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The Author..Wayne Jancik
Golden Age Of The 50s
Golden Age Of The 60s
1970s and There After
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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
.
@
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.
@
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
.
@
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.
COPYRIGHT 1997 Wayne Jancik