BILL ANDERSON
* 01-11-1937 in Columbia, South Carolina

Editor: Klaus    Back    german Translation
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first Hit "That's what it's like to be lonesome" (1959)
first Top 10 Hit "Tip of my fingers" (1960)
first #1 Hit "Mama sang a song" (1962)

Singer BILL ANDERSON was one of the most enduring and talented songwriters in country music. He was born in South Carolina and raised in Georgia. He began writing songs for his own band while still in high school. Following his 1959 graduation from the >University of Georgia<, ANDERSON began working as a sportswriter; later, while working as a disc jockey in Commerce, Georgia, he began writing songs professionally. 'James William Anderson III' learned the guitar when he was aged 12 and formed his own school band. He graduated in journalism from the >University of Georgia<. He became a sportswriter and also worked for a radio station, an experience put into his song "Country DJ". In 1958 RAY PRICE won a *gold disc* when he recorded ANDERSON's "City lights". His first hit as an artist was with "That's what it's like to be lonesome" in 1959. He followed this with "The tips of my fingers" (1960), a country success for ROY CLARK and EDDY ARNOLD and a UK pop hit for DES O'CONNOR and "Po folks" (1961), which inspired the PO'BOYS, the name of his band. His front man, JIMMY GATELY wrote SONNY JAMES’ country hit "The minute you're gone" a UK success for CLIFF RICHARD. BILL ANDERSON had his first US country #1 in 1962 with "Mama sang a sad song" and the following year he made #8 in the US pop charts with his half-spoken "Still", which was successfully covered in the UK by both KARL DENVER and KEN DODD. DODD also had success with "8 x 10" and always closed his stage show with "Happiness". ANDERSON also wrote several other successful songs including "Once a day" (1964 US country #1 for CONNIE SMITH, which launched her career), "Happy birthday to me" (HANK LOCKLIN), "I missed me" (JIM REEVES), "I've enjoyed as much of this as I can stand" (PORTER WAGONER), "Five little fingers" (FRANKIE  McBRIDE), "It comes and goes" (BURL IVES) and "My whole world is falling down" (BRENDA LEE). ANDERSON also wrote "Face to the wall" with FARON YOUNG and "When two worlds collide" with ROGER MILLER, which they wrote by coming up with alternate lines on a car trip. Following his narration "Golden guitar", which was written by CURTIS LEACH, he was nicknamed 'Whispering Bill' by the disc jockey DON BOWMAN, who also recorded a parody of "Still". BILL says of his intimate and effusive style, ‘I accepted a long time ago that a lot of people weren't going to like me. I'm glad some do.’ During the >Vietnam War<, he recorded the patriotic "Where have all my heroes gone?" For many years he worked and recorded with JAN HOWARD and they had a US country #1 with "For loving you". In 1972 her place was taken by MARY LOU TURNER. He has also recorded with ROY ACUFF ("I wonder if God loves country music) and, curiously, with DAVID ALLAN COE ("Get a little dirt on your hands"). In the late '70s he established country disco with "I Can't Wait Any Longer" and "Double S" thus paving the way for T.G. SHEPPARD. During the '80s he was featured in US soap operas and hosted game shows, but his new career was set back in 1984 when he and his wife were involved in a car crash with a hit-and-run driver. Both recovered and ANDERSON has returned to working country venues.
News about BILL ANDERSON (Aug. 2001): This is really BILL's year, he received the
>Golden Voice Award< for *Songwriter of the year 2001*
celebrated 40 years as a member of GRAND OLE OPRY (15-07-2001)
elected to the >Country Music Hall of Fame< (induction October 4th)
>CMA< Nomination for *Vocal event of the year 2001* (awards show-Nov. 7th)
Nomination by >Christian Country Music Association< for *Pioneer Award* (Nov. 1st his birthday!)
Congratulations to one of country music's most talented dudes- and a nice guy too!
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Discography:
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>Greatest hits< (1971) >Decca< 185
>The BILL ANDERSON story< (1972) >Decca< 
>TROUBLE DOWN SOUTH< (1994)
>Always remember< a >Decca< 32175
>BEST OF BILL ANDERSON<
>BILL ANDERSON & JAN HOWARD< a >Decca< 529:1
>Bright lights & country music< a >Decca< 4686
>Country heart songs< a >Decca< 4192
>COUNTRY MUSIC HEAVEN< (1993)
>Don't she look good< a >Decca< 5383
>Everytime I turn the radio on< a >MCA< 4.5.1
>For loving you< a >Decca< 1959
>From this Pen< m >Decca< 4646
>Get while the gettin's good< a >Decca< 48.5.3
>Greatest hits, Vol. 2<  >Decca< 5315
>I can do nothing alone< a >Decca< 4886
>lf it's all the same to you< a >Decca< 51S4
>I love you drops< a >Decca< 1771
>Just plain BILL<
>Ladies choice< a >Decca<
>Love and other sad stories< m NICA 693
>Love is a sometunes thing<
>Nashville mirrors<
>Peanuts and diamonds< a >MCA< 22221
>PERMANENT RECORD: AL IN THE BOX< (1994)
>Scorpio< a >MCA< 21-h 1
>Showcase< a >Decca< ;600
>Singing his praise< a >Decca 5339
>Sings<  >Decca< 4499
>Sings for all the lonely women<a  >Decca< 5344
>Sometimes< a >Decca<  21 1 
>STILL<  >Decca< 027
>Where have all our heroes gone< a >Decca<
>WINE IS RED, POISON IS BLUE< (1994)
>Whisperin' BILL ANDERSON< a >Decca<  416
>Wild weekends< a >Decca< 499S
                    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BILL ANDERSON Enterprises
>TWI Records Inc.<
P.O. Box 888
Hermitage, Tennessee 37076
=U.S.A.= 
Tel. 001-615-333-2375
http://www.billanderson.com
Bill@BillAnderson.com