Lefty Frizzell, Nanci Griffith, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Mark James To Join Texas Songwriters Hall Of Fame

/in /by

Lefty Frizzell, Nanci Griffith, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and Mark James are the newest inductees into the Texas Heritage Songwriters’ Association Hall of Fame.

The 2022 Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame Weekend will return to Austin, February 11-12 to celebrate these inductees. A VIP sponsor-only DKR Pickin’ Party at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum will kick off the weekend on Friday, February 11, and Saturday’s public Hall of Fame Awards Show at the Paramount Theatre will honor and celebrate the newest class of songwriters. The weekend celebration will be packed with performances and appearances from past inductees, Grammy winners, renowned songwriters, and artists.

Frizzell is considered one of the most influential performers in country history. Between 1950 and 1954, Frizzell scored five No. 1 country hits and ten Top 10 chart singles, including “If You’ve Got The Money, I’ve Got The Time,” “I Love You A Thousand Ways,” and “I Want To Be With You Always and Always Late (With Your Kisses).” In 1972, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and his song “If You’ve Got the Money (I’ve Got the Time)” earned him the Grammy Hall of Fame Award. In 1982, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

A Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, Griffith won Best Contemporary Folk Album for Other Voices, Other Rooms. With over twenty albums released, some of her greatest hits include Kathy Mattea’s cover of “Love at the Five and Dime” and Suzy Bogguss’ “Outbound Plane.” Griffith was awarded the Kate Wolf Memorial Award by the World Folk Music Association in 1995, and in 2008 the Americana Music Association awarded her its Lifetime Achievement Trailblazer Award.

An American country blues singer-songwriter from Centerville, Texas, Hopkins performed for over six decades, recording more albums than any other blues musician over 30 years. He scored a series of national R&B hits with “Shotgun Blues,” “Short Haired Woman,” “Abilene,” and “Big Mama Jump.” The Texas troubadour appeared in the acclaimed 1967 documentary, The Blues Accordin’ to Lightnin’ Hopkins, a tribute to his musicianship and study of the blues. In 1980, Hopkins was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame.

James has penned hits for B.J. Thomas, Brenda Lee, and Elvis Presley, including Thomas’ “Hooked On A Feeling,” and Presley’s last U.S. No. 1 hit single, “Suspicious Minds.” A native of Houston, James’ greatest success came with “Always on My Mind,” a collaboration that won a Grammy for both Song of the Year and Best Country Song. In 2015, James was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

A limited number of seats for the 2022 Hall of Fame Awards Show will be made available to the public, with a ticket sales date set to be announced in December.

Lorie Hollabaugh
Latest posts by Lorie Hollabaugh (see all)