November 5, 2002

Bill Anderson

His nickname is “Whisperin’ Bill,” but the career achievements of Bill Anderson shout his importance in the history and glory of country music.  One of its most awarded songwriters and a million selling recording artist many times over, he also found success as a television game show host, network soap opera star, spokesman for a nationwide restaurant chain, and a consummate onstage performer.

Bill Anderson was born in Columbia, South Carolina, but spent most of his growing-up years around Atlanta, 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.

The relevance of Bill Anderson’s work has been rewarded with nearly 100 charting singles since his first release, “City Lights,” in 1958.  He currently is represented on the country charts by “A Lot Of Things Different,” recorded by Kenny Chesney. Anderson is also one of BMI’s most recognized songwriters, collecting well over 50 BMI Country & Pop Awards.  In 2001 he won a CMA Award on the same night he was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Anderson is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, the Georgia Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the South Carolina Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. He has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1961.

Bill Anderson’s BMI Awards

“ALL THE LONELY WOMEN IN THE WORLD”—1973 Country Award

“CINCINNATI OHIO” - 1968 Country Award

“CITY LIGHTS” - 1958 Country Award

“CORNER OF MY LIFE”—1974 Country Award

“DISSATISFIED”—1972 Country Award

“EIGHT TIMES TEN” - 1964 Country Award

“EVERY TIME I TURN THE RADIO ON”—1975 Country Award

“FACE TO THE WALL” - 1960 Country Award

“FIVE LITTLE FINGERS” - 1964 Country Award

“GET A LITTLE DIRT ON YOUR HANDS” - 1962 Country Award

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME” - 1962 Country Award

“HAPPY STATE OF MIND” - 1969 Country Award

“I CAN’T REMEMBER” - 1965 Country Award

“I CAN’T WAIT ANY LONGER”—1979 Country Award

“I DON’T LOVE YOU ANYMORE” - 1964 Country Award

“I GET THE FEVER” - 1967 Country Award

“I LOVE YOU DROPS” - 1966 Country Award

“I MAY NEVER GET TO HEAVEN” - 1980 Country Award

“I MISSED ME” - 1961 Country Award

“I NEVER ONCE STOPPED LOVING YOU” - 1971 Country Award

“I’VE ENJOYED AS MUCH OF THIS AS I CAN STAND” - 1963 Country Award

“IF IT’S ALL THE SAME TO YOU” - 1970 Country Award

“IF YOU CAN LIVE WITH IT I CAN”—1974 Country Award

“LORD KNOWS I’M DRINKING”—1973 Country Award / 1973 Pop Award

“LOSING YOUR LOVE” - 1962 Country Award

“MAMA SANG A SONG” - 1962 Country Award

“MY LIFE THROW IT AWAY IF I WANT TO” - 1970 Country Award

“NOBODY BUT A FOOL WOULD LOVE YOU” - 1966 Country Award

“ONCE A DAY” - 1965 Country Award

“PEEL ME A NANNER” - 1964 Country Award

“PO FOLKS” - 1961 Country Award

“QUITS”—1972 Country Award

“RIVER BOAT” - 1960 Country Award

“SAGINAWMICHIGAN” - 1964 Country Award

“SLIPPIN AWAY”—1974 Country Award

“SOMETIMES”—1976 Country Award

“STILL” - 1963 Country Award / 1963 Pop Award /Million-Air

“THAT’S WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE LONESOME” - 1959 Country Award

“THEN AND ONLY THEN” - 1965 Country Award

“TIP OF MY FINGERS” – 1960, 1963, 1967, 1993 Country Award / Million-Air

“TWO TEARDROPS” - 2000 Country Award / Million-Air

“WALK OUT BACKWARDS” - 1961 Country Award

“WE MISSED YOU” - 1963 Country Award

“WHEN TWO WORLDS COLLIDE” - 1961 Country Award

“WHICH BRIDGE TO CROSS, WHICH BRIDGE TO BURN”—1996 Country Award

“WILD WEEK END” - 1969 Country Award

“WISH YOU WERE HERE” - 2000 Country Award / Million-Air

“YOU AND YOUR SWEET LOVE” - 1970 Country Award