Bill Anderson Although his own singing style is soft and understated, "Whisperin' Bill" Anderson's songs are heard around the world. James William Anderson III was born in Columbia, South Carolina, in 1937 but grew up in Georgia. He wrote his first song in the late 1940s and formed his first band in 1952. While studying for his journalism degree at the University of Georgia and working as a disc jockey, he wrote "City Lights." Ray Price recorded the song in 1958 and took it to No. 1 for 13 weeks. This same year, Anderson signed to Decca Records and Tree Publishing. In 1960, the young songwriter had his first Top 10 hit, "The Tips Of My Fingers." The song later became a hit for Roy Clark, Eddy Arnold, Jean Shepard and Steve Wariner. Anderson joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1961. He scored his first No. 1 in 1962 with another of his creations, "Mama Sang A Song." From 1965 to 1974, Anderson starred in his own syndicated TV series. His string of chart-topping tunes include "Once A Day," "I May Never Get To Heaven," "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking" and "Still." He was elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1975 and to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. Birth Name: James William Anderson III Induction Year: 1975 Date of Birth: 11/1/1937 Place of Birth: Columbia, SC "People ask me all the time where I got my musical abilities and my desire to write songs and entertain.  It certainly didn't come from either of my parents so I guess, in truth, it probably goes back to my grandparents on both sides of the family.  When you combine an old-time fiddle player with a circuit-ridin' preacher who used to write for a newspaper, then throw in a guitar-pickin' grandma for good measure, you come up with whatever it is that I am!...It's a thing called empathy, and it's the greatest friend a songwriter can have." 'Mama Sang a Song' is my favorite composition because it is taken from personal experiences. 'Which Bridge to Cross'  is meaningful career-wise, because it signaled my return to songwriting after a long hiatus. 'Tips of My Fingers' is special because it has been a hit five times. 'Still' was a career record for me as an artist...plus having 4 of my songs ('City Lights,' 'Once a Day,' 'Still,' and 'Mama Sang a Song') named among the Top 20 Songs of the past 35 years by Billboard Magazine..." Former Occupations: newspaper carrier grocery store clerk insurance agency employee sports writer radio announcer Education: Grade School--Schneider Elementary (Columbia, SC) (Grades 1-3) Grade School--Fourth Ward School (Griffin, GA) (Grade 3) Grade School--Druid Hills Elementary (Atlanta, GA) (Grades 3-5) Grade School--Hooper-Alexander Elementary (Decatur, GA) (Grades 5-7) High School--Avondale High School (Avondale Estates, GA) (Grades 8-12) College--University of Georgia (from 1955 to 1959) (graduated with an AB degree and a major in journalism) Career Milestones: late 1940s--wrote first song, "Carry Me Home to Texas" 1952--formed a band in high school, the "Avondale Playboys"; got a Saturday afternoon radio show not long after on WBGE (Atlanta) late 1950s--landed a job at WJJC (Commerce, GA); hosted the station's first country music record show; also began to write songs more seriously 1956--first song recorded, "No Love Have I" with TNT (Tanner 'N Texas Music) 1957--wrote first hit, "City Lights" 1958--signed contract with Tree Publishing Company 1958--signed with BMI 1958--cut first record for Decca in August 1959--first songwriting award: BMI citation for "City Lights" (awarded in October) 1959--first appeared on the Grand Ole Opry in November, 1959 as a guest 1959--appeared on NBC Network Opry in April 1960--moved permanently to Nashville in January 1961--joined the Grand Ole Opry as member of cast on July 12 1962--first #1 record "Mama Sang a Song" early 1960s--appeared on "American Bandstand" for the first time and performed "Still" 1965--began syndicated television series in February, "The Bill Anderson Show" (stayed on the air for 9 years) 1977--signed to host ABC-TV game show, "The Better Sex" 1977--first soap opera appearance as himself on ABC-TV's "One Life to Live" 1989--had first book published, "Whisperin' Bill - An Autobiography" in the fall 2001--elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame Awards: 1963--Billboard\Song of the Year\Still 1963--Billboard\Record of the Year\Still 1963--Cash Box\Most Programmed Country Record of the Year on Radio Stations\Still 1963--BMI\Country Citation\Still 1963--BMI\Pop Citation\Still 1978--Billboard\Special Breakthrough Award\I Can't Wait Any Longer\recognizing Anderson's bringing country music and disco together as "The most outstanding creative musical achievement of the year" 1985--Georgia Music Hall of Fame induction 1993--South Carolina Entertainment Hall of Fame induction 1993--Georgia Broadcasters' Hall of Fame induction Catalog Highlights: Tips of My Fingers Artists: Bill Anderson (1960), Roy Clark (1963), Eddy Arnold (1966), Dean Martin, Lawrence Welk, Jean Shepard (1975), Steve Wariner (1992), Cleve Francis (1992) Once a Day Artists: Connie Smith (1964), Jimmy Dean, Bill Anderson City Lights Artists: Bill Anderson (1957), Dave Rich (1958), Ray Price (1958), Mickey Gilley (1974), Mel Tillis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ivory Joe Hunter, Debbie Reynolds, Don Rondo I May Never Get to Heaven Co-writer: Buddy Killen Artists: Don Gibson (1960), Aretha Franklin, Conway Twitty (1979) Saginaw, Michigan Co-writer: Don Wayne Artists: Lefty Frizzell (1964) When Two Worlds Collide Co-writer: Roger Miller Artists: Roger Miller (1961), B.J. Thomas, Mickey Gilley, George Jones & Margie Singleton Mama Sang a Song Artists: Bill Anderson (1962), Stan Kenton (1962), Walter Brennan (1962) Still Artists: Bill Anderson (1963), The Sunrays, Ray Price Which Bridge to Cross (Which Bridge to Burn) Co-writer: Vince Gill Artists: Vince Gill (1994) The Lord Knows I'm Drinking Artists: Cal Smith (1974) Think I'll Go Somewhere & Cry Myself to Sleep Artists: Charlie Louvin (1965), Al Martino (1965), Billy "Crash" Craddock I've Enjoyed as Much of This as I Can Stand Artists: Porter Wagoner (1963) I Missed Me Artists: Jim Reeves (1960) Country D.J. Artists: Bill Anderson (1975) Happy Birthday to Me Artists: Hank Locklin (1961) I Love You Drops Artists: Bill Anderson (1966) Po' Folks Artists: Bill Anderson (1961) Walk Out Backwards (So I'll Think You're Coming In) Artists: Bill Anderson (1961) Comments: Claims that out of all his awards he is proudest of his induction into the NSF Hall of Fame Received 54 BMI Songwriting awards from 1959-1994