Lynn Frazier

Charles Lynn Frazier, a gifted musician known to many as Lynn “Famous” Frazier, passed away peacefully at home on August 12, 2025, at the age of 76, with his wife of 31 years, Katherine, by his side.

Lynn was the eldest of two children born to Charles “Charlie” Varden Frazier and Lela Jeanne (Hufft) Frazier. He became a world traveler from the very start, born on January 11, 1949, in Tachikawa, Japan, where his father was stationed with the U.S. military. By the time Lynn was a year old, he had traveled more than 14,000 miles. Soon after, the family moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where Lynn welcomed his baby sister, Sandy.

Music ran deep in the Frazier household. Charlie told Lynn he would get him any instrument he wanted but he had to learn to play it, so Lynn picked about the hardest instrument he could. Lynn started playing steel guitar around 1962, when Wayne Gaily taught him how to put on picks. Charlie shared his love of music with his children, forming a family band with his wife, Jeanne, Lynn, and Sandy. It was then that Lynn first discovered the joy of performing for an audience. As Charlie managed NCO clubs across various military bases, Lynn had the opportunity to meet and play alongside many popular artists of the era—an experience that shaped his future career.

Lynn attended Permian High School in Odessa, Texas. By graduation, he was already playing with well-known musicians, and he went on to tour with legends such as Ray Price, Johnny Bush, and Hank Thompson. In March 1969, Lynn was drafted into the U.S. Army and stationed in New Jersey. He received an honorable discharge in 1971.

Afterward, Lynn pursued music full time, quickly earning a reputation as an extraordinary steel guitar player. In April 1978, he was invited to New York to join the band of an off-Broadway musical, where he helped create the steel guitar arrangements. That show—The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas—moved to Broadway on June 19, 1978. Lynn also played in the band for the first national touring company of the Whorehouse in 1979. Herb Steiner, a fellow steel guitar player, said “Lynn’s performance in the Whorehouse had many steel players scratching their heads trying to duplicate his great solos from that show.”

During his time in New York, Lynn not only performed in the production but also played with numerous musicians at many venues, made lifelong friends, appeared in a band on the soap opera One Life to Live, and even performed in a Playboy Channel special “Country Blue” a parody of country music a little on the racy side which Lynn loved. Lynn never took many things too seriously.

By the mid-1980s, Lynn had returned to Austin, Texas, where he continued to perform with local bands and contributed his remarkable talent to several albums, including Rainbow Down the Road, the final album by B.W. Stevenson—a project Lynn remained especially proud of. In 2020 Lynn was an inductee to the 22nd Annual Cowtown Society of Western Music “Heros of Western Swing.” Unfortunately, due to the outbreak of Covid he was unable to be honored in person that year. He was disappointed but truly proud to know he had been selected.

The list of musicians Lynn played with is far too long to name. Suffice it to say, he was regarded as one of the finest steel guitar players in the industry with a career that spanned 6 decades. He also had a reputation for being more than a little rowdy. When Johnny Bush wrote his autobiography, he described Lynn as “incorrigible”—a label Lynn accepted with humor and a bit of pride. Friends, family and fellow musicians could tell countless stories of his antics, and while his mischief was legendary, so too was his immense talent. Lynn was both a character and an exceptional musician who will be deeply missed.

Lynn is survived by his wife, Katherine Green; his children and stepchildren James Frazier, Misty Frazier (Craig) Chichurka, Les Green, and Walter (Angela) Green; his sister, Sandy Frazier (Mike) Clark; and his grandchildren Justin Woods, Jonas Muniz, Dominic Muniz, Laura Frazier, JD Frazier, Adalyn Green, and Clyde Green. He is also survived by countless friends and family he cherished.

Katherine wishes to thank Gilead Hospice care, and especially Lynn’s hospice nurse, Leo. While Lynn didn’t say a lot during those twice a week visits, he truly appreciated Leo’s skill and kindness. And a big thank you to Les and Walter for taking care me while I cared for Lynn and stepping in when I had to step away. I couldn’t have done it without you boys.

A celebration of Lynn’s life will be held at a later date to be announced. Donations can be made to a music charity of your choice.