Gene Watson and The Frizzell Family

David Frizzell and Gene Watson

On Thursday 12 December 2024, Gene Watson recalls photos from 2008, when he taped a television show, ‘Frizzell & Friends’, for David Frizzell.

Various Artists: 'Frizzell & Friends - This Is Our Time' (Nashville America Records, 2008)

‘Someone sent me these photos from 2008, when we taped a TV show for David Frizzell, titled ‘Frizzell & Friends’.



I sang ‘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), a great song we all know from David’s legendary brother, Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975).

Lefty was definitely a musical hero of mine.


Joe Stampley, David Frizzell and Gene Watson on the set of the television show, 'Frizzell & Friends', in Nashville in 2008.
Joe Stampley, David Frizzell and Gene Watson on the set of the television show, ‘Frizzell & Friends’, in Nashville in 2008.

In one photo, that’s Joe Stampley, David Frizzell and me.


Joe Stampley, Tess Frizzell, Allen Frizzell, David Frizzell, Helen Cornelius, Jimmy Fortune, Johnny Lee and Gene Watson on the set of the television show, 'Frizzell & Friends', in Nashville, in 2008.
Joe Stampley, Tess Frizzell, Allen Frizzell, David Frizzell, Helen Cornelius, Jimmy Fortune, Johnny Lee and Gene Watson on the set of the television show, ‘Frizzell & Friends’, in Nashville, in 2008.

In the group photo, I believe that’s Tess Frizzell, Allen Frizzell, David Frizzell, Helen Cornelius, looks like Jimmy Fortune behind Helen, Johnny Lee and me’

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Gene Watson on Facebook


In 1959, Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) recorded ‘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); the track, which reached No.6 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1959, was subsequently included on ‘Lefty Frizzell’s Greatest Hits’ (Columbia Records, 1966).


David Frizzell recorded ‘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), and included the track on ‘David Frizzell Sings Lefty’s Greatest Hits’ (Playback Records, 1986).



Gene Watson: 'My Heroes Have Always Been Country' (Fourteen Carat Music, 2014)

Gene Watson recorded ‘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), and included the track on ‘My Heroes Have Always Been Country‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2014); in the video (above), at 4 minutes, 26 seconds, Gene Watson speaks about his recording of the song.


Kelly Lynn interviewing Gene Watson on ‘Inside Music Row’

Gene Watson: 'Back in the Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988)

Gene Watson recorded ‘She Found The Key’, 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 ‘Back In The Fire‘ (Warner Bros. Records, 1988).


Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) recorded ‘She Found The Key’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell and Sanger D. ‘Whitey’ Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 – Saturday 12 January 2019), and included the track on ‘The Classic Style of Lefty Frizzell’ (ABC Records, 1975); the track was subsequently included on Lefty Frizzell’s ‘The ABC Collection’ (ABC Records, 1977).