Music Deaths: Dallas Frazier, Country (Wrote 'Elvira' and 'Alley Oop')

DALLAS FRAZIER, 82

Died 14 January 2022

From Oklahoma.  Had eight country songs that rose  to  between #28 and #63 between 1967 and 1972.  But really hit it big writing "Alley Oop" for the Hollywood Argyles (#1-1957), "There Goes My Everything" for Jack Green, "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)" for Charley Pride and especially, "Elvira" for the Oak Ridge Boys.

I remember my sister Julie and brother Bob having a great time playing and singing along with his last country hit "North Carolina" on the jukebox at Silver Dollar Saloon at Carolina Beach, North Carolina, in 1976.  We sure had a great time with that song.

Hurricane Florence Hit Special Areas To Me

The last two weeks have been hard on me to the extent that this hurricane/storm hit a part of the United states that is very special to me.

That would be the North Carolina coastal area ab well as into South Carolina.

Plus, I have relatives living there still, including cousins, nephews, nieces and my brother.  Goldsboro was hard hit and that is where my brother and I were born and we spent many times at both grandparents homes (in Goldsboro and Mt. Olive, N.C.) and then my parents bought my mom's house and lived in it until their deaths.

Plus, my mom had a condo on the second row of Topsail Beach, North Carolina.  In addition, Carolina Beach was the vacation spot we went to for so many years as we grew up.  (Mom's parents even owned a cottage on the ocean there until Hurricane Hazel came through in 1954.)

And, Liz and I used to spend a lot of vacations in Myrtle Beach South Carolina.

I tell you, that storm really hit home.

--RoadDog

Just Got Back

I arrived back home yesterday, January 21st, after a ten day trip to North Carolina to clean out Mom's condo at Topsail Beach.  I tell you, at age 65, I am getting too old to do that much moving.

Picked up my nephew Andy at RDU Airport and drove to the beach where I met my brother Bob and later my sister Julie and Ed met us.  We spent Friday night and all day Saturday clearing the place out and took two loads of stuff to the consignment shop in Holly Ridge.

Monday and Tuesday I spent at Carolina Beach and enjoyed Fort Fisher for a good long while on Tuesday.  I then spent Wednesday and Thursday at Goldsboro.

--RoadDog

N.C. Fall 2016-- Part 4: Fort Fisher, Silver Dollar Bar, Topsail Beach and a Flood

SEPTEMBER 22, 2016, THURSDAY

Drove to Wilmington in off-and-on rain.  It has rained like that the whole time I have been in North Carolina, since Thursday.  As usual, heavy traffic by the UNC-Wilmington campus.  Stopped at the Carolina Beach Town hall and saw the four dioramas from the old Blockade Runner Museum and went to Fort fisher where the museum had sprung lots of leaks from all this rain.

Stopped at the Silver Dollar Bar in Carolina Beach and then went to Topsail Beach.

I was happy to see that there was no flood in the lower level, but a half hour after I arrived, we got three inches of rain in 30 minutes and the lower lever had two-three inches of water in it.  I found out later that there had already been six inches of rain during the course of the day at Topsail Beach.

There wasn't anything I could do about the flood until the morning so left it alone.

--RoadDog

North Carolina Summer 2016-- Part 4: Traffic, Fort Fisher, a Donut and Topsail Beach

SATURDAY, JULY 23

Chia made a great breakfast at Mom's house and I drove to Wilmington, N.C..  Wilmington has to be one of the worst cities to drive anywhere near it in the country.  If the traffic doesn't get you, the photo-enforced lights will.  Traffic is especially bad around UNC-Wilmington.

I went to my favorite history place, Fort Fisher which was the reason I got into all this history stuff that so impacted my life (why I taught social studies for 33 years).  Took as walk around the fort and then heard Richard Triebe talk about the fate of the Fort Fisher prisoners at the North's horrible Elmira Prison in New York where half of them died in just a few months.

Then got my Britt's Donut fix in Carolina Beach and drove to Topsail Beach to Mom's condo.

--RoadDog

N.C. Summer Trip 2015-- Part 6: Carolina Beach and Fort Fisher

JULY 25TH, SATURDAY

We drove the 50 miles over to Carolina Beach and Fort Fisher, braving all the incoming beach traffic to Topsail Island (fortunately coming in while we were leaving).  Then there was that always horrible Wilmington traffic where it seems everyone drives all the time.

Stopped at Britt's Donuts in Carolina Beach for our pastry fix for lunch.  Then went to Fort Fisher, several miles down the peninsula and heard an interesting talk on the always controversial Confederate General Braxton Bragg and went through the museum.  I spent a lot of time at the new (to me) reproduction of the 150-pdr Armstrong gun.

Drove the short distance to "The Rocks" at the end of the peninsula.  This is also the southern terminus of US Highway 421.  We had excellent fish and shrimp baskets at Big Daddy's at Kure Beach and then got to go inside a beach cottage at Kure Beach that was identical to the one that my grandparents used to own at Carolina Beach until it was destroyed in 1954 by Hurricane Hazel.

A Busy Day.  --RoadDog


REDNECK COMPUTER TERMS:  TERMINAL--  Time to call the undertaker.

Dallas Frazier, "Mr. Elvira"-- Part 3

Dallas Frazier's following "Tell It Like It Is" also did well.  His songs have been sung often, even
George Jones recorded a whole album of Dallas Frazier songs.

Some of the artists who have sung his songs:  Diana Ross, Engelbert Humperdink, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jack Greene, Connie Smith (who in 1972 also recorded a whole album of his music), Brenda Lee, Charley pride, Merle Haggard, Elvis Presley and Moe Bandy.

Dallas Frazier charted eight times on country charts and he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame in 1976.  Of course, the Oak Ridge Boys had a huge hit with "Elvira.'

In 1972, he released his "North Carolina," that song I enjoyed so much at the Silver Dollar Saloon at Carolina Beach as well as his "Elvira."  We played those two over and over again.  I'm sure the folks there were more than a bit tired of it.

Giddy-Up, Bowoom, Baba Bow-Bow."  --RoadDog


YOU MIGHT BE A YANKEE IF:  You've never seen a live chicken and the only cows you've seen have been on road trips.

Dallas Frazier, Mr. "Elvira"-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

This past week I was writing in my RoadLog blog about my trip to Carolina Beach, N.C. this past July, and specifically about my memories of hanging out in the Silver Dollar Saloon on the boardwalk in 1976 and listening to the jukebox.

We, well me, really played the songs "North Carolina" and "Elvira" a lot.  Both were sung by Dallas Frazier.I sure had a good time listening to them on You Tube and bringing back memories.  Even thinking right now about ordering an album or CD with them on it.

I am a country music fan and have heard of Dallas Frazier on occasion so did some further research on him.

He was born October 27, 1939 and is a noted musician and songwriter who had much success in the 1950s and 1960s.

His birthplace was Spiro, Oklahoma, but he grew up in (Merle and Buck land) in Bakersfield, California.  As a teen, he played with country star Ferlin Husky.

More to Come.  --RoadDog


SAY WHAT?  ""E ticket"  Before the electronic ticket, Disneyland's most expensive ride coupons meant a top-of-the-kine experience.  (Doesn't mean anything to me.)

Back Home Again-- Part 3

July 25-30th, I spent at Mom's place at Topsail Beach, North Carolina with some outstanding weather.

I love the beach, and spent the time reading newspapers, magazines and writing in my journal both on the beach and various levels of decks.  Enjoyed walking along the beach, collecting shells and those unique lima bean stones (as I call them).  Spent considerable time "camped" out in the sand on the beach as well.

Monday, July 28th, was quite hot so took a drive southward to near the South Carolina line.  Had those great Britt's Donuts at the Carolina Beach boardwalk, looked at where the old cottage was and drove all the way to "The Rocks" at the end of the peninsula.

Sorry to find Fort Fisher closed Sundays and Mondays.  Took the Fort Fisher-Southport Ferry across to Southport and drove around that quaint old river town.  Then drove to Caswell Beach and Holden Beach before returning to Topsail Beach.

--RoadDog


SIGNS OF OLD AGE: You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room.

The First Prince Reunion, 30 Years Ago Today

Again, looking at my journal from thirty years ago.

I remarked in it that it was the fifth year I'd been keeping the journal, so today marks the 35th year of it.  Sure brings back the memories.  I'm sure Vicki remembers me writing in it on that fast train in London.

Julie and Tommy gave me a ride from Carolina Beach to Goldsboro.

"Up early for the Prince Reunion in Goldsboro.  Got there at 11 AM after a two hour drive.  This is the first-ever reunion of the descendants of David Mabury Prince and was held at one of the picnic enclosures across the street from Mama Gert and Daddy Graham's house in Herman Park.

Unfortunately, this particular branch of the Prince family will die out because William, the only remaining son since D.M. Prince, Jr, died trying to save the small boy from a flood in 1919, does not have any children.  With the exception of David, all the other children: Anna Mae, Julia and Gertrude, are still living.

Wilber's catered the affair and we had more than enough to eat.  Afterwards, each of the Prince children got up an introduced their families.  We had between 60 and 70 people there; the kids being hard to count because they kept running around.

Group shots were taken of all by their respective grandparent.  They decided to have another one next year either at Carolina Beach or Sleepy Creek.

We left at 4 and drove back to Carolina Beach via Paul's Place even though no one was very hungry.  When we got back, Julie and I definitely felt we had to run and got in three miles before darkness.  Sat on the porch and enjoyed the sea breeze."

We were staying at Aunt Annie Mae's cottage across from the Sema cottage, where Mama Gert and Daddy Graham had their cottage before Hurricane Hazel.

Way Back When.  --RoadDog

Aye, 'Tis a Beach Life for Me-- Part 6

And, speaking of beaches, we then took a walk around the Carolina Beach boardwalk area, which to me refers to all the pedestrian-only streets down by where the old wooden boardwalk used to be.  Parking on the streets and in some lots is available all the time AND FREE!!  Hard to believe there would be free parking at the beach like that.  Try to get that at a big beach in FLA.

Sad to see that the old bumper cars are now gone as is the old Landmark restaurant right at what is considered to be the heart of CB.  We need to bring those back.  I used to inflict a lot of pain to others in those bumper cars, especially on my brother Bob and sister Julie.  However, my students paid me back in full at Great America in Gurnee in Illinois, when I made the mistake of going out and immediately became the target of everyone of the little imps.  I was actually sore when I got off.

I  had bought an Arcadia book at Fort Fisher featuring postcards of Carolina Beach from the early 1900s to 1960s with a lot of history.  This beach has been important to my family dating all the way back to when my grandparents had that pre-Hazel cottage and then, we still spent a lot of weeks there during summers in rented cottages and even camped out several times at a campground at Snow's Cut (which connects the Cape Fear River with the sounds along the coast as part of the Intercoastal waterway).

More to Come.  --RoadDog


YOU CAN RETIRE TO CALIFORNIA WHERE you will know how to eat an artichoke.

Aye, 'Tis a Beach Life for Me-- Part 5

I devoured two Britt's Donuts at Carolina Beach and feeling sorry for the two guys working behind the window where you see them making those great morsels because it was fairly warm at the long counter and had to be really hot back there.

Love Them Britt's.  On my Roadlog Blog, I have just finished 100 North Carolina Icons and one was Krispy Kreme, which are great, BUT NOT COMPARED TO A BRITT'S!!!  I'd also have included Britt's on the list.  That's how much of a fan I am.

They are open 8 AM to 10 PM until Labor Day, seven days a week.

I wanted to eat more, but cut myself off at two.  Hey, I don't get there that often.  You enjoy when you can.

What Would Homer Say?  --RoadDog


YOU CAN RETIRE TO CALIFORNIA WHERE the fastest part of your commute to work is backing down your driveway.

Aye, 'Tis a Beach Life for Me-- Part 4

Next, we parked by the old Mack's store by US-421 near the boardwalk area of Carolina Beach.  I was somewhat surprised to see they didn't charge for parking.  Most beaches seem to do that.

It was a short walk past the gazebo where concerts are held Thursdays during the summer to the main boardwalk.  After years of decline, Carolina Beach has certainly turned the corner but still has some spots that are a bit rough.  It still has the old honky tonk feel to it with quite a few beach bars, including my all-time favorite, the Silver Dollar Saloon which first opened in the 50s.

Of course, first target was Britt's Donuts which has been there since the 20s or 30s.  Nothing fancy, just some of the best glazed donuts you'll ever eat.  The long counter and method of making the morsels hasn't changed at all as far back as I remember.  It being a warm day, I felt kind of sorry for the two guys in back making the donuts.

What has changed is the price, which now is 90 cents apiece.  I got six for $5 for the three of us and then did some time travel back to when I was a young boy in the 50s.  As I finished the second one, I saw that the best deal was a dozen for $7.  I was about to ask if we could get six more for the two bucks when my mom beat me to it. 

So, we had doughnuts for tomorrow!!!  The only problem with a Britt's donut is that it is only good when eaten right at the place or within a couple hours.  But that was back in the days before microwaves, so we'll see how that does it. 

The Oven Sure Didn't Work.  --RoadDog

Aye, 'Tis a Beach Life for Me-- Part 3

Drove back past Fort Fisher to Kure Beach and took a ride along the ocean to a cottage that was built in the 1930s and looks just like the one my grandparents had on Carolina Beach's Southern Extension that was destroyed by Hurricane Hazel in 1954.  I mean, there was not a trace left of it.  It is a rental and we've thought of renting it or looking at it to see if the interior is the same, not that I would remember because I was just three when Hazel came a-knockin', well, slammin'..

Next, we drove by where the old cottage was in Carolina Beach.  A cottage has since been built on the site, which is oceanfront.  There is a bit of Civil War history in front of the cottage.  The Civil War blockade-runner Beauregard was run aground and destroyed in 1863.  The upperworks of it can be still seen at low tide.

My Great Aunt Annie Mae had a cottage directly across the street that her family has since sold.  We used to stay there a lot after Hurricane Hazel.  The downstairs was enclosed and was part sand where we used a shower head to clean off the salt and sand when returning from the beach.  Sand that has not had sunlight is not pleasant, let me tell you.  That old "Under the Boardwalk" song is so wrong.  I can't imagine a worse place to be.

A Walk On the Boardwalk and Britt's Next.  --RoadDog

Aye, 'Tis a Beach Life for Me-- Part 2

Every day, I go for a walk along the beach, wading in the water and collecting shells, especially the rounded ones I call "lima beans."  Some days you find them, some days you don't.


SATURDAY, JULY 14TH

The day of the stoplights and traffic as we drove to Fort Fisher, south of Wilmington about fifty miles away.  Wilmington is a horrible place to drive any time because of its traffic, but especially bad on the weekends when you have people going to and returning to the beach.

Heard a talk on Fort Fisher's Major James Reilly, "Old Taratula" and took a guided tour around the fort.  Saw the 32-pounder coastal cannons fired. 

Then went to the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher and that place is quite impressive and big.  Enjoyed watching the seahorses and say their #1 attraction, the albino alligator.

Then drove down to the end of Federal Point, by the "Rocks" which were built to close off New Inlet.  We used to do a lot of crabbing and sand fiddler-chasing there.  This is also the southern terminus of US Highway 421.  Enjoy the signage for the beginning and end.

More to Come.  --RoadDog