Bill Anderson (singer)

Bill Anderson (born James William Anderson III; November 1, 1937) is an American country music singer-songwriter and producer. He also has been credited as a television personality and author. As a songwriter, his compositions have been covered by various music artists since the late 1950s, including Ray Price and George Strait.[2] As a singer, his soft-spoken singing voice was given the nickname "Whispering Bill Anderson" by music critics and writers.[1]

Bill Anderson
Bill Anderson, 2017.
Born
James William Anderson III

(1937-11-01)November 1, 1937
Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.[1]
Occupation
  • Singer-songwriter
  • television personality
  • producer
  • author
Years active1957–present
Home townDecatur, Georgia, U.S.
Spouse(s)
  • Bette Anderson
    ​
    (
    m. 1959; div. 1969)
  • Becky Anderson
    ​
    (
    m. 1997; div. 1999)
Partner(s)Vickie Salas (2007–2016)
Children3
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
Labels
Associated acts
Websitebillanderson.com

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 with the songs "Walk Out Backwards" and "Po' Folks." 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 "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 Countrypolitan sub-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. Anderson appeared as a game show host on the programs 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 became hits for Vince Gill, George Strait 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 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.

Early life

Anderson was born James William Anderson III to Elizabeth and James William Anderson, Jr. in Columbia, South Carolina. He was the oldest of two children. His sister, Elizabeth Anderson, was born two years after. Anderson's father was an insurance agent while his mother was a homemaker. He spent his early childhood with his family in Columbia.[3] The family moved to his grandparent's Griffin, Georgia while Anderson was in the third grade. Shortly afterward, the family relocated into their own home in Decatur, Georgia, where he spent the remainder of his childhood.[4] In Decatur, his father opened his own insurance agency firm, which he remained the owner of until his retirement. 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.[5]

Anderson briefly attended the University of Georgia in the late 1950s, where he studied journalism.

In school, Anderson was active in 4-H organizations, played baseball and football.[6] However, he was most interested in music. Anderson developed an interest in music from his grandparents who played instruments.[7] His interest grew further after watching country musicians perform on a radio station, located directly above his father's insurance company. Watching the performers play instruments inspired him to play music as well.[8] Anderson soon saved enough money where he purchased his own guitar. At age ten, he wrote his first song called "Carry Me Home Texas."[7]

In high school, Anderson and his friends formed their own band and won a school talent contest. The band began performing around the local area, eventually performing on local radio as "The Avondale Playboys."[9] Anderson's strong interest in baseball continued through high school as well. He became his high school team's pitcher and was scouted to go to the Chicago Cubs training camp. However, Anderson declined the offer after realizing that his family would be upset if he did not attend college.[10] Upon graduating high school, he enrolled at the University of Georgia and majored in journalism.[7]

Anderson had dabbled with journalism prior to his university enrollment. While still in high school, he wrote for his school's newspaper and also got a job covering sports events for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.[11] In his freshman year, he pledged the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.[12] He and several students formed a country band called the "Classic City Playboys" and began playing local events. He also became interested in radio station work after a DJ friend introduced him to some of the controls. "I thought I was Superman. I knew that night I had to get a job as a disc jockey," he called.[13]

During his first summer out of college, he got a job working as a rock and roll DJ at WGAU in Athens, Georgia. However, he was fired after playing country records over the air and was then hired at WJJC in Commerce, Georgia. Anderson began songwriting again after obtaining the new position. In Commerce, Anderson wrote the song "City Lights" while sitting 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.[7] Although the song was first recorded by Anderson himself, it was soon brought to the attention of country artist Ray Price. It was picked up by his record label and became a number one hit on the national country charts in 1958.[2][1]

Recording career

1958–1962: Early success

Anderson's own recording career began in 1957 after releasing two singles for the independent label, TNT. His two singles, "Take Me" and his own version of "City Lights," attracted little attention.[14] However, the success brought by Ray Price's version of "City Lights" led Anderson to frequent Nashville, Tennessee. In the city, he brought compositions for artists and producers to record. Owen Bradley of Decca Records was impressed by Anderson's writing and decided to sign him as a recording artist to the label. Anderson officially signed with Decca in the summer of 1958.[7] His early Decca singles were entirely self-composed. Anderson's first Decca released was issued in December 1958 called "That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome."[15] The song became a major hit the following year when it climbed to the number 12 position on the Billboard Hot Country and Western Sides chart.[16] He followed this in 1959 with the top 20 hits "Ninety Nine" and "Dead or Alive."[15]

A publicity image of Anderson from his time at Decca Records.

In 1960, "The Tip of My Fingers" became his first top ten hit on the country chart, reaching number seven in August 1960.[17] The song would later be recorded and made hits individually by Eddy Arnold, Roy Clark, Jean Shepard and Steve Wariner.[18] In 1961, the single "Po' Folks" reached number nine on the Billboard country songs chart.[19] The success of "Po' Folks" led Anderson to receive an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry cast. Anderson accepted and joined the program the same year.[18] In 1962, his single "Mama Sang a Song" became his first to reach number one on the Billboard country list, reaching the top position in October of that year.[20] It was also his first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 89.[21] Although successful, Anderson's early singles were not initially included on studio album releases.[15] Instead, Decca issued his early hits on the 1962 compilation, Bill Anderson Sings Country Heart Songs.[22]

1963–1976: "Still" and further career success

By 1963, Anderson's recording career was expanding further. He was frequently touring and making public appearances to promote his music. Anderson was inspired to write his 1963 composition, "Still," after encountering an ex-girlfriend while promoting a song. The same night, he wrote the lyrics to the track on an Underwood typewriter at three o'clock in the morning.[23] "Still" became the biggest single of his recording career.[1] In April 1963, it reached number one on the Billboard country and western songs chart.[24] It also became his second to reach to the Billboard Hot 100, but was his first (and only) successful crossover hit there: reaching number eight in June 1963.[25] The track was also his first single to become a hit on the Billboard easy listening chart, reaching number three that June.[26] The song's success led to the 1963 release of Anderson's debut studio album of the same.[27] The LP reached number ten on the Billboard country albums chart in January 1964[28] and the top 40 of the Billboard 200 in late 1963.[29]

The success of "Still" further elevated Anderson's recording career. This included making national television appearances on shows such as American Bandstand, where he performed his follow-up crossover hit "8×10." He also won awards from several major music publications including Billboard, Cashbox and Music Reporter.[30] He also scheduled more concert engagements and made as much as $500 per gig.[31] His success also led Decca to record and release studio albums with more frequency. These albums were also successful. His second studio LP, Bill Anderson Sings (1964), reached the top ten of the country albums chart.[32] His 1966 studio release reached number one on the same chart.[33] Album releases were fueled by further hit singles, including "Bright Lights and Country Music," "Five Little Fingers" and "Three A.M."[15] Music writers took notice of Anderson's music success as well. Billboard magazine called his 1964 album, Showcase, to be "a powerful set of performances."[34] Kurt Wolff of the book Country Music: The Rough Guide credited his success to a "fairly safe and suburban" musical style.[2]

A promotional single for Anderson in Billboard, 1970.

His chart hits continued through the 1960s and many of these songs were self-composed. His 1966 release, "I Love You Drops," was inspired by the Chuck Berry hit, "Memphis Tennessee."[35] His next self-written release would also become his third number one hit, entitled "I Get the Fever."[1] He had further top ten hits with "Get While the Gettin's Good" and "No One's Gonna Hurt You Anymore."[15] His recording career also continued expanding. During this time, Anderson formed his own touring band which he named "The Po' Boys" after his 1961 hit. The band frequently received credit on his studio albums and single releases.[36] He also started his own television program called The Bill Anderson Show, which was taped in Canada and Nashville.[37] In the mid 1960s, he began performing duets with country artist, Jan Howard, who was also on Decca Records. Believing they could be a successful recording partnership, the pair approached producer Owen Bradley with the idea of recording together. Bradley agreed and the duo released their first single in 1965.[38] In 1968, the pair had their first major hit with the duet "For Loving You."[1] The song became a number one hit on the Billboard country chart and led to several more successful collaborations.[15]

Following several more hits, Anderson reached the number one position for a fifth time in May 1969 with "My Life (Throw It Away If I Want To)."[39] Both this, and the hit "But You Know I Love You," were included on his 1969 studio album.[40] He began diversifying his album releases during this period with the recording of a gospel LP in 1967[41] and a holiday LP in 1969[42] A greatest hits package was also issued and it reached number six on the country albums survey.[43] Anderson continued releasing regular country albums as well, outputting as much as three per year by the early 1970s. His country LP's often included a mix of original material and cover versions. On his 1971 release, Always Remember, Greg Adams of Allmusic commented that it "confounds expectations" for delivering original vocal performances of songs first cut by Kris Kristofferson and Kenny Rogers.[44] A series of uninterrupted top ten hits followed his early 1970s albums. During this time frame, he had hits with "Love Is a Sometimes Thing," "Where Have All Our Heroes Gone," "If You Can Live with It (I Can Live Without It)" and "The Corner of My Life."[15] In February 1974, he had his first number one hit in five years with "World of Make Believe."[45]

1977–1989: Countrypolitan shift, musical slow down and new directions

By 1977, Anderson experienced several changes in his recording career. His longtime duet partner, Jan Howard, had left his record label and road show. According to Howard, it was difficult to keep up with a busy tour schedule.[38] She was replaced by Mary Lou Turner, who began recording duet with Anderson during this time. In 1976, the partnership had a number one single with "Sometimes."[1] In addition, Anderson's longtime label was re-named to MCA Records in the mid 1970s.[2] Changes at the label continued when his longtime producer (Owen Bradley) was replaced by Buddy Killen. Anderson's first assignment with Killen was the 1977 studio release, Scorpio.[46] With Killen, Anderson's musical sound shifted from Nashville Sound ballads to more uptempo rhythms that included a Countrypolitan style.[1][2] His new sound was reflected in his latest albums and singles. In 1977, Anderson had two major hits with the uptempo singles "Head to Toe" and a remake of "Still the One."[15] The following year, Anderson had a major hit with the uptempo "I Can't Wait Any Longer." The song peaked at number four on the Billboard country singles chart[47] and became his first charting hit on the Hot 100 in eight years, reaching number 80.[48] Its corresponding studio effort, Love...& Other Sad Stories, reached number 37 on the Billboard country albums list.[49]

Although successful at first, Anderson's latest music received negative criticism from many writers. Author Kurt Wolff criticized his new image, commenting that his music "flirted dangerously with disco beats."[2] Eugene Chadbourne of Allmusic only gave his Love...& Other Sad Stories album 1.5 out of 5 stars. "This is an album that begins with what sounds like a pervert and ends with an effect described as frightening. Too bad most of it is so boring to listen to," Chadbourne concluded.[50] Anderson's sales success began to decline following the release of "I Can't Wait Any Longer." His follow-up album, Ladies Choice (1979), only reached number 44 on the country albums chart.[51] The album's only major hit was the top 20 single "This Is a Love Song."[15] After the release of his final MCA album in 1980, he was dropped from the label.[2]

In the mid 1980s, Anderson shifted his professional interests. He began focusing on a brief film and television career in California.[1] However, he continued recording music sporadically during the decade. On the independent Southern Tracks label, he released Southern Fried in 1983. The album was co-produced by Anderson and musician Mike Johnson.[52] The album also spawned four singles that became minor hits on the country songs chart, including the title track.[15] In 1986, Anderson released A Place in the Country, which was also produced by Johnson. The record was also released in the United Kingdom using a different track list.[53] Four singles were spawned from the album that became minor country hits between 1984 and 1987.[15]

1990–present: Career today

Anderson’s autobiography, Whisperin’ Bill: An Autobiography, was published by Longstreet Press in 1989. The book, which he personally wrote over three years, made bestseller lists all across the South. His 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 and is in its fourth printing.[54] He has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1961 and performs there regularly.[55] In 2000, his latest album, A Lot Of Things Different, received rave reviews. Each song was written or co-written by Anderson. His 1998 release, Fine Wine, was produced by Steve Wariner and released on Warner Brothers' Reprise/Nashville label. Anderson's Greatest Hits Volume I & II have been released on Varèse Sarabande Records along with The Best Of Bill Anderson on Curb.[56] In 2004 Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss scored a hit with Anderson and Jon Randall's "Whiskey Lullaby". On November 5, 2002, BMI named him 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. His compositions can be heard on recent or forthcoming releases by Vince Gill, Lorrie Morgan, John Michael Montgomery, Sara Evans, Tracy Byrd, and others.[56][57]

July 15, 2006, marked Anderson's 45th year as a member of the Opry. He also hosts a show on Sirius XM radio entitled Bill Anderson Visits with the Legends where he interviews various country music legends.[54] Based on the 1958 release of the Anderson written song "City Lights", in 2008, XM broadcast a special Visits and interviewed Anderson to celebrate 50 years in county music. According to BMI, various artists have recorded and released over 400 different Anderson written or co-written songs in that 50-year period.

The video for the song "Whiskey Lullaby" won Anderson Video of the Year and Vocal Collaboration of the Year in 2004. "Give it Away", co-written by Anderson and performed by George Strait, won the Academy of Country Music Song of the Year for 2006. In November 2007, "Give it Away" was named the Country Music Association Song of the Year, an award that goes to the songwriters, Anderson being a co-writer. On August 29, 2008, Anderson performed "Whiskey Lullaby" at the Opry.

Anderson 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. Ten years later, he was chosen as only the seventh 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, he was inducted into the South Carolina Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, and in 2001, he received the ultimate honor, membership in Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame.[54]

For over 10 years, Anderson has been hosting Country's Family Reunion, a DVD video series featuring groups of country music legends from the 1950s through the 1990s gathering mainly on the Ryman Auditorium stage. With a mix of reminiscing and songs, they remember country's glory days and stars who have died. Many of the legends who have participated have died since the series started—over 30 at the last count. Country's Family Reunion can be seen in the UK on freeview channel 87, Sky 389 and FreeSat 516 – Keep It Country TV. It airs regularly in the United States on RFD-TV.

In 2018, Anderson was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.[58] He released an album titled Anderson in September 2018.

On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Bill Anderson among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal Studios fire.[59]

Songwriting career

Anderson has written songs for many country music singers, since first writing for Ray Price, among others in the late 1950s. He wrote many of country singer Connie Smith's biggest hits in the 1960s, including her best-known song, "Once a Day", which topped off at No. 1 in 1964 and spent eight weeks there, the longest by any female country music singer. He also wrote Smith's "Cincinnati, Ohio" in 1967, among others.

In 1995, Billboard magazine named four Anderson compositions—"City Lights", "Once A Day", "Still", and "Mama Sang A Song"—among the top 20 country songs of the past 35 years, more than any other songwriter.[54]

Anderson ended the 1990s with a pair of hits, "Wish You Were Here", by Mark Wills and the Grammy-nominated "Two Teardrops" by Steve Wariner. His song, "Too Country", recorded by Brad Paisley along with Anderson, Buck Owens and George Jones, won CMA Vocal Event of the Year honors for 2001. The following year saw Kenny Chesney soar with his version of the Anderson-Dean Dillon composition, "A Lot Of Things Different".[54]

In 1975, Anderson was selected for induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018.

Other careers

Acting and game show career

Anderson was the first country artist to host a network game show, starting with Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions on ABC's The Better Sex alongside co-presenter Sarah Purcell in 1977, the unsold pilot Spellbinders for NBC in 1978 and later for cable network TNN in 1983, the country music-themed game show Fandango. He also appeared for three years on ABC-TV's daytime soap opera, One Life to Live.[54]

For six years he hosted an interview show, Opry Backstage, and found time to be co-producer of another TNN show called You Can Be a Star. In addition, Anderson has appeared frequently as a guest star on variety and game shows, including The Tonight Show, The Today Show, Match Game, Family Feud, Password Plus, Hee Haw and others.

Business career

In the 1980s, Anderson served as a spokesperson for the Po' Folks restaurant chain, whose name was taken from his song.[60]

Discography
Main articles: Bill Anderson albums discography and Bill Anderson singles discography

References

Footnotes
  1. Huey, Steve. "Bill Anderson: Biography & History". Allmusic. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  2. Wolff, Kurt 2000, p. 292.
  3. Anderson, Bill & Cooper, Peter 2016, p. 9.
  4. Anderson, Bill & Cooper, Peter 2016, p. 15-16.
  5. Anderson, Bill & Cooper, Peter 2016, p. 16-17.
  6. Anderson, Bill & Cooper, Peter 2016, p. 16.
  7. Burns, Ken. "Country Music: Bill Anderson Biography". PBS. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  8. Anderson, Bill & Cooper, Peter 2016, p. 17-19.
  9. Anderson, Bill & Cooper, Peter 2016, p. 19-22.
  10. Anderson, Bill & Cooper, Peter 2016, p. 22-23.
  11. Anderson, Bill & Cooper, Peter 2016, p. 27.
  12. Anderson, Bill & Cooper, Peter 2016, p. 28.
  13. Anderson, Bill & Cooper, Peter 2016, p. 32.
  14. Anderson, Bill & Cooper, Peter 2016, p. 46-47.
  15. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
  16. ""That's What It's Like to Be Lonesome" chart history". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  17. ""The Tip of My Fingers" chart history". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  18. Trott, Walt 2012, p. 12.
  19. ""Po' Folks" chart history". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  20. ""Mama Sang a Song" chart history". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  21. ""Mama Sang a Song" chart history (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  22. Anderson, Bill (January 1962). "Bill Anderson Sings Country Heart Songs (Liner Notes and Album Information)". Decca Records.
  23. Anderson, Bill & Cooper, Peter 2016, p. 80.
  24. ""Still" chart history (Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  25. ""Still" chart history (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  26. ""Still" chart history (AC)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  27. Anderson, Bill (June 17, 1963). "Still (Liner Notes and Album Information)". Decca Records.
  28. "Still chart history (Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  29. "Still chart history (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  30. Anderson, Bill & Cooper, Peter 2016, p. 84.
  31. Anderson, Bill & Cooper, Peter 2016, p. 114.
  32. "Bill Anderson Sings chart history". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  33. "I Love You Drops chart history". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  34. "Special Merit Picks". Billboard. 76 (49): 24. December 5, 1964.
  35. Anderson, Bill & Cooper, Peter 2016, p. 91.
  36. Anderson, Bill & Cooper, Peter 2016, p. 114-16.
  37. Anderson, Bill & Cooper, Peter 2016, p. 173-74.
  38. Howard, Jan (1987). Sunshine and Shadow: My Story. New York, NY: Richardson & Steirman. ISBN 0-319886-92-1.
  39. ""My Life (Throw It Away If I Want To)" chart history". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  40. Anderson, Bill (June 1969). "My Life/But You Know I Love You (Liner Notes & Album Information)". Decca Records.
  41. Anderson, Bill (June 1967). "I Can Do Nothing Alone (Liner Notes and Album Information)". Decca Records.
  42. Anderson, Bill (November 1969). "Christmas (Liner Notes & Album Information)". Decca Records.
  43. "Bill Anderson's Greatest Hits chart history". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  44. Adams, Greg. "Always Remember: Bill Anderson: Songs, Reviews, Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  45. ""World of Make Believe" chart history". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  46. Anderson, Bill (April 1977). "Scorpio (Liner Notes & Album Information)". MCA Records.
  47. ""I Can't Wait Any Longer" chart history (Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  48. ""I Can't Wait Any Longer" chart history (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  49. "Love...& Other Sad Stories chart history". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  50. Chadbourne, Eugene. "Love...& Other Sad Stories: Bill Anderson: Songs, Reviews, Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  51. "Ladies Choice chart history". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  52. Anderson, Bill (1983). "Southern Fried (Liner Notes)". Southern Tracks Records.
  53. "Bill Anderson – A Place in the Country (UK version)". discogs. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  54. Bill Anderson biography Archived February 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine at his official website
  55. "Opry Member List PDF" (PDF). April 23, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 7, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  56. Bill Anderson at GACTV.com
  57. "BMI Celebrates Country Music at Awards Ceremony". bmi.com. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
  58. "Songwriters Hall Of Fame Announces 2018 Inductees – Songwriters Hall of Fame". www.songhall.org.
  59. Rosen, Jody (June 25, 2019). "Here Are Hundreds More Artists Whose Tapes Were Destroyed in the UMG Fire". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  60. Anderson, Bill (1989). Whisperin' Bill: An Autobiography. Longstreet Press. p. 305.

Books
  • Anderson, Bill; Cooper, Peter (2016). Whisperin' Bill Anderson: An Unprecedented Life in Country Music. Athens, Georgia: University of Georgia Press. ISBN 9780820349657.
  • Trott, Walt (2012). The Encyclopedia of Country Music. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-517608-7.
  • Wolff, Kurt (2000). Country Music: The Rough Guide. London: Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-534-8.

Further reading
  • Georgia Magazine, September 2006, Vol. 85, No. 4, p. 55.
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