The name was Sunset Park. Bill Anderson is considered one of the legendary songwriters in the history of country music. In Commerce, Anderson wrote the song "City Lights". [15] After the release of his final MCA album in 1980, he was dropped from the label. Anderson has also been performing on the stage at Nashville, Tennessee, for over the last ten years. In 1993, he was made a member of the Georgia Broadcasters Hall of Fame. [54] Anderson turned his writing priorities towards other directions as well. Though, he is 1.71 m tall, he weighs about 68 kg. As of January 2023, Bill Anderson Net Worth is $8 million. In November 2002, BMI named Bill its first country songwriting Icon, placing him alongside R&B legends Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, and James Brown as the only recipients of that award. 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. [1] "Steve's version of 'Tips' was some indication that words, melodies and emotions can carry across decades", he commented. Besides his "whisper" of a singing voice, he was also known for his whispering recitations during songs, such as in "Mama Sang A Song" and "Still." [3] In Decatur, his father opened his own insurance agency firm, which he continued to own until his retirement. Bill has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1961. [70] In June 2022, a compilation titled The Best of Bill Anderson: As Far as I Can See was released by MCA Nashville and included a new track featuring Dolly Parton. [35] Eugene Chadbourne of Allmusic only gave his Love& Other Sad Stories album 1.5 out of 5 stars. [78], Anderson also wrote several hits for Connie Smith. . "Give It Away," co-written by Anderson and performed by George Strait, won the Academy of Country Music Song of the Year for 2006. He grew up in Griffin and Decatur, Georgia. It was his son telling him that a friend had called to offer his . Author Kurt Wolff called his early compositions "cute and sentimental", citing "Po' Folks" and "I Love You Drops" to be examples of this style. [135] In November 2002, BMI named him its first country songwriting icon, placing him alongside R&B artists Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and James Brown as the only recipients of that award. [18] In 1961, the single "Po' Folks" reached number nine on the Billboard country songs chart. In 2004 Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss scored a hit with Bill and Jon Randall's, "Whiskey Lullaby." He was inspired to write the song after hearing the song title at the end of a Hank Snow record. The single was reviewed by Billboard magazine in 1992 where it received comparisons to music by Garth Brooks. Bill Anderson was the first country artist to host a network game show, starring on ABC-TVs, The Better Sex. He also appeared for three years on ABCs Daytime soap opera, One Life To Live.. [15] During this time, Anderson formed his own touring band which he named "The Po' Boys" after his 1961 hit. 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. It reached # 8 on the Billboard charts.The music and the ["lyrics"] are provided for ent. [15][74] The following year, Jean Shepard recorded Anderson's "Slippin Away". In his 2016 autobiography, Anderson described his childhood as "average", recalling that he "never went to bed hungry" even though the family did not have many material possessions. The couple remained married for ten years. [19] The success of "Po' Folks" led Anderson to receive an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry cast. [51] Anderson's sales success began to decline following the release of "I Can't Wait Any Longer". By that point, Anderson was working often with a new duet partner, Mary Lou Turner. He also became interested in radio station work after a DJ friend introduced him to some of the controls. In 2008, he was ranked 27th on Country Universe's list of the "100 Greatest Men of Country Music". To see this page as it is meant to appear, please enable your Javascript! In reviewing the song, Konc commented that it was "packed full of unforgettable images" related to "heartbreak, addiction and loss". Andersons four music compositions were included in the list of top 20 country songs in the past 35 years by the Billboard magazine in 1995. Acting and game show careerBill Anderson was the first country artist to host a network game show, starring on ABC-TV's, The Better Sex. Hot 100 1958 "That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome" 12 - - 1960 "The Tip of My Fingers"" 7 - Country Heart Songs 1960 "Walk Out Backwards" 9 - Country Heart Songs 1961 "Po' Folks" 9 - Country Heart Songs 1962 "Mama Sang a Song" 1 89 Country Heart Songs 1962 "Get a Little Dirt on Your Hands" 14 - Still 1963 "Still"A 1 8 Still 1963 "Eight by Ten" 2 53 Bill Anderson Sings 1963 "Five Little Fingers/Easy Come, Easy Go" 5/14 - Bill Anderson Sings 1964 "Three A.M." 8 - Showcase 1965 "Certain" 12 - Showcase 1966 "Bright Lights and Country Music" 11 - Bright Lights and Country Music 1966 "I Love You Drops/Golden Guitar" 4/11 - Bright Lights and Country Music/I Love You Drops 1966 "I Know You're Married (But I Love You Still)" (w/ Jan Howard) 29 - - 1966 "I Get the Fever" 1 - I Love You Drops 1967 "Get While the Gettin's Good" 5 - Get While the Gettin's Good 1967 "No One's Gonna Hurt You Anymore" 10 - Wild Weekend 1967 "For Loving You" (w/ Jan Howard) 1 - For Loving You 1968 "Wild Weekend" 2 - Wild Weekend 1968 "Happy State of Mind" 2 - Happy State of Mind 1969 "My Life (Throw It Away If I Want To)" 1 - My Life/But You Know I Love You 1969 "But You Know I Love You" 2 - My Life/But You Know I Love You 1969 "If It's All the Same to You" (w/ Jan Howard) 2 - If It's All the Same to You 1970 "Love Is a Sometimes Thing" 5 - Love Is a Sometimes Thing 1970 "Where Have All Our Heroes Gone" 6 93 Where Have All Our Heroes Gone 1970 "Someday We'll Be Together" (w/ Jan Howard) 4 - Bill and Jan or Jan and Bill 1971 "Dis-Satisfied" (w/ Jan Howard) 4 - Bill and Jan or Jan and Bill 1971 "Always Remember" 6 - Always Remember 1971 "Quits" 3 - Greatest Hits Volume 2 1972 "All the Lonely Women in the World" 5 - All the Lonely Women in the World 1972 "Don't She Look Good" 2 - Don't She Look Good 1973 "If You Can Live With It (I Can Live Without It)" 2 - Bill 1973 "Corner of My Life" 2 - Bill 1974 "World of Make Believe" 1 - Bill 1974 "Can I Come Home to You" 24 - Whispering Bill Anderson 1974 "Every Time I Turn the Radio On" 7 - Every Time I Turn the Radio On/Talk to Me Ohio 1975 "I Still Feel the Same About You" 14 - Every Time I Turn the Radio On/Talk to Me Ohio 1975 "Country D.J." 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. [47] With Killen, Anderson's musical sound shifted from Nashville Sound ballads towards uptempo Countrypolitan tunes. [55] The album's title track was issued as a single, but did not chart in any Billboard music publications. He has also appeared in other game shows. The record was also released in the United Kingdom with a different track list. He won awards from several major music publications including Billboard, Cashbox and Music Reporter. Anderson was unable to have enough advertisers support his radio station, causing it to fail. [1] Anderson's longtime label was renamed to MCA Records during the same time frame. However, only one album track was self-composed: the song "We May Never Pass This Way Again.' His soft-spoken singing voice was given the nickname "Whispering Bill" by music critics and writers. As a singer, she placed 30 singles on the Billboard country songs chart, was a Grand Ole Opry member and was nominated for several major awards. View all concerts Wichita, KS, US Change location 7,216 fans get concert alerts for this artist. In an interview with Ken Burns, Anderson recalled writing the song on a hotel roof: "I was up there one night in 1957 I was nineteen years old and I managed to write the 'bright array of city lights as far as I can see'", he recalled. Later he attended Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication where he earned his degree in journalism. All user-contributed text on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. Anderson's 1958 composition was recorded and made a major hit by Ray Price. One of the most successful songwriters in country music history, Bill Anderson was also a hugely popular singer in his own right, earning the nickname "Whispering Bill" for his gentle, airy vocal style and occasional spoken narrations. He is also the member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Grand Ole Opry and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Bill has managed to release over 40 music albums in the past. [84] That same decade, Conway Twitty also had a number-one hit with the tune "I May Never Get to Heaven". [1] In 1980, he appeared on two episodes of the ABC soap opera One Life to Live, portraying a fictionalized version of himself. [35], In the mid 1980s, Anderson shifted his professional interests. Major League Baseball pitcher Tracy Stallard appeared as one of the two imposters for Anderson. He was released from jail the same day. Bill Anderson was born on November 1, 1937 and is 85 years old now. [58] John Weisberger of Country Standard Time gave the release a positive response, calling the songs "vintage". 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 televisions top variety and game shows, including The Tonight Show, The Today Show, Match Game, Family Feud, Hee Haw and others. City lights, which are a composition written by Bill during his time in WJJC-AM in Georgia, were produced and recorded by Ray Price and Mickey Gilley. It would later be recorded by Connie Smith on her 1965 studio album Cute 'n' Country. Bill has been voted and nominated 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. 36 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in 1963. Wariner had another hit in 1999 with another Anderson composition titled "Two Teardrops". When he was 19 years and working in Georgia WJJC-AM, Anderson wrote a composition, City Lights. He has the sexiest voice I have ever heard. His composition "City Lights," written when he was just 19 years old, while working in Commerce, Georgia at WJJC Radio 1270 AM, was recorded by Ray Price in 1958 and went all the way to the top of the country charts. I have ate at his restaurant called PO Folks and the food and service was awesome. Country icon Bill Anderson received a disturbing phone call this morning. [35][6][1] Steve Huey of AllMusic called him "one of the most successful songwriters in country music history". Maybe you know about Bill Anderson very well But do you know how old and tall is he, and what is his net worth in 2023? [1] However, he continued recording music sporadically during the decade. [92] Anderson, who was not used to writing with others, decided to make adaptations to his own songwriting style in order to collaborate. [126] In 1984, Becky was involved in a car accident that caused "25 percent brain impairment." [73] Another hit was "I Don't Love You Anymore", which was recorded by Charlie Louvin in 1964. Bill Anderson has been married twice. Thank you sir, I was on fandango in the 80s & had the time of my life. Anderson went to the University of Georgia to study journalism. He wanted to specialize in the sports writing department. but it wasn't easy'), the author does justice to a powerful story", reviewers commented. A few years later he married his second wife, Bette Anderson. Anderson performed this song on the finale of the 1977-1978 ABC game show The Better Sex which he co-hosted with Sarah Purcell. These games include The Better Sex, Fandango, and others. I'm probably in the public eye more right now than I've ever been because of the things that I do on television", he said in 1988. [1] He had further top ten hits with "Get While the Gettin's Good" and "No One's Gonna Hurt You Anymore". I am mesmerized. Being born on 1 November 1937, Bill Anderson is 85 years old as of todays date 18th January 2023. Anderson also occasionally appeared on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. [38] In the mid 1960s, he began performing duets with country artist Jan Howard, who was also on Decca Records. She died in January 2019. As of 2023, Bill Anderson has an estimated net worth of more than $7.5 million. So yeah, I'd like to have the next generation pull out a few lines I've written and say 'yeah that's pretty clever! is country singer bill anderson still alive. She had major hits with the Anderson-penned "Count Your Blessings, Woman", "I Still Believe in Love" and "Bad Seed". His compositions can be heard on recent or forthcoming releases by Vince Gill, Lorrie Morgan, John Michael Montgomery, Sara Evans, Tracy Byrd, and others. This net worth has been amassed from his work as a songwriter, singer, and television personality. [114], Anderson appeared as himself in the February 15, 1965, episode of To Tell the Truth, receiving two of the four possible votes. Among the highlights were the number ones "I Get the Fever" (1966), "For Loving You" (a 1967 duet with regular partner Jan Howard), "My Life (Throw It Away if I Want To)" (1969), "World of Make Believe" (1974), and "Sometimes" (1976). Billboard gave the record a favorable review which stated, "At 82, Anderson brings a gravitas to the heavier songs and a lightheartedness to tunes like "Po Folks" with a low-key production that keeps the focus squarely on Anderson and his delivery. I play it every night before I go to sleep. That increased his popularity and fame. AlbumsYear Album Chart Positions U.S. Country Albums 1962 Country Heart Songs 42 1963 StillA 10 1964 Bill Anderson Sings 7 1964 Showcase - 1965 From This Pen 7 1965 Bright Lights and Country Music 6 1966 I Love You Drops 1 1967 Get It While the Gettin's Good 8 1967 Greatest Hits Volume 1 6 1967 I Can't Do Nothing Alone 23 1968 Country Style - 1968 For Loving You (duet album w/ Jan Howard) 6 1968 Wild Weekend 10 1968 Happy State of Mind 24 1969 Story 43 1969 My Life/But You Know I Love You 4 1969 Christmas - 1970 If It's All the Same to You (duet album w/ Jan Howard) 25 1970 Love Is a Sometimes Thing 10 1970 Where Have All Our Heroes Gone 27 1971 Always Remeber 13 1971 Greatest Hits Volume 2 18 1972 Bill and Jan or Jan and Bill (duet album w/ Jan Howard) 9 1972 Singing His Praise (w/ Jan Howard) - 1972 Just Plain Bill - 1972 For All the Lonely Women In the World 14 1972 Don't She Look Good 10 1973 Bill 15 1974 Whispering 17 1975 Live From London - 1975 Turn the Radio On/Talk to Me Ohio 22 1976 Sometimes (duet album w/ Mary Lou Turner) 6 1976 Peanuts and Diamonds and Other Jewels 12 1977 Scorpio 21 1977 Billy Boy and Mary Lou (duet album w/ Mary Lou Turner) 39 1978 Love and Other Sad Stories 37 1979 Lady's Choice 44 1980 Nashville Mirrors - 1983 Southern Fried - 1984 Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow - 1991 The Best of Bill Anderson - 1991 Country Music Heaven - 1994 Country - 1995 I Wonder If God Likes Country Music - 1998 Fine Wines - 2001 Lot of Things Different - 2002 No Place Like Christmas - 2007 Whisperin Bluegrass -. "[131] Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe cited Anderson's songwriting as the center of his legacy: "It's been Bill Anderson's songwriting that's kept him topping the country charts for decades longer than even his most successful contemporaries. [35] Steve Huey of Allmusic called his voice "airy" and "gentle". Bill went to school at the University of Georgia and graduated with a degree in journalism. He has also hosted many television shows including the show The Better Sex (1977), Fandango (1983 to 1989). [15] Instead, Decca issued his early hits on the 1962 compilation Bill Anderson Sings Country Heart Songs. [22], By 1963, Anderson's recording career was expanding further. [6], Anderson's own recording career began in 1957 after releasing two singles for the independent label, TNT. The song crossed over to the pop chart, peaking at number eight. 1937 and is 85 years old now attended Henry W. Grady College of journalism and Mass Communication where he his... 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