Lefty Frizzell has been called the most influential singer/stylist in the history of Country Music. He was born William Orville Frizzell on March 31, 1928 in Corsicana, TX. His father was an oil driller who moved the family from Texas to El Dorado, Arkansas, shortly after his birth.

His uncle Lawrence bought him his first guitar from an old black farmer for $2.00. With that guitar and an old Victrola, he learned every song of his hero and greatest influence, Jimmie Rodgers. During this time, Frizzell developed the style of singing that would revolutionize how country songs would be sung. By age 12, Frizzell, who was called Sonny by his family and close friends, had his own spot on a Children’s show at an El Dorado radio station. Moving back to Texas in the early 1940’s, Frizzell earned his nickname Lefty, following a schoolyard fight. He never fought in the Golden Gloves.

By his early twenty’s, Frizzell was a regular at the Ace of Clubs in Big Springs, Texas and after spending years singing in other various honky tonks, barn dances and parties, Lefty got the attention of Columbia Records in 1950. Don Law, the record executive who signed him to Columbia, heard that sound no one including himself had ever heard before. Frizzell signed with Columbia at the age of 22, releasing “If You’ve Got The Money Honey, I've Got The Time” and “I Love You A Thousand Ways” in July that year. In 1951, Lefty owned the charts with the release of “I Want To Be With You Always” (#7), “Always Late (With Your Kisses)” (#1), “Mom And Dad’s Waltz” (#2), and “Travelin Blues” (#8). Frizzell held the number one spot for 26 weeks. Having 4 songs in the top 10 at the same time is a feat that has never been duplicated to this day!

Don Law hinted about some issues with Lefty in his affectionate liner notes on an album that was released shortly after Frizzell’s death, “In his early years, when I knew him best, he was happy-go-lucky and irresponsible,” Law wrote. “His motto could have well been the title of his hit ‘Always Late’ - he was never on time for a session and sometimes didn’t show at all.”

Lefty Frizzell was a premiere songwriter and song interpreter. The deep and emotional sound that gets a person’s heart and that wonderful quiver he inserted into his vocals has gone on to influence singers from Merle Haggard to Daryl Singletary. “I’m not really a lazy guy, but I get tired of holding notes for a long time. Instead of straining, I just let it roll out and it feels good to me,” Lefty said of his vocal style.

Rockabilly Hall