Bill Anderson (singer)

James William Anderson III (born November 1, 1937), known professionally as Bill Anderson, is an American country music singer, songwriter, and television host.

His soft-spoken singing voice was given the nickname "Whispering Bill" by music critics and writers.

As a songwriter, his compositions have been covered by various music artists since the late 1950s, including Ray Price and George Strait.

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.

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 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 polished countrypolitan genre of country music, with songs such as "I Can't Wait Any Longer".

In 1971, Cal Smith had a number one single with Anderson's "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking".

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. Anderson began writing songs again in the early 1990s for the next generation of country performers.

Collaborating with other writers, he wrote material that went on to become hits for Vince Gill, George Strait, Kenny Chesney, 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 a decade, entitled Fine Wine. He continued releasing music through his own TWI record label.

This included projects of gospel and bluegrass material.

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.

In school, Anderson was active in 4-H organizations and played both baseball and football.

However, he was most interested in music, having been inspired by his grandparents who played instruments.

His interest grew further after watching country musicians perform on a radio station, located directly above his father's insurance company.

Anderson soon saved enough money to purchase his own guitar.

At age ten, he wrote his first song called "Carry Me Home Texas".

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".

Anderson's strong interest in baseball continued through high school as well.

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.

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.

The family moved to his grandparents' home in 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.

In Decatur, his father opened his own insurance agency firm, which he continued to own until his retirement.