists who picked out their own photos and had custom portraits created of them for this show.
One of these selected artists was Gene Watson and you can view Corey Frizzell’s portraits of Gene above.
‘Roots’ ran for six weeks and had a great opening night reception with some of the artists on this show singing live for the reception.
All the portraits from this event went to the artists, except the portrait of Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975), which sold to a collector in Texas the first week after the show ended.
Corey Frizzell was also asked by Billy Yates (writer of hits such as ‘I Don’t Need Your Rocking Chair’, ‘Choices’ and ‘Alcohol’) to exhibit some of his portraits of country artists at Billy Yates’ ‘Countriest of the Country’ fan club party concert during Fan Fair 2006.
Corey Frizzell created portraits of Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975), Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989) and Billy Yates from personal photographs.
Since these shows, Corey Frizzell has stayed busy creating custom portraits for the public and working on a new line of portraits to be sold in galleries.
Corey Frizzell was also commissioned by George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) to create portraits of his grandchildren.
There’s no telling what is in store for this artist. Corey Frizzell currently resides in middle Tennessee, where he works out of his home and continues to expand his portfolio. Corey Frizzell is blazing a trail of his own while carrying on the family name. Now because of Corey Frizzell, when you hear the name Frizzell, you will think of art.
In 1992, Corey Frizzell’s Dad, Allen Frizzell, saw the release of a highly acclaimed album; ‘A Piece of My Heart’ (CMS Records, 1992) 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)
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