Bill Anderson (country music)
Encyclopedia
James William Anderson III (born November 1, 1937), better known as Bill Anderson, is an American country music
singer, songwriter and television personality. He has released more than 40 studio albums and has reached No. 1 on the country chart
s seven times: "Mama Sang a Song
" (1962), "Still
" (1963), "I Get the Fever
" (1966), "For Loving You
" (with Jan Howard
, 1967), "My Life (Throw It Away If I Want To)
" (1969), "World of Make Believe
" (1974), and "Sometimes
" (with Mary Lou Turner
, 1976). Twenty-nine more of his singles have reached the top ten.
One of the most successful songwriters in country music history, Anderson is also a popular singer, earning the nickname "Whisperin' Bill" for his soft vocal style and occasional spoken narrations. Artists who have recorded his material include Ray Price
, Connie Smith
, Lynn Anderson
, Jim Reeves
, Kenny Chesney
, and George Strait
.
Anderson has made several television appearances, including two stints as a game show host: The Better Sex
(with co-host Sarah Purcell
) in 1977, and the country music-themed quiz show Fandango
(1983–1989) on The Nashville Network. He has also hosted an interview show called Opry Backstage and was a producer of a talent show called You Can Be a Star, hosted by fellow Opry member Jim Ed Brown
, both shows on the former Nashville Network, and has made guest appearances on several other television series.
, he was raised in Atlanta, Georgia
. He studied journalism
at the University of Georgia
with an eye toward sports writing, and worked his way through school as a radio DJ, when he first tried songwriting and singing. He earned a degree in journalism from the university's Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
and landed a job at the Atlanta Constitution. He also became a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
His composition "City Lights
," written when he was 19-years-old while working in Commerce, Georgia
, at WJJC-AM
, was recorded by Ray Price
in 1958 and went to the top of the country
chart
s. Anderson took full advantage of his big break, moving to Nashville, Tennessee
, and landing a recording contract with Decca Records
.
His first chart hit came with 1959's "That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome," and he had his first top ten entry with 1960's "Tip of My Fingers." Early hits like "Po' Folks" (1961), "Mama Sang a Song" (his first No. 1, from 1962), and "8 X 10" (No. 2, 1963) still remain among his best-known. Anderson recorded his biggest hit and signature song, the partly spoken ballad "Still," in 1963, and it not only topped the country charts, but crossed over
as well. The song climbed to No. 8 on the pop
chart, as well as No. 3 on the adult contemporary
chart.
On February 15, 1965, Anderson appeared—along with two "imposters"—on the game show To Tell The Truth
, challenging the panel to determine "the real Bill Anderson." According to the affidavit read at the beginning of his segment, Anderson was at the time "generally considered to be the top composer of country music in the nation." Only two of the four panelists successfully identified Bill. At the end of the segment, he sang one of his own compositions, "Po' Folks." (During questioning, Anderson got a laugh when Kitty Carlisle asked, "Why are you wearing this costume?" After looking down at his brightly decorated suit—featuring sequined snowflakes—he deadpanned, "Well, it’s all I had.")
Anderson reached the top five 19 times through 1978. This included the No. 1 songs ones "I Get the Fever" (1966), "For Loving You" (a 1967 duet
with regular partner Jan Howard
), "My Life (Throw It Away if I Want To)" (1969), "World of Make Believe" (1974), and "Sometimes" (1976), a duet with Mary Lou Turner
.
Anderson hit the top ten for the last time in 1978 with "I Can't Wait Any Longer
," and by 1982, he stepped away from his country career.
Besides his whisper
of a singing voice, he was also known for his whispering recitations during songs, such as in "Mama Sang a Song" and "Still." In songs such as "Double S," he whispered through the whole single, telling about his fictitious one-night stand
with a woman who would not give her name, but mysteriously called herself "Double S."
Anderson has been voted and nominated Songwriter Of The Year six times, Male Vocalist Of The Year, half of the Duet Of The Year with both Jan Howard and Mary Lou Turner
, has hosted and starred in the Country Music Television
Series Of The Year, seen his band voted Band Of The Year, and in 1975 was voted membership in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
. Ten years later, he was chosen as only the seventh living performer inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame
. In 1993, he was made a member of the Georgia Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame. In 1994, he was inducted into the South Carolina Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. And in 2001, he received the ultimate honor, membership in Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame
.
, among others in the late 1950s. He wrote many of country singer Connie Smith
's biggest hits in the 1960s, including her best-known song, "Once a Day
," which topped off at No. 1 in 1964 and spent eight weeks there, the longest by any female country music singer. He was also wrote Smith's "Cincinnati, Ohio" in 1967, among others.
In 1995, Billboard magazine named four Anderson compositions—"City Lights," "Once A Day," "Still," and "Mama Sang A Song"—among the top 20 country songs of the past 35 years, more than any other songwriter.
Anderson ended the 1990s with a pair of No. 1 hits, "Wish You Were Here
," by Mark Wills
and the Grammy-nominated "Two Teardrops" by Steve Wariner
. His song, "Too Country," recorded by Brad Paisley
along with Anderson, Buck Owens
and George Jones
, won CMA
Vocal Event Of The Year honors for 2001. The following year saw Kenny Chesney
soar with his version of the Anderson-Dean Dillon composition, "A Lot Of Things Different."
The Better Sex
, and later hosting Fandango
on cable network TNN
. He also appeared for three years on ABC-TV's daytime soap opera, One Life to Live
.
For six years he hosted an interview show, Opry Backstage, and found time to be co-producer of another TNN show called You Can Be a Star. In addition, Anderson has appeared frequently as a guest star on variety and game shows, including The Tonight Show
, The Today Show, Match Game
, Family Feud
, Password Plus, Hee Haw
and others.
He has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry
since 1961 and performs there regularly. In 2000, his latest album, A Lot Of Things Different, received rave reviews. Each song was written or co-written by Anderson. His 1998 release, Fine Wine, was produced by Steve Wariner
and released on Warner Brothers' Reprise/Nashville label. Anderson's Greatest Hits Volume I & II have been released on Varèse Sarabande Records
along with The Best Of Bill Anderson on Curb
.
In 2004 Brad Paisley
and Alison Krauss
scored a hit with Anderson and Jon Randall's "Whiskey Lullaby
." On November 5, 2002, BMI
named him its first country songwriting Icon, placing him alongside R&B legends Little Richard
, Chuck Berry
, Bo Diddley
and James Brown
as the only recipients of that award. His compositions can be heard on recent or forthcoming releases by Vince Gill
, Lorrie Morgan
, John Michael Montgomery
, Sara Evans
, Tracy Byrd, and others.
July 15, 2006, marked Anderson's 45th year as a member of the Opry. He also hosts a show on Sirius XM radio entitled Bill Anderson Visits with the Legends where he interviews various country music legends. Based on the 1958 release of the Anderson written song "City Lights", in 2008, XM broadcast a special Visits and interviewed Anderson to celebrate 50 years in county music. According to BMI, various artists have recorded and released over 400 different Anderson written or co-written songs in that 50-year period.
The video for the song "Whiskey Lullaby" won Anderson Video of the Year and Vocal Collaboration of the Year in 2004. "Give it Away", co-written by Anderson and performed by George Strait
, won the Academy of Country Music
Song of the Year for 2006. In November 2007, "Give it Away" was named the Country Music Association
Song of the Year, an award that goes to the songwriters, Anderson being a co-writer. On August 29, 2008, Anderson performed "Whiskey Lullaby" at the Opry.
For over 10 years, Anderson has been hosting Country's Family Reunion, a DVD video series featuring groups of country music legends from the 1950s through the 1990s gathering mainly on the Ryman Auditorium stage. With a mix of reminiscing and songs, they remember country's glory days and stars who have passed on. Many of the legends who have participated have died since the series started—over 30 at the last count. Country's Family Reunion can be seen in the UK on digital channel 280, Horse & Country. It airs regularly in the United States on RFD-TV
.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer, songwriter and television personality. He has released more than 40 studio albums and has reached No. 1 on the country chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
s seven times: "Mama Sang a Song
Mama Sang a Song
"Mama Sang a Song" is a country music song written and recorded by Bill Anderson.Released in 1962, this recitation — prominently featuring a backing choir singing Christian hymns — became Anderson's first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot C&W Sides chart that fall...
" (1962), "Still
Still (Bill Anderson song)
"Still" is a 1963 single by Bill Anderson. "Still" was Anderson's second number one on the country chart, staying at the top spot for seven non-consecutive weeks. The song crossed over to the pop chart peaking at number eight.-Chart performance:...
" (1963), "I Get the Fever
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:...
" (1966), "For Loving You
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....
" (with Jan Howard
Jan Howard
Lula Grace Johnson , known professionally as Jan Howard, is an American country music singer and Grand Ole Opry star. She attained moderate success as a country female vocalist during the 1960s and early 1970s...
, 1967), "My Life (Throw It Away If I Want To)
My Life (Throw It Away If I Want To)
"My Life " is an American country music song written and recorded by Bill Anderson.Originally released in March 1969, the song became Anderson's fourth solo No...
" (1969), "World of Make Believe
World of Make Believe
"World of Make Believe" is a 1973 single by Bill Anderson. "World of Make Believe" would be 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....
" (1974), and "Sometimes
Sometimes (Bill Anderson song)
"Sometimes" is a 1975 song written by Bill Anderson, and performed by Bill Anderson and Mary Lou Turner. "Sometimes" went to number one on the country charts, where it stayed for a single week and spent a total of eleven weeks on the chart....
" (with Mary Lou Turner
Mary Lou Turner
Mary Lou Turner is an American country music artist. Between 1976 and 1977, she recorded two duet albums with Bill Anderson, and charted four duets with him. One of their duets, "Sometimes", reached #1 in 1976...
, 1976). Twenty-nine more of his singles have reached the top ten.
One of the most successful songwriters in country music history, Anderson is also a popular singer, earning the nickname "Whisperin' Bill" for his soft vocal style and occasional spoken narrations. Artists who have recorded his material include Ray Price
Ray Price (musician)
Ray Price is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. His wide-ranging baritone has often been praised as among the best male voices of country music...
, Connie Smith
Connie Smith
Connie Smith is an American country music artist. She began her career in 1963 after winning a local talent contest near Columbus, Ohio, which attracted the attention of country songwriter Bill Anderson...
, Lynn Anderson
Lynn Anderson
Lynn Rene Anderson is an American country music singer and equestrian known for a string of hits throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, most notably her Grammy Award-winning, worldwide mega-hit, " Rose Garden." Helped by her regular exposure on national television, Anderson was one of the most...
, Jim Reeves
Jim Reeves
James Travis Reeves , better known as Jim Reeves, was an American country and popular music singer-songwriter. With records charting from the 1950s to the 1980s, he became well-known for being a practitioner of the Nashville sound...
, Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
, and George Strait
George Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
.
Anderson has made several television appearances, including two stints as a game show host: The Better Sex
The Better Sex
The Better Sex was 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, one male and one female; each one acted as a leader...
(with co-host Sarah Purcell
Sarah Purcell
Sarah Purcell is an American former talk show host, game show host, and panelist.She was co-host of The Better Sex , Real People , America , and The Home Show , and made guest appearances on several TV dramas. She also co-starred in the 1981 film Terror Among Us with Tracy Reed...
) in 1977, and the country music-themed quiz show Fandango
Fandango (game show)
Fandango was a country music-themed quiz show which aired on TNN from March 8, 1983 to March 31, 1989, when it was replaced by Top Card. Fandango was the first TV game show to air on TNN and was one of the longest-running game shows on a cable network....
(1983–1989) on The Nashville Network. He has also hosted an interview show called Opry Backstage and was a producer of a talent show called You Can Be a Star, hosted by fellow Opry member Jim Ed Brown
Jim Ed Brown
Jim Ed Brown is an American country music singer who achieved fame in the 1950s with his two sisters as a member of The Browns. He later had a successful solo career from 1965 to 1974, followed by a string of major duet hits with Helen Cornelius through 1981...
, both shows on the former Nashville Network, and has made guest appearances on several other television series.
Rise to fame
Although Anderson was born in Columbia, South CarolinaColumbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, he was raised in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. He studied journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
with an eye toward sports writing, and worked his way through school as a radio DJ, when he first tried songwriting and singing. He earned a degree in journalism from the university's Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
The Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication is a college within the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, United States...
and landed a job at the Atlanta Constitution. He also became a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
His composition "City Lights
City Lights (Bill Anderson song)
"City Lights" is an American country music song written by Bill Anderson. It twice became a No. 1 hit — in 1958 and again in 1975.Ray Price recorded the original version in 1958, with his version becoming a long-running No. 1 hit. Mickey Gilley recorded a cover version in 1974, and his version also...
," written when he was 19-years-old while working in Commerce, Georgia
Commerce, Georgia
Commerce is a city in Jackson County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 6,544.-Geography:Commerce is located at ....
, at WJJC-AM
WJJC
WJJC is a radio station broadcasting a Talk/Personality format. Licensed to Commerce, Georgia, USA. The station is currently owned by Side Communications, Inc. and features programing from Premiere Radio Networks and Westwood One....
, was recorded by Ray Price
Ray Price (musician)
Ray Price is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. His wide-ranging baritone has often been praised as among the best male voices of country music...
in 1958 and went to the top of the country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
s. Anderson took full advantage of his big break, moving to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, and landing a recording contract with Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
.
1959 – 1978: Career as a country music singer
Before signing to Decca, Anderson recorded for the small TNT label between 1957 and 1959, where he released three singles that failed to hit the country charts, including a version of "City Lights". After signing with Decca in 1959, he left TNT.His first chart hit came with 1959's "That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome," and he had his first top ten entry with 1960's "Tip of My Fingers." Early hits like "Po' Folks" (1961), "Mama Sang a Song" (his first No. 1, from 1962), and "8 X 10" (No. 2, 1963) still remain among his best-known. Anderson recorded his biggest hit and signature song, the partly spoken ballad "Still," in 1963, and it not only topped the country charts, but crossed over
Crossover (music)
Crossover is a term applied to musical works or performers appearing on two or more of the record charts which track differing musical tastes, or genres...
as well. The song climbed to No. 8 on the pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
chart, as well as No. 3 on the adult contemporary
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
chart.
On February 15, 1965, Anderson appeared—along with two "imposters"—on the game show To Tell The Truth
To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth is an American television panel game show created by Bob Stewart and produced by Goodson-Todman Productions that has aired in various forms since 1956 both on networks and in syndication...
, challenging the panel to determine "the real Bill Anderson." According to the affidavit read at the beginning of his segment, Anderson was at the time "generally considered to be the top composer of country music in the nation." Only two of the four panelists successfully identified Bill. At the end of the segment, he sang one of his own compositions, "Po' Folks." (During questioning, Anderson got a laugh when Kitty Carlisle asked, "Why are you wearing this costume?" After looking down at his brightly decorated suit—featuring sequined snowflakes—he deadpanned, "Well, it’s all I had.")
Anderson reached the top five 19 times through 1978. This included the No. 1 songs ones "I Get the Fever" (1966), "For Loving You" (a 1967 duet
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
with regular partner Jan Howard
Jan Howard
Lula Grace Johnson , known professionally as Jan Howard, is an American country music singer and Grand Ole Opry star. She attained moderate success as a country female vocalist during the 1960s and early 1970s...
), "My Life (Throw It Away if I Want To)" (1969), "World of Make Believe" (1974), and "Sometimes" (1976), a duet with Mary Lou Turner
Mary Lou Turner
Mary Lou Turner is an American country music artist. Between 1976 and 1977, she recorded two duet albums with Bill Anderson, and charted four duets with him. One of their duets, "Sometimes", reached #1 in 1976...
.
Anderson hit the top ten for the last time in 1978 with "I Can't Wait Any Longer
I Can't Wait Any Longer
"I Can't Wait Any Longer" is a single by American country music artist Bill Anderson. Released in April 1978, it was the first single from his album Love and Other Sad Stories. The song peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It also reached number 1 on the RPM Country Tracks...
," and by 1982, he stepped away from his country career.
Besides his whisper
Whispering
Whispering is an unvoiced mode of phonation in which the vocal cords do not vibrate normally but are instead adducted sufficiently to create audible turbulence as the speaker exhales during speech. This is a somewhat greater adduction than that found in breathy voice...
of a singing voice, he was also known for his whispering recitations during songs, such as in "Mama Sang a Song" and "Still." In songs such as "Double S," he whispered through the whole single, telling about his fictitious one-night stand
One-night stand
Originally, a one-night stand was a single theatre performance, usually by a guest performer on tour, as opposed to an ongoing engagement. Today, however, the term is more commonly defined as a single sexual encounter, in which neither participant has any intention or expectation of a relationship...
with a woman who would not give her name, but mysteriously called herself "Double S."
Anderson has been voted and nominated Songwriter Of The Year six times, Male Vocalist Of The Year, half of the Duet Of The Year with both Jan Howard and Mary Lou Turner
Mary Lou Turner
Mary Lou Turner is an American country music artist. Between 1976 and 1977, she recorded two duet albums with Bill Anderson, and charted four duets with him. One of their duets, "Sometimes", reached #1 in 1976...
, has hosted and starred in the Country Music Television
Country Music Television
Country Music Television, or CMT, is an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming includes music videos, taped concerts, movies, biographies of country music stars, game shows, and reality programs...
Series Of The Year, seen his band voted Band Of The Year, and in 1975 was voted membership in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was established 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 uniquely associated with music community in the city of...
. Ten years later, he was chosen as only the seventh living performer inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame
Georgia Music Hall of Fame
The Georgia Music Hall of Fame, located in downtown Macon, Georgia, preserves and interprets the state's rich musical heritage through programs of collection, exhibition, education and performance...
. In 1993, he was made a member of the Georgia Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame. In 1994, he was inducted into the South Carolina Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. And in 2001, he received the ultimate honor, membership in Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum identifies and preserves the evolving history and traditions of country music and educates its audiences...
.
Songwriting career
Anderson has written songs for many country music singers, since first writing for Ray PriceRay Price (musician)
Ray Price is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. His wide-ranging baritone has often been praised as among the best male voices of country music...
, among others in the late 1950s. He wrote many of country singer Connie Smith
Connie Smith
Connie Smith is an American country music artist. She began her career in 1963 after winning a local talent contest near Columbus, Ohio, which attracted the attention of country songwriter Bill Anderson...
's biggest hits in the 1960s, including her best-known song, "Once a Day
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 Billboard country music chart for eight weeks between late...
," which topped off at No. 1 in 1964 and spent eight weeks there, the longest by any female country music singer. He was also wrote Smith's "Cincinnati, Ohio" in 1967, among others.
In 1995, Billboard magazine named four Anderson compositions—"City Lights," "Once A Day," "Still," and "Mama Sang A Song"—among the top 20 country songs of the past 35 years, more than any other songwriter.
Anderson ended the 1990s with a pair of No. 1 hits, "Wish You Were Here
Wish You Were Here (Mark Wills song)
"Wish You Were Here" is the title of a song recorded by American country musician Mark Wills. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart...
," by Mark Wills
Mark Wills
Daryl Mark Williams is an American country music artist, best known professionally as Mark Wills. Signed to Mercury Records between 1996 and 2003, he released five studio albums for the label — Mark Wills, Wish You Were Here, Permanently, Loving Every Minute and And the Crowd Goes Wild — as well...
and the Grammy-nominated "Two Teardrops" by Steve Wariner
Steve Wariner
Steven Noel "Steve" Wariner is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. He has released eighteen studio albums, including six on MCA Records, and three each on RCA Records, Arista Records and Capitol Records...
. His song, "Too Country," recorded by Brad Paisley
Brad Paisley
Brad Douglas Paisley is an American singer-songwriter and musician. His style crosses between traditional country music and Southern rock, and his songs are frequently laced with humor and pop culture references....
along with Anderson, Buck Owens
Buck Owens
Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. , better known as Buck Owens, was an American singer and guitarist who had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band, the Buckaroos...
and George Jones
George Jones
George Glenn Jones is an American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette....
, won CMA
Country Music Association Awards
The Country Music Association Awards, also known as the CMA Awards, or the CMAs, and not to be confused with the ACM Awards, are voted on by business members of the Country Music Association. The first CMA awards were presented at an untelevised ceremony in Nashville's Municipal Auditorium in 1967...
Vocal Event Of The Year honors for 2001. The following year saw Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
soar with his version of the Anderson-Dean Dillon composition, "A Lot Of Things Different."
Acting and game show career
Anderson was the first country artist to host a network game show, starring on ABC'sAmerican Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
The Better Sex
The Better Sex
The Better Sex was 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, one male and one female; each one acted as a leader...
, and later hosting Fandango
Fandango (game show)
Fandango was a country music-themed quiz show which aired on TNN from March 8, 1983 to March 31, 1989, when it was replaced by Top Card. Fandango was the first TV game show to air on TNN and was one of the longest-running game shows on a cable network....
on cable network TNN
The 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, syndicated programs, and numerous talk shows...
. He also appeared for three years on ABC-TV's daytime soap opera, One Life to Live
One Life to Live
One Life to Live is an American soap opera which debuted on July 15, 1968 and has been broadcast on the ABC television network. Created by Agnes Nixon, the series was the first daytime drama to primarily feature racially and socioeconomically diverse characters and consistently emphasize social...
.
For six years he hosted an interview show, Opry Backstage, and found time to be co-producer of another TNN show called You Can Be a Star. In addition, Anderson has appeared frequently as a guest star on variety and game shows, including The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
, The Today Show, Match Game
Match Game
Match Game is an American television game show in which contestants attempted to match celebrities' answers to fill-in-the-blank questions...
, Family Feud
Family Feud
Family Feud is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Two families compete against each other in a contest to name the most popular responses to a survey question posed to 100 people...
, Password Plus, Hee Haw
Hee Haw
Hee Haw is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with fictional rural Kornfield Kounty as a backdrop. It aired on CBS-TV from 1969–1971 before a 20-year run in local syndication. The show was inspired by Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, the major difference being...
and others.
1990 – present: Career today
Anderson’s autobiography, Whisperin’ Bill, was published by Longstreet Press in 1989. The book, which he personally wrote over three years, made bestseller lists all across the south. His second book, a humorous look at the music business titled, I Hope You’re Living As High On The Hog As The Pig You Turned Out To Be, was published in 1993 and is in its fourth printing.He has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
since 1961 and performs there regularly. In 2000, his latest album, A Lot Of Things Different, received rave reviews. Each song was written or co-written by Anderson. His 1998 release, Fine Wine, was produced by Steve Wariner
Steve Wariner
Steven Noel "Steve" Wariner is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. He has released eighteen studio albums, including six on MCA Records, and three each on RCA Records, Arista Records and Capitol Records...
and released on Warner Brothers' Reprise/Nashville label. Anderson's Greatest Hits Volume I & II have been released on Varèse Sarabande Records
Varèse Sarabande
Varèse Sarabande is an American record label, 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 releases by artists no longer under a contract...
along with The Best Of Bill Anderson on Curb
Curb Records
Curb Records is a record label started by Mike Curb originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963...
.
In 2004 Brad Paisley
Brad Paisley
Brad Douglas Paisley is an American singer-songwriter and musician. His style crosses between traditional country music and Southern rock, and his songs are frequently laced with humor and pop culture references....
and Alison Krauss
Alison Krauss
Alison Maria Krauss is an American bluegrass-country singer, songwriter and fiddler. She entered the music industry at an early age, winning local contests by the age of ten and recording for the first time at fourteen. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album in...
scored a hit with Anderson and Jon Randall's "Whiskey Lullaby
Whiskey Lullaby
"Whiskey Lullaby" is the title of a country song composed by Bill Anderson and Jon Randall. It was first recorded by Brad Paisley as a duet with Alison Krauss on Paisley's 2003 album Mud on the Tires, and released on April 12, 2004, as that album's third single, and the eleventh chart single of...
." On November 5, 2002, BMI
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
named him its first country songwriting Icon, placing him alongside R&B legends Little Richard
Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
, Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
, Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
Ellas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...
and James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
as the only recipients of that award. His compositions can be heard on recent or forthcoming releases by Vince Gill
Vince Gill
Vincent Grant "Vince" Gill is an American neotraditional country singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman to the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s, and as a solo artist beginning in 1983, where his talents as a...
, Lorrie Morgan
Lorrie Morgan
In 1996 Morgan married Jon Randall, a singer/songwriter now credited with writing the 2004 Brad Paisley/Alison Krauss hit "Whiskey Lullaby"; they divorced three years later in 1999....
, John Michael Montgomery
John Michael Montgomery
John Michael Montgomery is an American country music artist. He has produced more than thirty singles on the Billboard country charts, including two of Billboard’s Number One country singles of the year: "I Swear" and "Sold "...
, Sara Evans
Sara Evans
Sara Lynn Evans is an American country singer and songwriter.Evans was one of the few traditional-styled singers to emerge from Nashville in the late 1990s, according to Allmusic. Since emerging in the late 1990s, Evans has made five No. 1 Country hits and Gold and Platinum-certified albums by...
, Tracy Byrd, and others.
July 15, 2006, marked Anderson's 45th year as a member of the Opry. He also hosts a show on Sirius XM radio entitled Bill Anderson Visits with the Legends where he interviews various country music legends. Based on the 1958 release of the Anderson written song "City Lights", in 2008, XM broadcast a special Visits and interviewed Anderson to celebrate 50 years in county music. According to BMI, various artists have recorded and released over 400 different Anderson written or co-written songs in that 50-year period.
The video for the song "Whiskey Lullaby" won Anderson Video of the Year and Vocal Collaboration of the Year in 2004. "Give it Away", co-written by Anderson and performed by George Strait
George Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
, won the Academy of Country Music
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
Song of the Year for 2006. In November 2007, "Give it Away" was named the Country Music Association
Country Music Association
The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre...
Song of the Year, an award that goes to the songwriters, Anderson being a co-writer. On August 29, 2008, Anderson performed "Whiskey Lullaby" at the Opry.
For over 10 years, Anderson has been hosting Country's Family Reunion, a DVD video series featuring groups of country music legends from the 1950s through the 1990s gathering mainly on the Ryman Auditorium stage. With a mix of reminiscing and songs, they remember country's glory days and stars who have passed on. Many of the legends who have participated have died since the series started—over 30 at the last count. Country's Family Reunion can be seen in the UK on digital channel 280, Horse & Country. It airs regularly in the United States on RFD-TV
RFD-TV
RFD-TV, or Rural Free Delivery TV, is a United States satellite and cable television channel devoted to rural issues, concerns, and interests. The channel's name is a reference to Rural Free Delivery, the name for the United States Postal Service's system of delivering mail directly to rural patrons...
.