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Bill Anderson

James William Anderson III (born November 1, 1937), known professionally as Bill Anderson, is an American country music 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 the same year. Anderson began having major hits shortly thereafter. In 1963, he had released his most successful single in his recording career, "Still". The song became a major country pop crossover hit and was followed by a series of top ten hits. These songs included "I Love You Drops", "I Get the Fever" and "Wild Week-End". His songs were being notably recorded by other artists. In 1964, Connie Smith had her first major hit with his composition "Once a Day". In 1971, Cal Smith had a number one single with Anderson's "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking".

In the 1970s, Anderson continued having major hits as a recording artist as well. Songs including "Love Is a Sometimes Thing", "All the Lonely Women in the World" and "World of Make Believe" became major hits. As the decade progressed his style moved towards the polished countrypolitan 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 and Fandango. Anderson began writing songs again in the early 1990s for the next generation of country performers. Collaborating with other writers, he wrote material that went on to become hits for Vince Gill, George Strait, Kenny Chesney, and Steve Wariner 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. 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, Country Music Association, Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Birth and Death Data: Born November 1, 1937 (Columbia)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1958 - 1972

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, guitar

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 296 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca NA 10369 8/13/1958 [Unknown title(s)] Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 10370 8/13/1958 Inspiration Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 10371 8/13/1958 That's what it's like to be lonesome Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 10372 8/13/1958 The thrill of my life Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 10667 4/5/1959 Ninety-nine Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 10668 4/5/1959 Back where I started from Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 10854 9/17/1959 It's not the end of everything Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 10855 9/17/1959 Dead or alive Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 11002 3/3/1960 No man's land Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 11003 3/3/1960 The tip of my fingers Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 11261 9/7/1960 Walk out backwards Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 11262 9/7/1960 The best of strangers Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 11263 9/7/1960 Flowing waters and shifting Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 11473 3/20/1961 Goodbye cruel world Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 11474 3/20/1961 I'll walk you home Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 11515 4/24/1961 Goodbye cruel world Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 11516 4/24/1961 Po' folks Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 11517 4/24/1961 As long as I live Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 11568 6/5/1961 It takes a worried man Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 11569 6/5/1961 City lights Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 11570 6/5/1961 Columbus stockade blues Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 11571 6/5/1961 Mama sang a song Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 11629 7/18/1961 Wedding bells Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 11630 7/18/1961 Yonder comes a sucker Bill Anderson vocalist  
Decca NA 11825 12/11/1961 On and on and on Bill Anderson vocalist  
(Results 1-25 of 296 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Anderson, Bill," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/200238.

Anderson, Bill. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/200238.

"Anderson, Bill." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/200238

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