1) Numerous original music artists like George Jones, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and others have been impersonated by various individuals. To my knowledge, I have never heard anyone impersonating the one and only Whisperin’ Bill Anderson. Is is because there is no one except you who has that unique singing voice?
Back in the day, you used to have to stand in line if you wanted to impersonate Bill Anderson. Loretta Lynn did it. Ferlin Husky did it, as did others like Billy “Crash” Craddock and Del Reeves. People used to think it bothered me, but I considered it a compliment. As Ferlin told me one time, “If you weren’t different, there wouldn’t be anything to imitate.” I haven’t heard of any of today’s young artists impersonating me, but maybe one will come along someday. I hope so. That way I can be in two places at once!
2) With the sad news that the E.T. Record Shop is closing do you plan on updating “Gone Away?” Also the passing of Bobbie Nelson and Naomi Judd.
Sadly, I could update the song, “Gone Away,” almost every day. So many things are changing and so many of our music business friends are passing away….including Steve Ripley who wrote the melody and the original lyrics to “Gone Away.” We all know nothing stays the same forever, but it would be nice if some of the changes would at least slow down for awhile. Meantime, I don’t have any plans to try and update the song.
3) Did you ever write a song for the late and great Webb Pierce? He was the first country singer I heard when I was 12-years old, and I’ve been hooked on traditional country music ever since.
Webb was an over-the-top performer and a great song stylist, and I would love to tell you that I wrote one or more of his big hits, but unfortunately, I didn’t. I think he may have covered a couple of my songs….maybe “Once A Day” or “I Don’t Love You Anymore”….in one or more of his albums, but we never had a single together. I wish we had, but Mel Tillis was always in line ahead of me!
4) Our Question Of The Month comes from John in California: When you sang the song, “Bright Lights and Country Music” later in life, I noticed you changed up the part about a bottle filled with wine. Was this because of your faith? And what caused you to later sing it as it was originally written?
We singers often wonder if listeners pay attention to the lyrics of our songs when we are singing them, but this question proves that at least some of you do. And I’m glad. I have a good answer as to why I changed the lyrics to begin with, but probably a not-so-good answer as to why I went back to the original version. My wife was nearly killed and was permanently impaired by a drunk driver who crashed head-on into her car late one night back in 1984. I swore at that time that I would never sing another song that glorified drinking, and for years I didn’t. Some time ago, after more than thirty years had passed, a fan wrote me and said they really missed their favorite line in that song – “Honkytonks were made for men with women on their mind” – and asked me if I would go back to singing it that way. I did it on the Opry not long afterward and, truthfully, you are the first person to mention it. I figured if nobody cared enough to bring it up, I’d just leave well enough alone. Do any of our readers have thoughts on the subject??
Quickies: Were you ever in the movies? Yes. And the popcorn was delicious. Oh, you mean was I ever IN a movie? Back in the 60’s I was in four or five Grade B country music films that were shown in the better drive-in theaters from coast-to-coast, but I was never featured as an actor or anything like that. Mostly I think the producers just wanted to show my fancy rhinestone Nudie suits in color on a big screen. Do you know if any artist ever buys their albums back from fans? I’ve never heard of anyone doing that, but I’m not like Hank Snow. I haven’t been everywhere. Do you have a boot endorsement and would you wear square toe boots? How many pair do you keep at home? Yes, I endorse boots made by the Easterling Boot Company in Fredericksburg, Texas. We experimented with a couple of square-toe models a few years ago, and they are pretty comfortable. I just looked in my closet and there were 16 pairs (or is it “pair?”) staring back at me. Keep in mind, though, that several of my favorite ones are on display right now at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Who arranges the order of songs in your concert shows? I do. Will you be having any concert dates during 2022? Right now there are none on my schedule.
Thanks for your questions…I love trying to answer them. If you’re curious about something connected to me or to country music, send your question to askbill@billanderson.com and I’ll do my best to reply. And remember, the person who submits the Question of the Month wins any item of their choice from our online store absolutely free. See you back here in June.