David Frizzell lived all over Texas starting in Greenville Texas in the early ’40s when his dad went to Europe in WW2. He had his first radio show at the age of 9 in Kermit, Texas, then on to Sulphur Springs where they lived when brother Lefty got his first number one hit (and younger brother Allen was born). He began touring with his legendary brother, Lefty Frizzell at the age of 12 throughout the 1950s and 60s. After serving in the Air Force, Frizzell signed with Columbia Records in 1970 and charted his first Billboard single with “L.A. International Airport” and then a Top 40 with “I Just Can’t Help Believing.”
During the 1970s, Frizzell appeared regularly on Buck Owens’ All American TV Show and began recording for Capitol Records. In 1981, he recorded his first number-one country hit, “You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma,” a duet with Shelly West. The song won the Country Music Association’s Song of the Year and Vocal Duet of the Year awards in 1981, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and was featured in Clint Eastwood’s film ‘Any Which Way You Can.’ Frizzell and West also won the Academy of Country Music award for Vocal Duo of the Year in 1981 and 1982.
In 1982, Frizzell released “I’m Gonna Hire A Wino To Decorate Our Home,” which made its way to number one.
David Frizzell, Shelly West, Dottie West, Allen Frizzell
In recent years, Frizzell created his label Nashville America Records and has released several albums including Frizzell & Friends: This Is Our Time which includes a bonus track, written in honor of Lefty Frizzell, Merle Haggard, and traditional music in general. “Lefty, Merle & Me” features David with Marty Haggard.
David Frizzell is a timeless and tireless entertainer who continues to share his many gifts to the delight of fans old and new across the US and throughout the world.
Career Achievements
European CMA Awards
- 2008 “Vocal Collaboration of the Year” FRIZZELL & FRIENDS “THIS IS OUR TIME”
CMA Awards
- 1981 “Vocal Duo of The Year”
- 1982 “Vocal Duo of The Year”
ACM Awards
- 1981 “Vocal Duet of The Year”
- 1981 “Song of The Year”
- 1982 “Vocal Duet of The Year”
Music City News Awards
- 1982 “Duet of The Year”
- 1982 “Song of The Year”
- 1983 “Duet of The Year”
European Country Music Association Charts
- Frizzell & Friends, Number 1 for five (5) consecutive months.
Videos
- I’m Gonna Hire A Wino To Decorate Our Home
- Beautiful Body
- Catch The Wind (Special Olympic Video)
- Silent Partners (Duet with Shelly West)
- The One That Got Away (Duet with Ed Bruce)
- Frizzell & Friends – This Is Our Time
(with David Frizzell and Gene Watson, Joe Stampley, Jeannie Seely, Crystal Gayle, Johnny Lee, T. Graham Brown, Allen Frizzell, Jimmy Fortune, Lacy J. Dalton, Helen Cornelius and Kevin Denney)
Movie Soundtracks
- Any Which Way You Can (Clint Eastwood)
- Honky-Tonk Man (Clint Eastwood)
Television & Personal Appearances
- Grand Ol’ Opry
- Hee Haw
- CMA Award Shows
- ACM Award Shows
- Solid Gold
- Nashville Now
- Crook & Chase
- Grammy Award Shows
- Good Morning America
- World Fair
- Las Vegas Casino’s: Hacienda, Tropicana,
- Golden Nugget And The Aladdin
- Lake Tahoe Casino’s: The Caesar’s Tahoe
- Spark’s Casino’s: John Ascuaga’s Nugget
- Frizzell & Friends Live In Concert
(with David Frizzell and guests Merle Haggard, Gene Watson, Joe Stampley, Jeannie Seely, Crystal Gayle, Johnny Lee, T. Graham Brown, Allen & Tess Frizzell, Jimmy Fortune, Lacy J. Dalton, Helen Cornelius and Kevin Denney)
Top Ten Songs
- #1 You’re The Reason God Made Oklahoma
- #1 I’m Gonna Hire A Wino To Decorate Our Home
- Just Came Here To Dance
- Lost My Baby Blues
- Honky-Tonk Nights On Broadway
- Where Are You Spending Your Nights
Grammy Nominations
- Group or Duo of The Year
- Song of The Year — “I’m Gonna Hire A Wino To Decorate Our Home”
- Song of The Year — “You’re The Reason God Made Oklahoma”
- “Frizzell & Friends – This Is Our Time” – 9 Nominations
CMT Status
- “I’m Gonna Hire A Wino To Decorate Our Home” #17 in the countdown of the 40 Greatest Drinking Songs in Country Music
- “You’re The Reason God Made Oklahoma” #6 in the countdown of the 100 Greatest Duets