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Bill Anderson Biography
Bill Anderson born James William Anderson III, is an American country music singer, songwriter and television personality. He was born on November 1, 1937 in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. He grew up in Griffin, Georgia and Decatur, Georgia.
He graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism, having worked his way through college as a disc jockey on nearby radio stations. It was while he was still in school that he began performing and writing songs. At the age of nineteen, he composed the country classic, “City Lights,” and began rapidly carving his place in musical history.
He moved to Nashville, Tennessee, secured a recording contract with Decca Records, and began turning out hit after hit with songs like “Po’Folks,” “Mama Sang A Song,” “The Tips Of My Fingers,” “8X10,” and the unforgettable country and pop smash, “Still.” His compositions were recorded by such diverse musical talents as Ray Price, Porter Wagoner, James Brown, Debbie Reynolds, Ivory Joe Hunter, Kitty Wells, Faron Young, Lawrence Welk, Dean Martin, Jerry Lee Lewis, Aretha Franklin, Walter Brennan and many others.
Bill Anderson was the first country artist to host a network game show, starring on ABC-TV’s, “The Better Sex.” He also appeared for three years on ABC’s Daytime soap opera, “One Life To Live.”
For six years he hosted a country music game show on The Nashville Network called, “Fandango,” later an interview show called “Opry Backstage,” and somehow found time to be co-producer of another TNN Show called, “You Can Be A Star.” In addition, Bill has appeared frequently as a guest star on television’s top variety and game shows, including The Tonight Show, The Today Show, Match Game, Family Feud, Hee Haw and others. For seven years he hosted the acclaimed “Bill Anderson Visits With The Legends” show on XM satellite radio.
Bill’s first autobiography, “Whisperin’ Bill,” was published in 1989 and made bestseller lists all across the south. Bill’s 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.
Since 1997, Bill has also hosted a television series on RFD-TV, “Country’s Family Reunion,” a show where legendary country stars sit alongside both their peers and newcomers to the industry, singing their songs and swapping their stories.
In the mid-nineties, after a ten-year self-imposed hiatus, Bill returned to his first love, songwriting, and for the second time in his life cut a wide path across the creative landscape. He co-wrote giant hits for Vince Gill (“Which Bridge To Cross – Which Bridge To Burn”), Steve Wariner (“Two Teardrops”), Mark Wills (“Wish You Were Here”), Joe Nichols (“I’ll Wait For You”), and Kenny Chesney (“A Lot Of Things Different”). He won Song Of The Year honors in both 2005 and 2007 for helping to write “Whiskey Lullaby” for Brad Paisley and Allison Krauss and “Give It Away” for George Strait. He also won a Dove award for co-writing the Country/Gospel Recorded Song of the Year, “Jonah, Job, and Moses” for the Oak Ridge Boys, plus the CMA Vocal Event of the Year, “Too Country,” recorded by Brad Paisley, George Jones, Buck Owens, and Bill himself. Both “Give It Away” and “Two Teardrops” afforded Anderson Grammy nominations.
In 2002, Broadcast Music, Inc. named Anderson its first country music songwriting Icon, placing him alongside R&B legends Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, and James Brown as the only recipients of that prestigious award. In 2008, the Academy of Country Music honored him with their inaugural Poets Award.
Bill has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1961.
Bill has been voted 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, the State of Georgia honored him by choosing him as only the 7th 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, South Carolina inducted him into their Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. And in 2001, he received the ultimate honor, membership in Nashville’s prestigious Country Music Hall of Fame.
Bill Anderson Age
He was born on November 1, 1937 in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. He grew up in Griffin, Georgia and Decatur, Georgia.
Bill Anderson Children
Bill lives on Old Hickory Lake outside Nashville with his three children;Jamey Anderson, Terri Anderson, and Jenny Anderson and eight grandchildren.
Bill Anderson Wife
He is divorced and currently not married.
Bill Anderson Marriages – Bill Anderson Relationships
Bill Anderson has been married twice. His first marriage was to Becky Anderson. The couple divorced in 1997. His second marriage was to Bette Anderson. They divorced in 2010.
Bill Anderson Net Worth
Bill has an estimated net worth of $6 million.
Bill Anderson Height
Bill stands at 6′ 4″ (193 cm).
is Bill Anderson still Alive?
Bill Anderson is still alive
Bill Anderson Discography
- God is Great, God is Good: Over 40 Gospel Favorites
- LIFE!
- The Atlanta Sessions
- Songwriter
- Whisperin’ Bluegrass
- Just As I Am
- Whispering Bill Anderson Sings ‘Em Again
- Whispering Bill
- Celebration
- Still Believing In Christmas
- The Way I Feel
- Softly And Tenderly
- No Place Like Home On Christmas
- By Request
- More Greatest Hits
- 20 Greatest Hits
- A Lot of Things Different
- Fine Wine
- Whispering Bill Anderson’s Greatest Hits II
- Whispering Bill Anderson’s Greatest Hits
- Greatest Songs
- Out In The Country
- Country Music Heaven
- The Best Of Bill Anderson
- A Place In The Country
- Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow (Double Record Set)
- Southern Fried
- Bill Anderson Hosts Backstage At The Grand Ole Opry
- Nashville Mirrors
- The Road With Bill Anderson
- Love & Other Sad Stories
- Ladies Choice
- Billy Boy & Mary Lou (Duet with Mary Lou Turner)
- Scorpio
- Peanuts And Diamonds And Other Jewels
- Sometimes (Duet with Mary Lou Turner)
- Gentle On My Mind (Pickwick Label-Canada)
- Whispering Bill Anderson
- Everytime I Turn The Radio On
- I Can Do Nothing Alone (Reissue)
- Bill
- The Bill Anderson Story, His Greatest Hits (Re-issue)
- Don’t She Look Good
- Just Plain Bill (Vocalion Label)
- The Lonely Women
- Singing His Praises (Duet w/Jan Howard)
- Where Have All Our Heroes Gone
- Love Is A Sometimes Thing
- It’s All The Same To You (Duet w/Jan Howard)
- Bill Anderson’s Greatest Hits Vol. II
- Always Remember
- Bill Anderson Christmas
- My Life/But You Know I Love You
- The Bill Anderson Story (Double record album)
- Happy State Of Mind
- Bill Anderson’s Country Style (Vocalion label)
- Wild Weekend
- For Loving You (with Jan Howard)
- Bill Anderson’s Greatest Hits
- I Can Do Nothing Alone
- Get While The Gettin’s Good
- Bright Lights And Country Music
- I Love You Drops
- From This Pen
- The Bill Anderson Showcase
- Bill Anderson Sings
- Still
- Bill Anderson Sings Country Heart Songs
Bill Anderson Songs
- Mama Sang a Song
- Tips of My Fingers
- Still
- I Get the Fever
- Bright Lights & Country Music
- Wild Weekend
- Po’ Folks
- Walk Out Backwards
- I Wonder If God Likes Country Music
- Five Little Fingers
- I Can’t Wait Any Longer
- Old Army Hat America The Beautiful
- For Loving You
- Golden Guitar
- World of Make Believe
- 8 X 10
- Wherever She is
- That’s What It’s Like To Be Lonesome
- Deck of Cards
- Happy State Of Mind
- Where Have All Our Heroes Gone
- If You Can Live With It
- The Corner of My Life
- Don’t She Look Good
- Quits
- I Can Do Nothing Alone
- Get While the Gettin’s Good
- Liars one, Believers Zero
- Po’ Folks Christmas
- Cold Hard Facts of Life
- Peanuts and Diamonds
- Get a Little Dirt On
