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James William Anderson III (born November 1, 1937), known professionally as Bill Anderson, is an American
country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...
singer, songwriter, and television host. His soft-spoken singing voice was given the nickname "Whispering Bill" by music critics and writers. As a songwriter, his compositions have been covered by various music artists since the late 1950s, including Ray Price and George Strait. Anderson was raised in Decatur, Georgia, and began composing songs while in high school. While enrolled in college, he wrote the song " City Lights", which later became a major hit for Ray Price in 1958. His songwriting led to his first recording contract with
Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...
the same year. Anderson began having major hits shortly thereafter. In 1963, he had released his most successful single in his recording career, "
Still A still is an apparatus used to distill liquid mixtures by heating to selectively boil and then cooling to condense the vapor. A still uses the same concepts as a basic distillation apparatus, but on a much larger scale. Stills have been use ...
". The song became a major country pop
crossover Crossover may refer to: Entertainment Albums and songs * ''Cross Over'' (Dan Peek album) * ''Crossover'' (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles album), 1987 * ''Crossover'' (Intrigue album) * ''Crossover'' (Hitomi Shimatani album) * ''Crossover'' (Yoshino ...
hit and was followed by a series of top ten hits. These songs included "
I Love You Drops ''I Love You Drops'' is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released in August 1966 on Decca Records and was produced by Owen Bradley. It was Anderson's fifth studio release and included three singles that b ...
", "
I Get the Fever "I Get the Fever' is a 1966 single by Bill Anderson. "I Get the Fever" was Bill Anderson's third number one on the country charts. The single spent one week at number one and a total of nineteen weeks on the country charts. Chart performance ...
" and "
Wild Week-End "Wild Week-End" is a single by American country music artist Bill Anderson. Released in March 1968, it was the first single from his album ''Wild Weekend''. The song peaked at number 2 on the '' Billboard'' Hot Country Singles Hot Country Songs ...
". His songs were being notably recorded by other artists. In 1964,
Connie Smith Connie Smith (born Constance June Meador; August 14, 1941) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Her contralto vocals have been described by music writers as significant and influential to the women of country music. A similarity h ...
had her first major hit with his composition "
Once a Day "Once a Day" is a song written by Bill Anderson and recorded as the debut single by American country artist Connie Smith. It was produced by Bob Ferguson for her self-titled debut album. The song was released in August 1964, topping the '' Bi ...
". In 1971,
Cal Smith Calvin Grant Shofner (April 7, 1932 – October 10, 2013), known professionally as Cal Smith, was an American country musician, most famous for his 1974 hits "Country Bumpkin" and " It's Time to Pay the Fiddler". Career Calvin Grant Shofner was ...
had a number one single with Anderson's "
The Lord Knows I'm Drinking "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking" is a song written by Bill Anderson, and recorded by American country music singer Cal Smith. It was released in November 1972 as the third single from the album ''I've Found Someone of My Own''. Song background Smi ...
". In the 1970s, Anderson continued having major hits as a recording artist as well. Songs including "
Love Is a Sometimes Thing ''Love Is a Sometimes Thing'' is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released in June 1970 on Decca Records and was produced by Owen Bradley. It was Anderson's fourteenth studio album since signing with th ...
", " All the Lonely Women in the World" and "
World of Make Believe "World of Make Believe" is a 1973 single by Bill Anderson. "World of Make Believe" was Bill Anderson's last number one as a solo artist. The single stayed at number one for a single week and spent a total of twelve weeks on the country chart. An ...
" became major hits. As the decade progressed his style moved towards the
Countrypolitan The Nashville Sound originated during the mid-1950s as a subgenre of American country music, replacing the chart dominance of the rough honky tonk music, which was most popular in the 1940s and 1950s, with "smooth strings and choruses", "sophist ...
sub-genre of country music, with songs such as " I Can't Wait Any Longer". He was dropped from his record label in the early 1980s and began a brief career in television which included hosting the game shows ''
The Better Sex ''The Better Sex'' is a television game show in the United States where men competed against women in a "battle of the sexes" format. The Mark Goodson-Bill Todman production ran on ABC from July 18, 1977 to January 13, 1978. The show had two hosts ...
'' and ''
Fandango Fandango is a lively partner dance originating from Portugal and Spain, usually in triple meter, traditionally accompanied by guitars, castanets, or hand-clapping. Fandango can both be sung and danced. Sung fandango is usually bipartite: it has ...
.'' Anderson began writing songs again in the early 1990s for the next generation of country performers. Collaborating with other writers, he wrote material that would go on to become hits for
Vince Gill Vincent Grant Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter and musician. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman of the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s and as a solo artist ...
, George Strait,
Kenny Chesney Kenneth Arnold Chesney (born March 26, 1968) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He has recorded more than 20 albums and has produced more than 40 Top 10 singles on the US ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Hot Coun ...
, and
Steve Wariner Steven Noel Wariner (born December 25, 1954) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Initially a backing musician for Dottie West, he also worked with Bob Luman and Chet Atkins before beginning a solo career in the late ...
in the next two decades. Anderson also continued recording into the 1990s. In 1998, he released his first major label album in over a decade, entitled ''
Fine Wine Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are m ...
.'' He continued releasing music through his own TWI record label. This included projects of gospel and bluegrass material. His most recent studio album was released in 2020. In his career as both a writer and performer, he has received awards from the
Academy of Country Music The Academy of Country Music (ACM) was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Among the founders were Eddie Miller, Tommy Wiggins, and Mickey and Chris Christensen. They wanted to promote country music ...
, Country Music Association,
Songwriters Hall of Fame The Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) is an American institution founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer, music publisher/songwriter Abe Olman, and publisher/executive Howie Richmond to honor those whose work, represent, and maintain, the her ...
and the
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1970 by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. A non-profit organization, its objective is to honor and preserve the songwriting legacy that is u ...
.


Early life

Anderson was born James William Anderson III to Elizabeth and James William Anderson Jr. in
Columbia, South Carolina Columbia is the capital of the U.S. state of South Carolina. With a population of 136,632 at the 2020 census, it is the second-largest city in South Carolina. The city serves as the county seat of Richland County, and a portion of the city ...
. He was the oldest of two children. His sister, Elizabeth Anderson, was born two years after. Anderson's father was an insurance agent while his mother was a homemaker. He spent his early childhood with his family in Columbia. The family moved to his grandparents' home in
Griffin, Georgia Griffin is a city in and the county seat of Spalding County, Georgia. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 23,478. Griffin was founded in 1840 and named for landowner Col. Lewis Law ...
, while Anderson was in the third grade. Shortly afterward, the family relocated into their own home in Decatur, Georgia, where he spent the remainder of his childhood. In Decatur, his father opened his own insurance agency firm, which he continued to own until his retirement. In his 2016 autobiography, Anderson described his childhood as "average", recalling that he "never went to bed hungry" even though the family did not have many material possessions. In school, Anderson was active in 4-H organizations and played both baseball and football. However, he was most interested in music, having been inspired by his grandparents who played instruments. His interest grew further after watching country musicians perform on a radio station, located directly above his father's insurance company. Anderson soon saved enough money to purchase his own guitar. At age ten, he wrote his first song called "Carry Me Home Texas". In high school, Anderson and his friends formed their own band and won a school talent contest. The band began performing around the local area, eventually performing on local radio as "The Avondale Playboys". Anderson's strong interest in baseball continued through high school as well. He became his high school team's pitcher and was scouted to go to the
Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
training camp. However, Anderson declined the offer after realizing that his family would be upset if he did not attend college. Upon graduating high school, he enrolled at the
University of Georgia , mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things." , establ ...
and majored in
journalism Journalism is the production and distribution of reports on the interaction of events, facts, ideas, and people that are the "news of the day" and that informs society to at least some degree. The word, a noun, applies to the occupation (profes ...
. Anderson had dabbled with journalism before enrolling in university. While still in high school, he wrote for his school's newspaper and also obtained a job covering sports events for ''
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' is the only major daily newspaper in the metropolitan area of Atlanta, Georgia. It is the flagship publication of Cox Enterprises. The ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' is the result of the merger between ...
.'' In his freshman year, he pledged the
Kappa Sigma Fraternity Kappa Sigma (), commonly known as Kappa Sig, is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at the University of Virginia in 1869. Kappa Sigma is one of the five largest international fraternities with currently 318 active chapters and colo ...
. He and several students formed a country band called the "Classic City Playboys" and began playing local events. He also became interested in radio station work after a DJ friend introduced him to some of the controls. "I thought I was Superman. I knew that night I had to get a job as a disc jockey", he recalled. Anderson graduated from college in 1959. During his first summer out of college, he got a job working as a rock and roll DJ at
WGAU WGAU (1340 AM, "News-Talk 1340") is a radio station licensed to serve Athens, Georgia, United States, that broadcasts a news/ talk format. The transmitter is located at the studios (with WNGC) in Five Points. WGAU began broadcasting on May 1, 19 ...
in
Athens, Georgia Athens, officially Athens–Clarke County, is a consolidated city-county and college town in the U.S. state of Georgia. Athens lies about northeast of downtown Atlanta, and is a satellite city of the capital. The University of Georgia, the sta ...
. However, he was fired after playing country records over the air and was then hired at WJJC in
Commerce, Georgia Commerce is a city in Jackson County, Georgia, northeast of Atlanta. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 7,387. History Native American history Before European settlers arrived, the area around present-day Commerce was inhabit ...
. Anderson began songwriting again after obtaining the new position. In Commerce, Anderson wrote the song " City Lights". The song ultimately brought him to Nashville where both his songwriting and recording career began.


Recording career


1958–1962: Early success

Anderson's own recording career began in 1957 after releasing two singles for the independent label, TNT. Both songs (including his own version of "City Lights") attracted little attention. However, the success brought by Ray Price's version of "City Lights" led Anderson to frequent
Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...
. In the city, he brought compositions for artists and producers to record. Owen Bradley of
Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...
was impressed by Anderson's writing and decided to sign him as a recording artist to the label. Anderson officially signed with Decca in the summer of 1958. His early Decca singles were entirely self-composed. Anderson's first Decca released was issued in December 1958 called " That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome". The song became a major hit the following year when it climbed to the number 12 position on the '' Billboard'' Hot Country and Western Sides chart. He followed this in 1959 with the top 20 hits " Ninety Nine" and " Dead or Alive". In 1960, "
The Tip of My Fingers "The Tip of My Fingers", also titled "The Tips of My Fingers", is a song written and originally recorded by American country music singer Bill Anderson. First included on his 1962 album ''Bill Anderson Sings Country Heart Songs'', the song was a T ...
" became his first top ten hit on the country chart, reaching number seven in August 1960. The song would later be recorded and made hits individually by
Eddy Arnold Richard Edward Arnold (May 15, 1918 – May 8, 2008) was an American country music singer who performed for six decades. He was a Nashville sound (country/popular music) innovator of the late 1950s, and scored 147 songs on the ''Billboard'' cou ...
, Roy Clark,
Jean Shepard Ollie Imogene "Jean" Shepard (November 21, 1933 – September 25, 2016) was an American honky-tonk singer-songwriter who pioneered for women in country music. Shepard released a total of 73 singles to the Hot Country Songs chart, one of which ...
and
Steve Wariner Steven Noel Wariner (born December 25, 1954) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Initially a backing musician for Dottie West, he also worked with Bob Luman and Chet Atkins before beginning a solo career in the late ...
. In 1961, the single " Po' Folks" reached number nine on the ''Billboard'' country songs chart. The success of "Po' Folks" led Anderson to receive an invitation to join the
Grand Ole Opry The ''Grand Ole Opry'' is a weekly American country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, founded on November 28, 1925, by George D. Hay as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM. Currently owned and operated by Opry Entertainment (a divis ...
cast. Anderson accepted and joined the program the same year. He is, as of 2022, the longest-standing active Opry member. This was followed by his first number-one hit, " Mama Sang a Song". It was also his first single to chart on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, reaching number 89. Although successful, Anderson's early singles were not initially included on studio album releases. Instead, Decca issued his early hits on the 1962 compilation '' Bill Anderson Sings Country Heart Songs.''


1963–1976: "Still" and further career success

By 1963, Anderson's recording career was expanding further. He was frequently touring and making public appearances to promote his music. Anderson was inspired to write his 1963 composition, "
Still A still is an apparatus used to distill liquid mixtures by heating to selectively boil and then cooling to condense the vapor. A still uses the same concepts as a basic distillation apparatus, but on a much larger scale. Stills have been use ...
", after encountering an ex-girlfriend while promoting a song. The same night, he wrote the lyrics to the track on an Underwood typewriter at three o'clock in the morning. "Still" became the biggest single of his recording career. In April 1963, it reached number one on the ''Billboard'' country and western songs chart. It also became his second single to reach the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, but was his first (and only) successful crossover hit there, reaching number eight in June 1963. The track was also his first single to become a hit on the ''Billboard'' easy listening chart, reaching number three that June. The song's success led to the 1963 release of Anderson's debut studio album of the same name. The LP reached number ten on the ''Billboard'' country albums chart in January 1964 and the top 40 of the
Billboard 200 The ''Billboard'' 200 is a record chart ranking the 200 most popular music albums and EPs in the United States. It is published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine and is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of art ...
in late 1963. The success of "Still" further elevated Anderson's recording career. This included making national television appearances on shows such as '' American Bandstand,'' where he performed his follow-up crossover hit " 8×10". He won awards from several major music publications including ''Billboard,'' '' Cashbox'' and '' Music Reporter.'' He scheduled more concert engagements and made as much as $500 per gig. His success led Decca to record and release studio albums with more frequency. These albums were also successful. His second studio LP, ''
Bill Anderson Sings ''Bill Anderson Sings'' is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released in February 1964 on Decca Records and was produced by Owen Bradley. The album was Anderson's second studio release as a recording art ...
'' (1964), reached the top ten of the country albums chart. His 1966 studio release reached number one on the same chart. Album releases were fueled by further hit singles, including " Bright Lights and Country Music", " Five Little Fingers" and " Three A.M." Music writers took notice of Anderson's music success as well. ''Billboard'' magazine called his 1964 album, ''
Showcase Showcase or vitrine may refer to: *Cabinet (furniture) *Display case Music * ''Showcase'' (Bill Anderson album), 1964 * ''Showcase'' (Patsy Cline album), 1961 * ''Showcase'' (Buddy Holly album), 1964 * ''Showcase'' (Philly Joe Jones album), 1959 ...
,'' "a powerful set of performances". Kurt Wolff of the book ''Country Music: The Rough Guide'' credited his success to a "fairly safe and suburban" musical style. His chart hits continued through the 1960s and many of these songs were self-composed. His 1966 release, "
I Love You Drops ''I Love You Drops'' is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released in August 1966 on Decca Records and was produced by Owen Bradley. It was Anderson's fifth studio release and included three singles that b ...
", was inspired by the
Chuck Berry Charles Edward Anderson Berry (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the " Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and developed rhythm and blues into th ...
hit "
Memphis Tennessee Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Shelby County in the southwest part of the state; it is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 U.S. census, Memphis is the second-mos ...
". His next self-written release would also become his third number one hit, entitled "
I Get the Fever "I Get the Fever' is a 1966 single by Bill Anderson. "I Get the Fever" was Bill Anderson's third number one on the country charts. The single spent one week at number one and a total of nineteen weeks on the country charts. Chart performance ...
". He had further top ten hits with " Get While the Gettin's Good" and " No One's Gonna Hurt You Anymore". During this time, Anderson formed his own touring band which he named "The Po' Boys" after his 1961 hit. The band frequently received credit on his studio albums and single releases. He also started his own television program called ''The Bill Anderson Show,'' which was taped in Canada and Nashville. In the mid 1960s, he began performing duets with country artist
Jan Howard Jan Howard (born Lula Grace Johnson; March 13, 1929 – March 28, 2020) was an American country music singer and songwriter. As a singer, she placed 30 singles on the ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Hot Country Songs, country songs chart, w ...
, who was also on Decca Records. Believing they could be a successful recording partnership, the pair approached producer Owen Bradley with the idea of recording together. Bradley agreed and the duo released their first single in 1965. In 1968, the pair had their first major hit with the duet "
For Loving You "For Loving You" is a 1967 duet by Bill Anderson and Jan Howard. The single was the duo's most successful release. "For Loving You" went to number one on the country charts in four weeks and spent 20 weeks on the chart. Chart performance Bill ...
". The song became a number one hit on the ''Billboard'' country chart and led to several more successful collaborations. Following several more hits, Anderson reached the number one position for a fifth time in May 1969 with " My Life (Throw It Away If I Want To)". Both this, and the hit "
But You Know I Love You "But You Know I Love You" is a song written by Mike Settle, which was a 1969 pop hit for Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, a group that included Settle and Kenny Rogers. The song also became a major country hit by Bill Anderson in 1969. In 198 ...
", were included on his 1969 studio album. He began diversifying his album releases during this period with the recording of a gospel LP, '' I Can Do Nothing Alone'', in 1967 and a holiday LP, ''
Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...
'', in 1969. A greatest hits package, '' Bill Anderson's Greatest Hits, was also issued and it reached number six on the country albums survey. Anderson continued releasing regular country albums as well, outputting as much as three per year by the early 1970s. His country LP's often included a mix of original material and cover versions. On his 1971 release, '' Always Remember,'' Greg Adams of
Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
commented that it "confounds expectations" for delivering original vocal performances of songs first cut by
Kris Kristofferson Kristoffer Kristofferson (born June 22, 1936) is a retired American singer, songwriter and actor. Among his songwriting credits are " Me and Bobby McGee", " For the Good Times", " Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and " Help Me Make It Through the ...
and
Kenny Rogers Kenneth Ray Rogers (August 21, 1938 – March 20, 2020) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Rogers was particularly popular with country audiences but also charted mo ...
. A series of uninterrupted top ten hits followed his early 1970s albums. During this time frame, he had hits with "
Love Is a Sometimes Thing ''Love Is a Sometimes Thing'' is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released in June 1970 on Decca Records and was produced by Owen Bradley. It was Anderson's fourteenth studio album since signing with th ...
", " Where Have All Our Heroes Gone", "
If You Can Live with It (I Can Live Without It) "If You Can Live with It (I Can Live Without It)" is a song written and recorded by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released as a single in 1973 via MCA Records and became a major hit the same year. Background and release ...
" and "
The Corner of My Life "The Corner of My Life" is a single by American country music artist Bill Anderson. Released in June 1973, it was the second single from his album ''Bill''. The song peaked at number 2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles Hot Country Songs i ...
". In February 1974, he had his first number one hit in five years with "
World of Make Believe "World of Make Believe" is a 1973 single by Bill Anderson. "World of Make Believe" was Bill Anderson's last number one as a solo artist. The single stayed at number one for a single week and spent a total of twelve weeks on the country chart. An ...
".


1977–1989: Countrypolitan shift and new changes

By 1977, Anderson experienced several changes in his recording career. His longtime duet partner, Jan Howard, left his record label and road show. According to Howard, it was difficult to keep up with the busy touring schedule. She was replaced by
Mary Lou Turner Mary Lou Turner (born June 13, 1947) is an American country music artist. She began her career as a regular on the ''Wheeling Jamboree'' in the early 1970s and in 1974 signed to replace Jan Howard as the "girl singer" (who had left to pursue her ...
. In 1976, the Turner-Anderson pairing had a number one hit with the song, " Sometimes". Anderson's longtime label was renamed to
MCA Records MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group. Pre-history MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 wit ...
during the same time frame. Changes at the label continued when his longtime producer (Owen Bradley) was replaced by
Buddy Killen William Doyce “Buddy” Killen (November 13, 1932 – November 1, 2006) was an American record producer and music publisher, and a former owner of Trinity Broadcasting Network and Tree International Publishing, the largest country music ...
. Anderson's first assignment with Killen was the 1977 studio release, '' Scorpio.'' With Killen, Anderson's musical sound shifted from Nashville Sound ballads towards uptempo
Countrypolitan The Nashville Sound originated during the mid-1950s as a subgenre of American country music, replacing the chart dominance of the rough honky tonk music, which was most popular in the 1940s and 1950s, with "smooth strings and choruses", "sophist ...
tunes. The new sound was reflected in his latest albums and singles. In 1977, Anderson had two major hits with the uptempo "
Head to Toe "Head to Toe" is a song recorded by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam that appeared on their 1987 album ''Spanish Fly''. The song hit number one on three charts: ''Billboard'' Hot 100 on June 20, 1987, the Hot Black Singles charts on May 30 of that year, ...
" and " Still the One". The following year, Anderson had a major hit with the
disco Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric pia ...
-flavored " I Can't Wait Any Longer". The song peaked at number four on the ''Billboard'' country singles chart and reached number 80 on the Hot 100. Its corresponding studio effort, '' Love...& Other Sad Stories,'' reached number 37 on the ''Billboard'' country albums list. Although successful at first, Anderson's late-1970s music received negative criticism from many writers. Author Kurt Wolff criticized his new image, commenting that his music "flirted dangerously with disco beats". Eugene Chadbourne of Allmusic only gave his ''Love...& Other Sad Stories'' album 1.5 out of 5 stars. "This is an album that begins with what sounds like a pervert and ends with an effect described as frightening. Too bad most of it is so boring to listen to", Chadbourne concluded. Anderson's sales success began to decline following the release of "I Can't Wait Any Longer". His follow-up album, '' Ladies Choice'' (1979), only reached number 44 on the country albums chart. The album's only major hit was the top 20 single " This Is a Love Song". After the release of his final MCA album in 1980, he was dropped from the label. In the mid 1980s, Anderson shifted his professional interests. He began a brief television career in California. However, he continued recording music sporadically during the decade. On the independent Southern Tracks label, he released ''
Southern Fried ''Southern Fried'' is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson and his band "The Po' Folks". It was released in 1983 on Southern Tracks Records. It was co-produced by Anderson and Mike Johnson. The album marked Anderson' ...
'' in 1983. The album was co-produced by Anderson and musician Mike Johnson. The album also spawned four singles that became minor hits on the country songs chart, including the title track. In 1986, Anderson released '' A Place in the Country,'' which was also produced by Johnson. The record was also released in the United Kingdom with a different track list. Four singles were spawned from the album that became minor country hits between 1984 and 1987.


1990–present: New artistic directions

Beginning in the early 1990s, Anderson focused more on songwriting. However, he continued recording his own music. Anderson's first studio release of the decade was 1992's '' Country Music Heaven,'' issued on Curb Records. It was a collection of gospel songs that was inspired by his grandfather, a Methodist preacher. The album's title track was issued as a single, but did not chart in any ''Billboard'' music publications. The single was reviewed by ''Billboard'' magazine in 1992 where it received comparisons to music by
Garth Brooks Troyal Garth Brooks (born February 7, 1962) is an American country music singer and songwriter. His integration of pop and rock elements into the country genre has earned him popularity, particularly in the United States with success on the co ...
. In 1998, Anderson was signed to
Warner Bros. Records Warner Records Inc. (formerly Warner Bros. Records Inc.) is an American record label. A subsidiary of the Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division of the ...
as part of a veterans artists project that included Ronnie Milsap and
Connie Smith Connie Smith (born Constance June Meador; August 14, 1941) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Her contralto vocals have been described by music writers as significant and influential to the women of country music. A similarity h ...
. That year, his 36th studio offering entitled ''
Fine Wine Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are m ...
'' was released. The project was produced by
Steve Wariner Steven Noel Wariner (born December 25, 1954) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Initially a backing musician for Dottie West, he also worked with Bob Luman and Chet Atkins before beginning a solo career in the late ...
and his wife Caryn. John Weisberger of ''Country Standard Time'' gave the release a positive response, calling the songs "vintage". Meanwhile, Allmusic only gave it 2.5 out of 5 stars. He began taking new artistic directions with his next studio release, '' A Lot of Things Different'' (2001). The album represented a traditional country style, which Anderson called his most traditional effort yet. It was released on
Varèse Sarabande Varèse Sarabande is an American record label, owned by Concord Music Group and distributed by Universal Music Group, which specializes in film scores and original cast recordings. It aims to reissue rare or unavailable albums, as well as newer r ...
, which Anderson distributed music through in conjunction with his own record label, TWI. Anderson's artistic directions continued expanding into the 2000s. After the release of another holiday album, '' No Place Like Home on Christmas'', he released a third gospel project in 2004, '' Softly & Tenderly.'' A year later, he released a contemporary country album entitled '' The Way I Feel.'' It included his own version of
Brad Paisley Bradley Douglas Paisley (born October 28, 1972) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Starting with his 1999 debut album ''Who Needs Pictures'', he has released eleven studio albums and a Christmas compilation on the Arista Nashvil ...
's "
Whiskey Lullaby "Whiskey Lullaby" is a song written by Bill Anderson and Jon Randall. The song was a duet recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley and bluegrass artist Alison Krauss on Paisley's album ''Mud on the Tires.'' The song was released ...
", along with his own compositions. It was reviewed positively by Al Campbell, who praised its songwriting quality. In 2007, Anderson released his first collection of
bluegrass music Bluegrass music is a genre of American roots music The term American folk music encompasses numerous music genres, variously known as ''traditional music'', ''traditional folk music'', ''contemporary folk music'', ''vernacular music,'' or ...
called '' Whisperin' Bluegrass.'' Released on
Madacy Entertainment Madacy Lifestyle Marketing (formerly Madacy Entertainment) was a company based in Mount Royal, Quebec, that published DVDs, CDs and VHS tapes. Most of the products were frequently seen in many discount stores in the United States and Canada, ofte ...
, it included collaborations with
Vince Gill Vincent Grant Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter and musician. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman of the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s and as a solo artist ...
and
Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album d ...
. Chet Flippo of ''
Country Music Television Country Music Television (CMT) is an American pay TV network owned by Paramount Media Networks, a division of Paramount Global. Launched on March 5, 1983, as Country Music Television, CMT was the first nationally available channel devoted to coun ...
'' called it "a terrific album of country and gospel songs done up with bluegrass instrumentation". In 2010 and 2014, respectively, Anderson released two self-produced studio albums: ''
Songwriter A songwriter is a musician who professionally composes musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music gen ...
'' and '' Life!.'' In 2018, his 44th studio effort, ''
Anderson Anderson or Andersson may refer to: Companies * Anderson (Carriage), a company that manufactured automobiles from 1907 to 1910 * Anderson Electric, an early 20th-century electric car * Anderson Greenwood, an industrial manufacturer * Anderson ...
,'' was issued and featured a collaboration with
Jamey Johnson Jamey Johnson (born July 14, 1975) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to BNA Records in 2005, Johnson made his debut with his single " The Dollar", the title track to his 2006 album '' The Dollar''. He was dropped from ...
. He followed this with his 45th studio recording in 2020 called '' The Hits Re-Imagined.'' The album was a collection of re-recorded hits and songs Anderson had written in his career. ''Billboard'' gave the record a favorable review which stated, "At 82, Anderson brings a gravitas to the heavier songs and a lightheartedness to tunes like "Po Folks" with a low-key production that keeps the focus squarely on Anderson and his delivery. Just as it should be". In June 2022, a compilation titled ''The Best of Bill Anderson: As Far as I Can See'' was released by
MCA Nashville Universal Music Group Nashville is Universal Music Group's country music subsidiary. Some of the labels in this group include MCA Nashville Records, Mercury Nashville Records, Lost Highway Records, Capitol Records Nashville and EMI Records Nash ...
and included a new track featuring
Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album d ...
.


Songwriting career


1958–1979: Breakthrough in Nashville

Anderson's writing career began during the same period as his recording career. His 1958 composition, "City Lights", ultimately led to his songwriting success. In an interview with Ken Burns, Anderson recalled writing the song on a hotel roof: "I was up there one night in 1957 – I was nineteen years old – and I managed to write the 'bright array of city lights as far as I can see'", he recalled. After Anderson's own version was released, it was brought to the attention of country artist Ray Price. It was picked up by his record label and became a number one hit on the national country charts in 1958. The success of "City Lights" led Anderson to receive a contract from the Tree Writing music publishing company in Nashville. The Tree contract allowed Anderson to write songs for his own music and others. Among his next hits as a writer was "I Missed Me", which was cut by
Jim Reeves James Travis Reeves (August 20, 1923July 31, 1964) was an American country and popular music singer-songwriter. With records charting from the 1950s to the 1980s, he became well known as a practitioner of the Nashville Sound. Known as "Gentleman ...
. The single became a major country hit after reaching number three in December 1960. Another hit was " I Don't Love You Anymore", which was recorded by
Charlie Louvin Charles Elzer Loudermilk (July 7, 1927 – January 26, 2011), known professionally as Charlie Louvin, was an American country music singer and songwriter. He is best known as one of the Louvin Brothers, and was a member of the Grand Ole Op ...
in 1964. Released as a single, the song became Lovin's biggest solo hit, reaching number four on the ''Billboard''
Hot Country Singles Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data from Nielsen BDS along with digital sa ...
chart. That same year,
Lefty Frizzell William Orville "Lefty" Frizzell (March 31, 1928 – July 19, 1975) was an American country music singer-songwriter and honky-tonk singer. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1982. Frizzell released many songs that charted ...
recorded Anderson's "
Saginaw, Michigan Saginaw () is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw and Saginaw County are both in the area known as Mid-Michigan. Saginaw is adjacent to Saginaw Charter Township and considered part of Greater ...
". The single became Frizzell's first number one hit since 1952, topping the charts in March 1964. During this time, he wrote two hits for
Porter Wagoner Porter Wayne Wagoner (August 12, 1927 – October 28, 2007) was an American country music singer known for his flashy Nudie and Manuel suits and blond pompadour. In 1967, he introduced singer Dolly Parton on his television show, ''The Po ...
, including 1964's "I'll Go Down Swinging". He was inspired to write the song after hearing the song title at the end of a
Hank Snow Clarence Eugene "Hank" Snow (May 9, 1914 – December 20, 1999) was a Canadian-American country music artist. Most popular in the 1950s, he had a career that spanned more than 50 years, he recorded 140 albums and charted more than 85 singles on ...
record. Anderson also wrote solo hits for his duet partner, Jan Howard, in the 1960s. She had major hits with the Anderson-penned " Count Your Blessings, Woman", " I Still Believe in Love" and " Bad Seed". The latter track was a top ten hit for Howard in 1966. Anderson also wrote several hits for
Connie Smith Connie Smith (born Constance June Meador; August 14, 1941) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Her contralto vocals have been described by music writers as significant and influential to the women of country music. A similarity h ...
. He was also responsible for helping Smith sign her first recording contract. Anderson had discovered Smith after hearing her perform in a talent contest near
Columbus, Ohio Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, and t ...
. He helped bring her to Nashville, where she recorded several demonstration tapes that were heard by producers at
RCA Victor Records RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also Ari ...
. In 1964, Smith was signed to the label. Anderson's composition "
Once a Day "Once a Day" is a song written by Bill Anderson and recorded as the debut single by American country artist Connie Smith. It was produced by Bob Ferguson for her self-titled debut album. The song was released in August 1964, topping the '' Bi ...
" was recorded by Smith in 1964. Released as her debut single, it spent a total of eight weeks on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles chart, becoming his most successful hit as a writer at that point. Smith's career was further facilitated by Anderson, who wrote many of her follow-up hits such as "
Then and Only Then "Then and Only Then" is a song written by Bill Anderson and recorded by the American country artist, Connie Smith, on her Connie Smith. It was produced by Bob Ferguson and released in January 1965, reaching the Top 5 on the '' Billboard'' country ...
", "
Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...
" and "
I Never Once Stopped Loving You ''I Never Once Stopped Loving You'' is the fourteenth solo studio album by American country singer Connie Smith. It was released in September 1970 on RCA Victor and contained ten tracks. The collection mixed original material with covers of prev ...
". Anderson further helped her professional career by helping her become a member of the
Grand Ole Opry The ''Grand Ole Opry'' is a weekly American country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, founded on November 28, 1925, by George D. Hay as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM. Currently owned and operated by Opry Entertainment (a divis ...
and make an appearance on ''
The Lawrence Welk Show ''The Lawrence Welk Show'' is an American televised musical variety show hosted by big band leader Lawrence Welk. The series aired locally in Los Angeles for four years, from 1951 to 1955, then nationally for another 16 years on ABC from 195 ...
.'' "From the beginning, I liked Connie a lot personally and tried to help her", he recalled in his 2016 autobiography. Anderson also wrote material for pop artists during this time. In the 1960s,
Brenda Lee Brenda Mae Tarpley (born December 11, 1944), known professionally as Brenda Lee, is an American singer. Performing rockabilly, pop and country music, she had 47 US chart hits during the 1960s and is ranked fourth in that decade, surpassed onl ...
recorded Anderson's "
My Whole World Is Falling Down "My Whole World Is Falling Down" is a song written by Bill Anderson and Jerry Crutchfield and performed by Brenda Lee. Its chorus is based on the nursery rhyme "London Bridge Is Falling Down". The song reached #8 on the Adult Contemporary chart ...
". The single peaked at number 24 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in August 1963. Other pop artists to record Anderson's material included
James Brown James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, dancer, musician, record producer and bandleader. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th century music, he is often referred to by the honor ...
,
Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the " Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in ''Rolling Stone''s "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With ...
and
Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...
. However, his most successful material would be recorded by country artist, who continued recording his songs into the next decade. In 1972,
Cal Smith Calvin Grant Shofner (April 7, 1932 – October 10, 2013), known professionally as Cal Smith, was an American country musician, most famous for his 1974 hits "Country Bumpkin" and " It's Time to Pay the Fiddler". Career Calvin Grant Shofner was ...
cut Anderson's "
The Lord Knows I'm Drinking "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking" is a song written by Bill Anderson, and recorded by American country music singer Cal Smith. It was released in November 1972 as the third single from the album ''I've Found Someone of My Own''. Song background Smi ...
", which became a number one hit on the ''Billboard'' country chart. The following year,
Jean Shepard Ollie Imogene "Jean" Shepard (November 21, 1933 – September 25, 2016) was an American honky-tonk singer-songwriter who pioneered for women in country music. Shepard released a total of 73 singles to the Hot Country Songs chart, one of which ...
recorded Anderson's " Slippin Away". The single became Shepard's first top-ten hit in four years and she had further top-twenty hits that decade with Anderson-penned compositions. That same decade, Conway Twitty also had a number-one hit with the tune " I May Never Get to Heaven".


1980–1991: Writing shifts

Anderson's writing and recording career both slowed down at the same time. In the early 1980s, he began writing music less frequently. Instead, he began focusing on other projects in television. "I just knew that this is what I wanted to do for my life's work, but I do remember telling people I'd stop if it wasn't working out", he said in describing his move away from writing. In a 2020 interview with ''American Songwriter,'' Anderson also explained that the country market was shifting towards crossover pop. For that reason, he found it difficult to write material for other artists. "Country music was changing and I was wondering if I could still fit in. I don't know how I got in that funk, but it was a tough time", he recalled. Anderson did not fully stop writing material for his own albums. On his 1983 studio release, ''Southern Fried,'' he wrote three of the record's tracks. His 1986 studio album, '' A Place in the Country,'' contained two tracks written (or co-written) by Anderson. However, only one album track was self-composed: the song "We May Never Pass This Way Again.' Both of these self-composed tracks were only included on the version of the album released in the United Kingdom. Anderson turned his writing priorities towards other directions as well. In 1989, he released his first autobiography, ''Whisperin' Bill,'' via Longstreet Press. It was reviewed by ''
Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of B ...
'' in August 1989, giving it a mostly positive response: "Despite a measure of hoopla and hyperbole ('I did it . . . I did it all . . . but it wasn't easy'), the author does justice to a powerful story", reviewers commented.


1992–present: Return to songwriting and collaborations with others

In 1992, country artist
Steve Wariner Steven Noel Wariner (born December 25, 1954) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Initially a backing musician for Dottie West, he also worked with Bob Luman and Chet Atkins before beginning a solo career in the late ...
recorded Anderson's 1960 hit "The Tip of My Fingers". Released as a single, it became a top-five hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs chart that year and inspired Anderson to write again. "Steve's version of 'Tips' was some indication that words, melodies and emotions can carry across decades", he commented. Among his next compositions was a song co-written with
Vince Gill Vincent Grant Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter and musician. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman of the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s and as a solo artist ...
entitled " Which Bridge to Cross (Which Bridge to Burn)". The song was written in a "writing appointment", where composers make arrangements to write music and are paid by recording hours in a time clock. "Which Bridge to Cross" was released as a single by Gill in 1994 and became a major hit, peaking at number four on the ''Billboard'' country chart. According to Anderson, the song's success helped him gain credibility with younger songwriters in Nashville. He began receiving phone calls from other writers and performers to set up more writing appointments. Anderson, who was not used to writing with others, decided to make adaptations to his own songwriting style in order to collaborate. "I let a lot of young kids tell me a lot of things, and I benefited from that, greatly", he recounted. Anderson began co-writing more frequently during the 1990s. Wariner had another hit in 1999 with another Anderson composition titled "
Two Teardrops ''Two Teardrops'' is the fifteenth studio album by American country music singer Steve Wariner. Released in 1999, it was his second studio album for Capitol Nashville. The album, which was certified gold in the United States, produced two singles ...
". The song became a major hit when it reached number two on the country songs chart in June 1999. The song was also nominated for a
Grammy award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
. During the same period, he collaborated with
Skip Ewing Donald Ralph "Skip" Ewing (born March 6, 1964) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Active since 1988, Ewing has recorded nine studio albums and has charted 15 singles on the '' Billboard'' country charts. Career Ewing was born ...
and Debbie Moore on the song "
Wish You Were Here Wish You Were Here may refer to: Film, television, and theater Film * ''Wish You Were Here'' (1987 film), a British comedy-drama film by David Leland * ''Wish You Were Here'' (2012 film), an Australian drama/mystery film by Kieran Darcy-Smith ...
". The song was released as a single by
Mark Wills Mark Wills (born Daryl Mark Williams; August 8, 1973) is an American country music artist. Signed to Mercury Records between 1996 and 2003, he released five studio albums for the label – ''Mark Wills'', ''Wish You Were Here'', '' Permanently'' ...
and became a number one hit on the ''Billboard'' country chart in 1999. Anderson later commented that the song's success helped him resolve financial struggles he had battled during the decade. He followed "Wish You Were Here" with the song " A Lot of Things Different", which was co-written with
Dean Dillon Dean Dillon (born Larry Dean Flynn; March 26, 1955) is an American country musician and songwriter. Between 1982 and 1993, he recorded six studio albums on various labels, and charted several singles on the '' Billboard'' country charts. Since 1 ...
. The song was written during an exchange the pair had while out to breakfast. The song was later recorded by
Kenny Chesney Kenneth Arnold Chesney (born March 26, 1968) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He has recorded more than 20 albums and has produced more than 40 Top 10 singles on the US ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Hot Coun ...
, whose version reached number six on the country singles chart in 2003. Chesney's song was followed by a track later recorded by
Brad Paisley Bradley Douglas Paisley (born October 28, 1972) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Starting with his 1999 debut album ''Who Needs Pictures'', he has released eleven studio albums and a Christmas compilation on the Arista Nashvil ...
and
Alison Krauss Alison Maria Krauss (born July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass-country singer and musician. She entered the music industry at an early age, competing in local contests by the age of 8 and recording for the first time at 14. She signed with ...
called "
Whiskey Lullaby "Whiskey Lullaby" is a song written by Bill Anderson and Jon Randall. The song was a duet recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley and bluegrass artist Alison Krauss on Paisley's album ''Mud on the Tires.'' The song was released ...
". The tune was composed with singer-songwriter
Jon Randall Jon Randall Stewart (born February 17, 1969) is an American producer, songwriter, and musician. His career began as a guitarist for Emmylou Harris' Nash Ramblers with whom he won his first Grammy for their ''Live at the Ryman'' album in 1992. B ...
. After writing the song, Randall was reluctant to record a
demo Demo, usually short for demonstration, may refer to: Music and film *Demo (music), a song typically recorded for reference rather than release * ''Demo'' (Behind Crimson Eyes), a 2004 recording by the band Behind Crimson Eyes * ''Demo'' (Deafhea ...
of the record to pitch to other artists. However, Anderson believed the song could be a success and its demo was then recorded at ten o'clock on a weeknight. Paisley's version was released as a single in 2004 and peaked at number three on the ''Billboard'' country chart that year. In 2005, "Whiskey Lullaby" won "Song of the Year" at the
Country Music Association Awards The Country Music Association Awards, also known as the CMA Awards or CMAs, are presented to country music artists and broadcasters to recognize outstanding achievement in the country music industry. The televised annual presentation ceremony f ...
. Anderson recalled the excitement of winning the accolade in his autobiography: "I jumped up and hugged Brad and knocked his white western hat from his head." In 2006, Anderson co-wrote a song with
Jamey Johnson Jamey Johnson (born July 14, 1975) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to BNA Records in 2005, Johnson made his debut with his single " The Dollar", the title track to his 2006 album '' The Dollar''. He was dropped from ...
and
Buddy Cannon Buddy Cannon (born April 20, 1947 Lexington, Tennessee) is an American country music songwriter and record producer. Active since the late 1970s, he is known primarily for his work with Willie Nelson and as Kenny Chesney's record producer, for w ...
called " Give It Away". The song would later be cut by George Strait. The song's concept was inspired by Johnson's divorce at the time and included a spoken narration, a device that was not popular in the country genre during the mid-2000s. Strait's version was released as a single in 2006 and reached number one on the country chart that September. The song later won "Song of the Year" from the CMA Awards, becoming Anderson's third accolade from the awards show in the last three years. Later that decade, Anderson collaborated with other writers to compose "
Joey Joey may refer to: People *Joey (name) Animals * Joey (marsupial), an infant marsupial * Joey, a Blue-fronted Amazon parrot who was one of the Blue Peter pets Film and television * ''Joey'' (1977 film), an American film directed by Horac ...
" for the country duo Sugarland. The single reached the top 20 of the country songs chart in 2009. In 2014, Anderson co-wrote
Mo Pitney Morgan Daniel Pitney (born March 24, 1993 in Cherry Valley, Illinois) is an American country music singer. In May 2014, he signed to Curb Records. He has released two studio albums: ''Behind This Guitar'' (2016), and ''Ain't Lookin' Back'' (202 ...
's top-30 country hit "
Country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...
" with Pitney and Bobby Tomberlin.


Other career contributions


Film and television

Between 1965 and 1974, Anderson hosted his own national television series called ''The Bill Anderson Show''. The program also featured Jan Howard (his duet partner) and The Po' Boys (his touring band). The show was first filmed in
Windsor, Ontario Windsor is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, on the south bank of the Detroit River directly across from Detroit, Michigan, United States. Geographically located within but administratively independent of Essex County, it is the souther ...
and
Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
. Filming was later moved to the General Electric Broadcasting Facility in Nashville, Tennessee. Broadcasting from Nashville made traveling easier since Anderson lived in the city. On an average filming day, Anderson would tape two thirty minute shows in front of a live audience. Around this time, he also appeared in several country music vehicle films. This included '' The Las Vegas Hillbillys'', which featured country artists
Sonny James Jimmie Hugh Loden (May 1, 1928February 22, 2016), known professionally as Sonny James, was an American country music singer and songwriter best known for his 1957 hit, " Young Love", topping both of the early versions of today's ''Billboard'' ...
and
Connie Smith Connie Smith (born Constance June Meador; August 14, 1941) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Her contralto vocals have been described by music writers as significant and influential to the women of country music. A similarity h ...
. He also made appearances on several national television shows during this time, including ''
The Today Show ''Today'' (also called ''The Today Show'' or informally, ''NBC News Today'') is an American news and talk morning television show that airs weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on NBC. The program debuted on January 14, 1952. It was ...
.'' Anderson ventured further into television in the late 1970s. Between 1977 and 1978, he and
Sarah Purcell Sarah Purcell (born Sarah Pentecost on October 8, 1948, Richmond, Indiana) is an American former talk show host, game show host, and panelist. She was co-host of '' The Better Sex'' (1977–1978), ''Real People'' (1979–1984), ''America'' (19 ...
co-hosted the
ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...
game show ''
The Better Sex ''The Better Sex'' is a television game show in the United States where men competed against women in a "battle of the sexes" format. The Mark Goodson-Bill Todman production ran on ABC from July 18, 1977 to January 13, 1978. The show had two hosts ...
''. In 1980, he appeared on two episodes of the ABC soap opera ''
One Life to Live ''One Life to Live'' (often abbreviated as ''OLTL'') is an American soap opera broadcast on the ABC television network for more than 43 years, from July 15, 1968, to January 13, 2012, and then on the internet as a web series on Hulu and iTunes ...
'', portraying a fictionalized version of himself. In a 1980 interview, then-ABC vice president Jackie Smith called the decision "a first" for a country artist. Also in the 1980s, Anderson hosted the program ''Backstage at the Grand Ole Opry'' and the game show ''
Fandango Fandango is a lively partner dance originating from Portugal and Spain, usually in triple meter, traditionally accompanied by guitars, castanets, or hand-clapping. Fandango can both be sung and danced. Sung fandango is usually bipartite: it has ...
'', which both aired on the former
Nashville Network The Nashville Network, usually referred to as TNN, was an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming included music videos, taped concerts, movies, game shows, syndicated programs, and numerous talk shows. On September ...
(TNN). ''Fandango'' was brought to Anderson's attention by the program director of WSM TV in Nashville, who believed that a country music trivia show would be successful for the network. "I've gotten into a lot of different things. I'm probably in the public eye more right now than I've ever been because of the things that I do on television", he said in 1988. He remained with ''Fandango'' until 1989. Anderson was then invited to join the cast of the TNN competition program ''You Can Be a Star.'' Anderson was involved in the show's inner workings, including helping to develop the scoring system. In addition, his touring band was hired as the show's stage band. Anderson appeared as himself in the February 15, 1965, episode of '' To Tell the Truth'', receiving two of the four possible votes.
Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
pitcher Tracy Stallard appeared as one of the two imposters for Anderson.


Business career

Anderson also focused on business opportunities, many of which were unsuccessful. In his autobiography, he commented, "I've tried to become a businessman a couple of times when I should have kept right on pickin' and grinnin'." In 1975, he bought a radio station in
Provo, Utah Provo ( ) is the fourth-largest city in Utah, United States. It is south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the largest city and county seat of Utah County and is home to Brigham Young University (BYU). Provo lies between the ...
, called KIXX. Anderson was unable to have enough advertisers support his radio station, causing it to fail. Six years later, he sold the station and left the radio industry. "I was totally disillusioned by something I love", he wrote in 2016. In the 1980s, Anderson served as a spokesperson for the Po' Folks restaurant chain, whose name was taken from his 1961 hit song. Anderson signed a three-year contract with the restaurant company to serve as their national spokesperson, appearing in radio and television commercials. In addition, Anderson signed off on allowing the company to use his photos and signatures to endorse their products. He then partnered with the vice president to help franchise the company. Country artist Conway Twitty was selected as a third partner to also help with franchising. However, several individual restaurants encountered financial struggles, which resulted in legal fees that Anderson had to pay. In addition, the company was being bought out by the larger
Krystal Krystal may refer to: People * Krystal Ann Simpson (born 1982), American poet, fashion blogger, DJ, reality television personality, and musician * Krystal Ball (born 1981), American political commentator * Krystal Barter, Australian activ ...
fast food chain. He was forced to pay back fees he owed towards the company, causing Anderson to nearly declare
bankruptcy Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor ...
. However, with the support of Twitty, Anderson helped pay off the company's financial entanglements. "Even as it stood, my little foray into the restaurant business wiped out a large chunk of my life's savings", he later said.


Personal life

Anderson has been married twice and has had two documented long-term relationships. He met his first wife, Bette (), in the late 1950s through a mutual friend. The pair married in December 1959. At the time of their marriage, Bette was 19 and Bill was 22. The couple remained married for ten years. Bette gave birth to two daughters during their relationship together. Bette also contributed to her husband's writing career when she co-wrote the 1965 song, "
I Can't Remember "I Can't Remember" is a song written by Bill Anderson (singer), Bill and Bette Anderson, and recorded as a single by American country music, country artist, Connie Smith. It was produced by Bob Ferguson (music), Bob Ferguson and was released on h ...
". It would later be recorded by
Connie Smith Connie Smith (born Constance June Meador; August 14, 1941) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Her contralto vocals have been described by music writers as significant and influential to the women of country music. A similarity h ...
on her 1965 studio album ''
Cute 'n' Country ''Cute 'n' Country'' is the second studio album by American country music artist Connie Smith. It was released in October 1965 via RCA Victor Records and contained 12 tracks. ''Cute 'n' Country'' contained a mixture of original songs and cover ver ...
.'' The pair separated in 1968 and officially divorced in 1969. Reflecting on his divorce in 2016, Anderson believed it was difficult for Bette to understand the music business, causing them to drift apart. Bette Anderson died in 2010 at the age of 69. In 1970, he married his second wife, Becky. Together the couple had one child. In 1984, Becky was involved in a car accident that caused "25 percent brain impairment." The couple filed a lawsuit against the driver who had crashed into Becky's vehicle. The recovery process took several years. The couple separated in the 1990s before officially divorcing in 1997. Anderson briefly dated Deborah Marlin following his second divorce. In 2003, Anderson was arrested after being accused by Marlin of hitting her with his car door. He was released from jail the same day. Anderson began dating Vickie Salas around 2008. The couple had first met years prior when she was 19 and was romantically involved with Anderson's band member. The two reconnected following Anderson's second divorce. "We never married, we never lived together, but she became my everything", Anderson later remembered. In 2016, Salas was diagnosed with cancer. Three years later, the disease intensified and she began receiving hospice care. She died in January 2019.


Musical styles

As a songwriter, Anderson has composed a variety of material. Author Kurt Wolff called his early compositions "cute and sentimental", citing "Po' Folks" and "I Love You Drops" to be examples of this style. Wolff also noted that other songs exemplified "anti-establishment attitudes" while other songs focused on themes that were "desperately bleak". Riane Konc of The Boot noted a similar trend in his songwriting style. She highlighted 2004's "Whiskey Lullaby" as an example. In reviewing the song, Konc commented that it was "packed full of unforgettable images" related to "heartbreak, addiction and loss". Konc also praised 2006's "Give It Away", calling it an "instant classic". In a 2018 interview with ''American Songwriter,'' Anderson described his songwriting style: "The lyric is what attracted me to country music as a young boy– the story songs that I could listen to and feel some emotion. So yeah, I'd like to have the next generation pull out a few lines I've written and say 'yeah that's pretty clever!'" Anderson also created a musical style as a recording artist. After signing with Decca Records, he was given the nickname of "Whisperin' Bill Anderson", due to his soft-spoken vocal performance. Writer and critic Kurt Wolff has commented on his "whispering" vocal style. Wolff also noted that many of his recordings included a combination of both "singing and recitation". Steve Huey of Allmusic called his voice "airy" and "gentle". Stephen L. Betts of ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' commented that Anderson continues to demonstrate a whispering quality into his current work. In 2020, Betts stated that Anderson's vocal style "remains subdued in the present".


Legacy

Writers and music critics have considered Anderson one of country music's most significant songwriters. Steve Huey of
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
called him "one of the most successful songwriters in country music history". Ken Burns of
PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcasting, public broadcaster and Non-commercial activity, non-commercial, Terrestrial television, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly fu ...
called him an "acclaimed singer-songwriter". In 2019, ''The Boot'' further commented on Anderson's legacy: "In fact, one of the most impressive things about Anderson is his versatility: He's the soft voice behind many classic country songs, but he's also the writer or co-writer of plenty of your current favorites." Kevin John Coyne of ''Country Universe'' cited Anderson's songwriting as the center of his legacy: "It's been Bill Anderson's songwriting that's kept him topping the country charts for decades longer than even his most successful contemporaries." In 1975, Anderson was inducted into the
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1970 by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. A non-profit organization, its objective is to honor and preserve the songwriting legacy that is u ...
. In 2001, he was inducted into the
Country Music Hall of Fame The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the world's largest museums and research centers dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American vernacular music. Chartered in 1964, the museum has amas ...
. In November 2002, BMI named him its first country songwriting icon, placing him alongside R&B artists Little Richard,
Chuck Berry Charles Edward Anderson Berry (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the " Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and developed rhythm and blues into th ...
,
Bo Diddley Ellas McDaniel (born Ellas Otha Bates; December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known professionally as Bo Diddley, was an American guitarist who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, inc ...
and
James Brown James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, dancer, musician, record producer and bandleader. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th century music, he is often referred to by the honor ...
as the only recipients of that award. In 2018, he was inducted into the
Songwriters Hall of Fame The Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) is an American institution founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer, music publisher/songwriter Abe Olman, and publisher/executive Howie Richmond to honor those whose work, represent, and maintain, the her ...
, along with
Alan Jackson Alan Eugene Jackson (born October 17, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter. He is known for blending traditional honky-tonk and mainstream country pop sounds (for a style widely regarded as "neotraditional country"), as well as penning many o ...
and
John Mellencamp John J. Mellencamp (born October 7, 1951), previously known as Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American singer-songwriter. He is known for his catchy brand of heartland rock, which emphasizes traditional instrument ...
. Anderson has also been placed on several lists of country music's top writers and performers. In 2008, he was ranked 27th on ''Country Universe'' list of the "100 Greatest Men of Country Music". He was ranked among the "100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time" in a 2017 list compiled by ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
.''


Discography

;Studio albums * 1963: ''
Still A still is an apparatus used to distill liquid mixtures by heating to selectively boil and then cooling to condense the vapor. A still uses the same concepts as a basic distillation apparatus, but on a much larger scale. Stills have been use ...
'' * 1964: ''
Bill Anderson Sings ''Bill Anderson Sings'' is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released in February 1964 on Decca Records and was produced by Owen Bradley. The album was Anderson's second studio release as a recording art ...
'' * 1964: ''
Showcase Showcase or vitrine may refer to: *Cabinet (furniture) *Display case Music * ''Showcase'' (Bill Anderson album), 1964 * ''Showcase'' (Patsy Cline album), 1961 * ''Showcase'' (Buddy Holly album), 1964 * ''Showcase'' (Philly Joe Jones album), 1959 ...
'' * 1966: '' Bright Lights and Country Music'' * 1966: ''
I Love You Drops ''I Love You Drops'' is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released in August 1966 on Decca Records and was produced by Owen Bradley. It was Anderson's fifth studio release and included three singles that b ...
'' * 1967: '' Get While the Gettin's Good'' * 1967: '' I Can Do Nothing Alone'' * 1968: ''
For Loving You "For Loving You" is a 1967 duet by Bill Anderson and Jan Howard. The single was the duo's most successful release. "For Loving You" went to number one on the country charts in four weeks and spent 20 weeks on the chart. Chart performance Bill ...
'' * 1968: ''
Wild Weekend "Wild Weekend" is an instrumental written by Phil Todaro and Tom Shannon and performed by The Rockin' Rebels. It reached #8 on the U.S. pop chart and #28 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1963. The song was originally recorded as the theme for Shanno ...
'' * 1968: '' Happy State of Mind'' * 1969: '' My Life/But You Know I Love You'' * 1969: ''
Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...
'' * 1970: '' If It's All the Same to You'' * 1970: ''
Love Is a Sometimes Thing ''Love Is a Sometimes Thing'' is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released in June 1970 on Decca Records and was produced by Owen Bradley. It was Anderson's fourteenth studio album since signing with th ...
'' * 1970: '' Where Have All Our Heroes Gone'' * 1971: '' Always Remember'' * 1972: '' Bill and Jan (Or Jan and Bill)'' * 1972: '' Singing His Praise'' * 1972: ''
Bill Anderson Sings for "All the Lonely Women in the World" ''Bill Anderson Sings for "All the Lonely Women in the World"'' is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson. It was released in May 1972 on Decca Records and was produced by Owen Bradley. It was Anderson's nineteenth stu ...
'' * 1972: '' Don't She Look Good'' * 1973: ''
Bill Bill(s) may refer to: Common meanings * Banknote, paper cash (especially in the United States) * Bill (law), a proposed law put before a legislature * Invoice, commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer * Bill, a bird or animal's beak Plac ...
'' * 1974: '' "Whispering" Bill Anderson'' * 1975: '' Every Time I Turn the Radio On/Talk to Me Ohio'' * 1976: '' Sometimes'' * 1976: '' Peanuts and Diamonds and Other Jewels'' * 1977: '' Scorpio'' * 1977: '' Billy Boy & Mary Lou'' * 1978: '' Love...& Other Sad Stories'' * 1979: '' Ladies Choice'' * 1980: '' Nashville Mirrors'' * 1983: ''
Southern Fried ''Southern Fried'' is a studio album by American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson and his band "The Po' Folks". It was released in 1983 on Southern Tracks Records. It was co-produced by Anderson and Mike Johnson. The album marked Anderson' ...
'' * 1984: '' Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow'' * 1986: '' A Place in the Country'' * 1993: '' Country Music Heaven'' * 1996: '' Greatest Songs'' * 1998: ''
Fine Wine Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are m ...
'' * 2001: '' A Lot of Things Different'' * 2002: '' No Place Like Home on Christmas'' * 2004: '' Softly & Tenderly'' * 2005: '' The Way I Feel'' * 2007: '' Whisperin' Bluegrass'' * 2010: ''
Songwriter A songwriter is a musician who professionally composes musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music gen ...
'' * 2014: ''
Life Life is a quality that distinguishes matter that has biological processes, such as signaling and self-sustaining processes, from that which does not, and is defined by the capacity for growth, reaction to stimuli, metabolism, energ ...
'' * 2018: ''
Anderson Anderson or Andersson may refer to: Companies * Anderson (Carriage), a company that manufactured automobiles from 1907 to 1910 * Anderson Electric, an early 20th-century electric car * Anderson Greenwood, an industrial manufacturer * Anderson ...
'' * 2020: '' The Hits Re-Imagined''


Filmography


Awards and nominations

! , - , 1965 , rowspan="2",
Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
,
Best Country Song The Grammy Award for Best Country Song (sometimes known as the Country Songwriter's Award) has been awarded since 1965. The award is given to the songwriter(s) of the song, not to the artist, except if the artist is also the songwriter. There ha ...
for "
Once a Day "Once a Day" is a song written by Bill Anderson and recorded as the debut single by American country artist Connie Smith. It was produced by Bob Ferguson for her self-titled debut album. The song was released in August 1964, topping the '' Bi ...
" , , , - , rowspan="2", 1967 , Best Country Song for "Cold Hard Facts of Life" , , , - , rowspan="3",
Country Music Association Awards The Country Music Association Awards, also known as the CMA Awards or CMAs, are presented to country music artists and broadcasters to recognize outstanding achievement in the country music industry. The televised annual presentation ceremony f ...
, Entertainer of the Year , , , - , 1968 , rowspan="2", Vocal Duo of the Year , , , - , 1970 , , , - , rowspan="2", 1975 ,
Academy of Country Music Awards The Academy of Country Music Awards, also known as the ACM Awards, were first held in 1966, honoring the industry's accomplishments during the previous year. It was the first country music awards program held by a major organization. The academy ...
, Top Vocal Group , , , - ,
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1970 by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. A non-profit organization, its objective is to honor and preserve the songwriting legacy that is u ...
, Inducted as a Member , , , - , 1976 , rowspan="2", Country Music Association Awards , rowspan="2", Vocal Duo of the Year , , , - , 1977 , , , - , 2000 , Grammy Awards , Best Country Song for "
Two Teardrops ''Two Teardrops'' is the fifteenth studio album by American country music singer Steve Wariner. Released in 1999, it was his second studio album for Capitol Nashville. The album, which was certified gold in the United States, produced two singles ...
" , , , - , rowspan="3", 2001 , Academy of Country Music Awards , rowspan="2", Vocal Event of the Year for "Too Country" , , , - , Country Music Association Awards , , , - ,
Country Music Hall of Fame The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the world's largest museums and research centers dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American vernacular music. Chartered in 1964, the museum has amas ...
, Inducted as a Member , , , - , rowspan="2", 2002 ,
BMI Awards The BMI Film & TV Awards are accolades presented annually by Broadcast Music, Inc., honoring songwriters, composers, and music publishers in various genres. Based in the United States, the awards include the BMI Christian Awards, BMI Country Award ...
, Songwriting Icon Award , , , - , rowspan="2", Academy of Country Music Awards , Song of the Year for " A Lot of Things Different" , , , - , rowspan="2", 2004 , rowspan="3", Song of the Year for "
Whiskey Lullaby "Whiskey Lullaby" is a song written by Bill Anderson and Jon Randall. The song was a duet recorded by American country music artist Brad Paisley and bluegrass artist Alison Krauss on Paisley's album ''Mud on the Tires.'' The song was released ...
" ) , , , - , rowspan="2", Country Music Association Awards , , , - , 2005 , , , - , 2006 , Academy of Country Music Awards , Song of the Year for " Give It Away" , , , - , rowspan="2", 2007 , Grammy Awards , Best Country Song for "Give It Away" , , , - , Country Music Association Awards , Song of the Year for "Give It Away" , , , - , 2018 ,
Songwriters Hall of Fame The Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) is an American institution founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer, music publisher/songwriter Abe Olman, and publisher/executive Howie Richmond to honor those whose work, represent, and maintain, the her ...
, Inducted as a Member , ,


References


Footnotes


Books

* * *


External links


Official websiteBill Anderson at the Country Music Hall of FameWhisperin' Bill Anderson Interview
NAMM Oral History Library (2009)
Bill Anderson recordings
at the
Discography of American Historical Recordings The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The DAHR provides some of these original recordings, free of charge, via audio streaming, along with ...
. {{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Bill 1937 births 20th-century American male actors American country singer-songwriters American game show hosts American male singer-songwriters American male writers Country Music Hall of Fame inductees Country musicians from Georgia (U.S. state) Country musicians from South Carolina Curb Records artists Decca Records artists Grand Ole Opry members Living people MCA Records artists Members of the Country Music Association Musicians from Columbia, South Carolina People from Commerce, Georgia People from Decatur, Georgia People from DeKalb County, Georgia University of Georgia alumni Varèse Sarabande artists Singer-songwriters from South Carolina Singer-songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)