Corey Frizzell draws on family’s music heritage for first art display

Release Date: 5/17/2006. Expired: 7/15/2006

When you hear the name Frizzell, you don’t think of art, you think of country music with artists such as Lefty and David Frizzell. The Frizzell family’s music roots are part of Corey Frizzell’s heritage, but he took a different path - one that includes a boxing career and art.

Although Frizzell’s passion for boxing kept him in and out of the ring for eight years, his love for drawing has always been there. The Dickson resident will now have his first solo exhibit featuring pencil portraits of country music stars in the North Wing Gallery of The Renaissance Center in Dickson June 2-July 15. An opening reception with the artist will be 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, June 2.

“The show will have a music theme,” Frizzell said. “I am creating portraits of about 15-20 country music artists. These portraits are for these artists but first they will be on display” at The Renaissance Center.

“I am from a legendary country music family myself, so naturally they will be part of the show. Lefty and David Frizzell are my uncles and Allen Frizzell is my dad. This show is my tribute to my musical heritage and will be called Roots.”

Frizzell spent his early years drawing murals of comic book heroes for his friends. Over time, drawing became a hobby that took a back seat to his boxing career.

Fighting his first match at age 20, Frizzell went on to win a Golden Gloves title in the novice 132-pound division at the 1999 Iowa championships. After moving to Tennessee, Frizzell began training with Dr. Morgan Hines of Columbia and earned a gold medal at the 2001 Georgia Games. He set his sights on the 2004 Olympics but his career was sidelined by a 2002 automobile accident. After his recovery, Frizzell attempted to turn professional but a scheduling problem canceled his pro debut and he decided to hang up his gloves.

From his teen years of drawing from comic books, it would be years before Frizzell would draw his first portrait, inspired by a portrait drawn by his Aunt Betty. He soon fell in love with creating pencil portraits and since 1998 they have become a new focus for his life.

Aside from commissioned pieces, Frizzell also has produced a series of portraits of famous country music stars like his uncle Lefty Frizzell (If You’ve Got the Money Honey, I’ve Got the Time), Dottie West (Country Sunshine), Allen Frizzell (guitarist and producer), George Jones (He Stopped Loving Her Today), Craig Morgan (Redneck Yacht Club), Mark Chesnutt (Brother Jukebox), Keith Whitley (I’m No Stranger to the Rain), Brad Paisley (Celebrity), Alan Jackson (It’s Five O’clock Somewhere) and others.

Roots, the series of portraits by Frizzell, will be on display in the North Wing Gallery June 2-July 15. The exhibit and opening reception are free and open to the public.

For more information on Roots and other exhibits at The Renaissance Center, contact curator Curtis Southerland at (615)740-5519 or

The Renaissance Center is a fine arts and technology education and performing arts center at 855 Highway 46 South in Dickson, just 35 miles west of Nashville on Interstate 40 at exit 172.

Visit the Visual Arts Gallery page for more about the gallery.

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