Lefty Frizzell

American singer and songwriter

Also known as: William Orville Frizzell

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

Quick Facts

Orig.:: William Orville Frizzell

Born:: March 31, 1928, Corsicana, Texas, U.S.

Died:: July 19, 1975, Nashville, Tenn. (aged 47)

Also Known As:: William Orville Frizzell

See all related content

Lefty Frizzell (born March 31, 1928, Corsicana, Texas, U.S.—died July 19, 1975, Nashville, Tenn.) was a U.S. singer and songwriter. He was a fan of Jimmie Rodgers from childhood. Also a semiprofessional boxer (the source of his nickname), Frizzell sang in honky-tonks and on radio in the Southwest and had his first hit with “If You’ve Got the Money, I’ve Got the Time” (1950). He had several hits over the next two years, including “Always Late (with Your Kisses),” but his last and biggest hit was “Saginaw, Michigan” (1963).

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.