The “Golden Hits Of The 60s” 

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BILL ANDERSON

“STILL”

(BILL ANDERSON)

Decca 31458

No. 8    June 8, 1963

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“Whispering Bill,” as he  became  known for his talkie singing style, was born James Anderson on

November 1, 1937, in Columbia, South Carolina.  In high school in Commerce, Georgia, Bill wrote songs,

ran his own band, won talent contests, and worked as a DJ.  He attended the University  of Georgia’s School

of Journalism, all the while singing, writing, and winning contests.  After Graduation,  Anderson became a

sportswriter for the DeKalb New Era and a correspondent to the  Atlanta Constitution.

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In 1958, RAY PRICE recorded one of  Bill’s tunes, “City Lights,” which went top 10 on the country charts.

IVORY JOE HUNTER soon after did a take on the tune, with an R&B feel, for Dot Records.  As a conseq-

uence, Bill was given the chance to make some recordings for  Decca  Records; first out of the barn was

“That’s What It’s Like To Be  Lonesome.”  Throughout most of the ’60s, Bill’s voice or the results of his

pen were hardly ever off the   C&W charts.  His duets with Jan Howard,  and with Mary Lou Turner, also

found a sizeable country audience.   ROY CLARK, ROY DRUSKY, MERLE HAGGARD, Jim Reeves, Connie

Smith, Porter Wagoner, and Kitty Wells all had hits with Bill’s tunes.

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The Country Music  Association named Anderson “Top Songwriter of the Year” from 1963 to 1965, “Top

Male Vocalist of the Year” in 1963, and the creator of the “Record of the Year” (“Still”) in 1963.  Four other

country hits by Anderson crossed over to the Hot 100 charts from 1962 through 1978.  Bill also found the

time to make appearances in minor   movies like Forty Acre Feud, Las Vega Hillbillies, Country Music on

Broadway, and The Road  to Nashville.

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Bill Anderson has been recording for his own Whispering label, though his singles don’t make the country

charts like they did some decades back.  Bill for a spell was spending most his energy acting in soap operas

and hosting various syndicated game shows like “Mr. and Mrs.” and “Fandango.”  His autobiography,

Whispering Bill, was published in 1989.