Bill Anderson's Blog, page 15
February 8, 2023
Ask Bill – February 8, 2023
1) I am having a disagreement with a friend about one of your old records. It’s called “Country Music Died Today.” She claims I am thinking of “Murder On Music Row.” So did you have such a song and did it chart? Who is right? And is it available on compact disc?
I did record a song called “Country Music Died Today” in the one album I did for Swanee Records back in the mid-eighties. I didn’t write it, and I don’t think the label ever released it as a single, therefore it didn’t make the charts. It has never been released on CD, but I recently purchased the masters to these old recordings so anything is possible. Stay tuned.
2) I have always wondered how a country artist gets paid? Do they get a percentage of the venues and also a percentage of the records they sell? Do most artists divide the money equally with the band? I’ve always wondered how the band gets paid when the artist gets all the attention from the public.
This is one of those topics where there is no one-size-fits-all answer. But I will try to generalize and answer as best as I can. Artists have several sources from which they can make money, record royalties and personal appearances being the primary two. A royalty rate is established when an artist signs a recording contract, and it is usually based on a percentage of record sales or streaming money received by the label. Personal appearance fees can be negotiated on a percentage of ticket sales or on a guaranteed amount for the artist agreed upon ahead of time. Most artists do not divide their appearance money with the band but rather pay their band members a salary or on a per-show basis. There are probably as many variations to these answers as there are artists, but these are the simplified basic rules today. Somebody will probably re-write them tomorrow.
3) You produced some great albums on Lewis Grizzard. Please enlighten us on how you came to know Lewis and your friendship with him.
Lewis, who was a great southern humorist (some called him this generation’s Mark Twain), was a small-town Georgia boy who loved country music, journalism, humor, and the Georgia Bulldogs above everything else in the world. Does that sound like someone else you know? We had known of each other for a long time, but we connected over all that we had in common when he once came to speak at a PoFolks restaurant convention. I sat next to him at the head table and somewhere in the course of conversation I asked him if he had ever considered recording his speeches for a record album. Next thing I knew I was following him all over the country capturing all the funny things he said and editing them into a series of albums and CDs. I think we did eight in all prior to his untimely death in 1994 at the age of 47. Those were some of the best times I ever had, and hardly a day goes by but what I don’t quote something crazy that he said. He was truly one of a kind.
Our Question Of The Month comes from Marsha in Pennsylvania: What would you say is the biggest highlight of your career, and would your answer be different now from what it might have been thirty years ago?
Yes, my answer would be quite different. Thirty years ago I had not written two Songs Of The Year, been named to the national Songwriters Hall of Fame, been chosen BMI’s first country songwriting ICON, celebrated 60-plus years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, nor been voted membership into the Country Music Hall of Fame. THE highlight? My whole career has been a “highlight” to me because I never expected any of these things to happen. I guess the cherry on top of the sundae, though, would be my election to the Country Music Hall of Fame. That’s the top rung on the ladder that I’ve been trying to climb ever since I was a teenager, and to have reached it is a feeling like no other.
Quickies: During the credits for Coal Miner’s Daughter I noticed the name Bill Anderson Jr. Is he your son or any kin? I must have been asked this question a thousand times over the years and my answer is still the same: No. How tall was Peter Cooper? I thought you were 6’2″ or so, and he is a lot taller than you. I don’t know Peter’s exact height, but he was a couple of inches taller than me. In some pictures, he appears to be even taller than that, but it was the camera angle that made it look that way. And on the subject of pictures: Did you know that in pictures featuring both you and Dolly you look a lot younger? And a lot better too! Dolly makes everyone and everything around her look better!! I am inquiring about your favorite car. I go to many car shows and sometimes see a celebrity with a classic. What was your favorite car? I’ve never been a big “car guy”, certainly not in the league with someone like Jay Leno. My favorite car I’ve ever owned was a late sixties Cadillac El Dorado…turquoise body, white leather top, and an all-white leather interior. It was hard to keep clean, but it sure was fun to drive. One of my favorite songs of yours is “Next Time You’re In Tulsa.” I feel that song should have gone high on the charts, but I don’t know if it ever charted at all. Did anyone else ever record it? Thank you. That song was in my “I Love You Drops” album, but was never released as a single. I can’t recall anyone else ever having recorded it. I love your monthly newsletter. It’s like getting a letter from a friend. That’s awfully nice of you to say. Sometimes I wonder if anybody cares about what I write, but I keep doing it because I enjoy staying connected to country music as well as to my friends and fans. I put a lot of time into it each month, but receiving a letter like yours makes it all worthwhile. Thank you.
I appreciate all your questions this month, and I hope I’ve satisfied your curiosity with my answers. We’ll do it again in March, so if you have a question send it to me. If yours is selected as our Question Of The Month, you’ll receive any item of your choice from our online store absolutely free. Write to me anytime in care of askbill@billanderson.com, and I’ll see you next time.
February 8, 2023
Hi Gang:
Well, I had hoped to start off our February newsletter by telling you that I was safely home from California with my first-ever shiny new Grammy Award tucked up under my arm. But, alas, a funny thing happened on my way up to the podium.
They gave “my” Grammy in the American Roots category, where I had been nominated for my performance on “Someday It’ll All Make Sense” featuring Dolly Parton, to Aaron Neville. Aaron is a great artist, very deserving, and I offer him my congratulations. Sure, I’m disappointed, but I’m not heartbroken by a long shot. It was a thrill to have been nominated.
Had I won the Grammy I had planned to thank a whole bunch of people who contributed so much to the effort. Since I didn’t get to do that onstage, I’ll do it here: Dolly, you made the record come alive with your great voice and styling, and I can’t thank you enough for laying it all on the line for me. Cheryl Riddle, thank you for making sure Dolly heard the song in the first place. Thomm Jutz, thank you for producing a great record. Bobby Tomberlin and Ryan Larkins, thanks for allowing me to co-write this amazing song idea with you. Rusty Gaston, from Sony Music Publishing, thank you for believing enough to take the record to Cindy Mabe at UMG Records…and, Cindy, thanks to you and your incredible team for working so hard to get us the Grammy nomination. It was a team effort from the get-go, and I couldn’t be prouder or more grateful to you all.
And to each of you, my fans and my friends, thanks for your love and support. I’m just sorry I couldn’t have rewarded you with the prize you were helping me seek.
My trip to the west coast was not a wash-out by any means. My son, Jamey, found an empty seat on a Delta airplane and flew out to join me for the festivities. Between his hectic schedule and mine over the years, we haven’t had the chance to do many things like this together, and it was a hoot sharing such a special time with him. Now I’ve just got to go to work and try to create something good enough to get another nomination next year!
In other news, I’m anxious to go back to the Opry House this month for my first shows there since the new backdrop and new sound system have been installed. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the upgrades, and I’m anxious to see and hear them for myself. We have two scheduled appearances this month, on Valentine’s Day Tuesday the 14th and the following Saturday February 18th. Come see us if you can…tune us in if you can’t.
I feel I should mention that our exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame is heading into its home stretch with a closing date of Sunday March 19th. Many of you have said you still hope to come see it before it closes, so I’m just reminding you. It was open the entire year of 2022, and I’m happy to tell you that more people attended the museum this past year than any year in history. I’m proud to have perhaps been a small part of that.
I won’t be performing anywhere in March due to a minor elective surgical procedure I have scheduled for February 27th. If all goes as planned I will only be in the hospital overnight, and will be recouping at home for a few weeks after that. So I’m stacking up on books to read and movies to watch. As always, your positive thoughts and prayers on my behalf will be most appreciated.
Enjoy as best as you can these final few weeks of winter, keeping in mind that Spring will be here before we know it. Thanks for all of your continued kindnesses to me, and I hope to see you back here as early in March as possible. My best to you all.
January 23, 2023
January 23, 2023
January 3, 2023
Ask Bill – January 3, 2023
1) You sang your song, “Peel Me A ‘Nanner” on the Opry recently, and included a verse that Roy Drusky did not sing on his recording of the song. Did you write it later? And have you made significant changes to any songs you wrote after they were recorded…other than adding a child to “Wild Weekend” after J-Bird was born?
So far as I recall, I wrote that third verse at the same time I wrote the other two verses, but for some reason Roy…or his producer…chose to not include it when they cut the song. Back in those days (mid-60’s), an artist would get more airplay the shorter a record was. Roy’s cut came in under two minutes, and the DJ’s played the fire out of it. I don’t recall any significant changes I might have made to any other songs, but there may well have been some I’ve forgotten about.
2) I have a bunch of your albums and CD’s, and I was wondering how many #1 hits you have had. And which song was your last #1 hit?
Oh boy, you are opening quite a can of worms here. Back in the day when I was having hit records, there were three national country charts published every week. One was in Billboard magazine, one in CashBox magazine, and one in a publication called Record World. These charts would generally reflect the same overall musical trends, but they were seldom identical. A record might be #1 in CashBox and only #5 in Billboard. Or vice versa. No one chart was considered “official.”
Over the years, Billboard kept track of their charts the best, and eventually became the source the industry trusted…partly because the other magazines went out of business and their charts and methodology were lost. If you go by Billboard, I have had 7 #1 records, but if you also include CashBox and Record World, I’ve have had between 15 and 20. In Billboard, I have also had 9 records that reached #2, most of which went #1 somewhere else.
According to Billboard, my last #1 hit was “Sometimes” with Mary Lou Turner in 1975. According to other publications my last #1 was in 1978 with “I Can’t Wait Any Longer.” Now is it clear as mud?
3) What is your biggest regret in your career?
When you’ve had a career as blessed as mine, it’s hard to look back and regret anything. Any regrets I might have would be so few and so insignificant compared to my blessings that they are hardly worth mentioning. So I don’t think I will.
Our Question Of The Month comes from Lori in Alabama: My husband and I love you and your music, but he lost his hearing 10-years ago. We watch Country’s Family Reunion and Larry’s Country Diner, and he likes to watch music videos. But none of your music videos are captioned. Could you maybe caption your videos so that he can enjoy them?
Nobody has ever brought that up to me before, and I appreciate it. My last two videos, “It’s A Good Day (To Have A Good Day)” and “Someday It’ll All Make Sense” with Dolly Parton, were both released in a lyric video format with the words to the songs printed on the screen. You might try checking those out on my website or on YouTube. And I’ll certainly stay aware of your request for any future videos I might put out. Thanks for the suggestion.
Quickies: Are you related to any Anderson’s in California or Washington? Not that I know of. A few of my Anderson kinfolks got as far west as east Texas, but that’s about it. Did you write “Peanuts & Diamonds?” It is right up there with “Golden Guitar” as my favorite of all the songs I’ve heard you sing. Well you picked two songs that I did not write! But I’m glad you like them. Bobby Braddock wrote “Peanuts & Diamonds.” Do you prefer to write by yourself or with others? I enjoy both and feel blessed to be able to do both. Do you have a favorite co-writer? If I did, I wouldn’t mention it here because I’d make all the other co-writers mad! And from England: Did you ever meet Ken Dodd? Yes, I did, and for our American friends, Ken is the British artist who popularized several of my songs in the UK, including “Still,” “8×10”, and “Happiness.” He came to see me once when I was performing ln Liverpool, and it was a great honor to meet him. He was an icon in your country long before he was dubbed Sir Ken Dodd. I treasure the memory of our shaking hands and sharing a few laughs. I am 86-years old and my DVD’s of Country’s Family Reunion are such a blessing. Will there ever be more? I’m glad you enjoy them, but right now I don’t see any new ones on the horizon. I try to never say “never,” but that’s the way it looks here in early 2023.
Thanks for another bunch of great questions. Like always, I have a few left over for next month, but don’t let that keep you from sending yours. You can write to me at askbill@billanderson.com and I’ll try to respond to whatever is on your mind. Remember our Question Of The Month earns the sender a free copy of any merchandise item from our online store. See you back here in February.
Latest Photos
The night of my final Opry appearance of 2022, Rhonda Vincent and I posed in front of the Grand Ole Opry wall backstage to wish our fans and friends a Merry Christmas. And I hope that what each and every one of you enjoyed! The second picture is of Peter Cooper and me together at the Hall of Fame two days after the opening of my “As Far As I Can See” exhibit in 2021. He interviewed me that day on stage in the Ford Theater, and wore his retro Atlanta Braves baseball cap in recognition of our both being longtime fans of the team. In the last picture, Charlie Monk and I were sharing a laugh inside the Sirius/XM radio theater the day he interviewed me regarding the release of my autobiography in 2016. A few days after Charlie passed away, Sirius re-aired that interview, and I remembered all over again what a special friend and talented man he was.
January 3, 2023
Hi Gang:
And Happy New Year!
I wish each of you twelve months of health and happiness here in 2023. After a couple of wacky years dealing with Covid, inflation, and all kinds of other distractions, let’s hope the roads smooth out and we can return to some sense of normalcy in the days ahead. I hope you had a great Christmas, and I appreciate your joining us for our first newsletter of the New Year.
Christmas was anything but normal for those of us in Whisperville. Five members of my family tested positive for Covid during the holidays, and then sub-zero temperatures, snow, and wind chills of minus 20-degrees invaded us. Like many of you, we had to spread our Christmas family time across an entire week, but I learned to be flexible years ago when I was on tour so much of the time. This was just another small pothole, and I’ve hit lots of those over the years.
I spent much of my time reading your letters, notes, and Christmas cards, and I thank you for every one of them. Your messages were very kind and thoughtful.
As we move into a New Year I find myself looking over my shoulder at the year just past, and while lots of good things happened in 2022, there was a large dose of sadness as well. Seems like every time I turned around I was having to say goodbye to somebody special in my life.
Peter Cooper, the co-author of my 2016 autobiography and the prime architect behind my exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame, died unexpectedly December 6th, the result of a fall. He was only 52-years old. He and I bonded from his early days in Nashville as a reporter for the Tennessean newspaper. After all, we were both journalists from South Carolina who loved country music and baseball more than just about anything. We went to the Braves Spring Training together, to Nashville Sounds games on many occasions, and once even snuck away to Green Bay, Wisconsin, to watch his beloved Packers play that other sport at Lambeau Field. Working on the book and the exhibit with him were truly labors of love. He leaves behind a 13-year old son and a lot of hurtin’ hearts…including mine.
And then a few days before Christmas, I got word that Charlie Monk, the self-proclaimed Mayor Of Music Row and a friend of mine for more than fifty years, had passed away as well. Many of you were familiar with Charlie as the morning DJ on Willie’s Roadhouse on Sirius/XM radio. Charlie was one of those guys who made everybody he came in contact with feel better simply by smiling and saying hello. Music Row won’t be the same without our Mayor.
Looking ahead, our February newsletter will probably be a few days late because I hope to include some news and a picture or two from my trip to the Grammy Awards Feb. 5th out in Los Angeles. Whether I win or not, receiving the nomination is a great way to begin the New Year. I haven’t been on a commercial airline flight since Covid broke out in 2020, though, so wish us smooth skies and safe landings.
Right now I don’t plan to go back on tour this year, but I do have some interesting projects in the works. Among other things, I hope to write a bunch of new songs, make a new record or two, and continue to perform as often as possible at the Grand Ole Opry. There’s excitement in my family, too, as my son, Jamey, begins a new phase of his career at Delta Air Lines by moving up to pilot their largest planes, the 757 and 767. My grandson, Blake, is going on a six-week mission trip to Prague, Czechoslovakia, for Crusade For Christ in May, and grandkids, Gabe and Greta, will both be graduating from high school that same month. Gabe’s health continues to hold steady, and we continue to thank you for your positive thoughts and prayers on his behalf.
Well, I’m about out of time and space, so stay warm, stay safe, and as always, thanks for everything….
December 24, 2022
December 24, 2022
Hi Gang: I just wanted to send some warm wishes across the chilly miles and say that I hope each of you has a very Merry Christmas. Remember the reason we celebrate this special day, and enjoy it with the ones you love. Thanks for being the greatest friends and fans a guy could have. See you back here in January. Bill
December 7, 2022
December 7, 2022
So many of the good things that have happened in my career these last few years can be traced back to Peter, including the autobiography we wrote together, “An Unprecedented Life In Country Music,” and my current exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame, which has his fingerprints all over it.I’ll write more about him and our friendship in our next fan club newsletter, but suffice it to say that we had much in common….our love for country music, sports, and good creative writing, not to mention our both having roots in South Carolina. I had spoken with him about 40-minutes before his fall, and we had planned to go to church together on Sunday and out to eat with a group of friends following the service. The last thing I told him before I hung up the phone was that I loved him…which I did.May he rest in peace.
(PS) The following message is from Peter’s Family:We will soon announce details about a celebration of life to take place in early 2023.In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to either the Baker Cooper fund to support Peter’s son’s education, or the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, supporting their cultural organization’s educational mission.Please direct donations to:Baker Cooperc/o Wells Fargo Bank1712 West End AvenueNashville, TN 37203The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum22 Rep. John Lewis Way SouthNashville, TN 37203
December 1, 2022
December 1, 2022
Hi Gang:
Happy December….and a very Merry Christmas to you all!
Santa came a little early to Whisperville this year. He stopped by on November 15th and delivered a Grammy nomination to me for my and Dolly’s bluegrass recording of “Someday It’ll All Make Sense!” If there’s nothing else under my tree this year, I have already received the most exciting and most appreciated gift possible.
The winners won’t be announced until February 5th in Los Angeles, but a Grammy nominee is a Grammy winner in my book. It’s my fifth nomination, but my first as an artist. The others were songwriter nominations, and I have yet to win one. Maybe the fifth time will be the charm! We are nominated in a new musical category called “American Roots”, and we’re the only Nashville-based act among the final five. Wish us luck!
Speaking of Awards shows, I’m sure by now most of you have seen pictures from the CMA Awards where my “date” was my 14-year old granddaughter, Hallie. What a marvelous night we had…she enjoying the artists and the music and me enjoying her. I wouldn’t take a million dollars for the look in her eye from the moment we got into the limousine that afternoon until the moment the driver delivered her back home at almost midnight. It was a priceless experience for us both. Truth be known, though, she probably slept through school the next day!
I had another incredible experience the following week when my daughters, Terri and Jenni, along with Terri’s husband, Grant, and I traveled down to rural Georgia to spend a couple of days tracing some of our Anderson family roots. You can read more about it in an article from a local newspaper, (Stephanie: Insert link here please.) It’s so much fun being able to take time off work these days and spend it with my family. I was on the road so much for so many years that I missed a lot of growing-up moments with my children, but I’m sure treasuring my moments with them…and my grandchildren…now.
I’ve not totally turned into a slacker, though, and I’m looking forward to my three nights working the Opry this month….December 6th, 13th, and 17th. It’s the one time of year we get to sing our Christmas songs, and I always look forward to that. Maybe somebody will even show our “Waffle House Christmas” video another time or two this year. I can’t help but smile every time I see it. What a fun day it was filming with Kid Rock and Tanya Tucker in the same room….not to mention Jeannie Seely, Gretchen Wilson, and yours truly. Somehow, the Waffle House chain managed to survive!
Speaking of my older recordings, the man about whom the song, “Old Army Hat” was written, Ed Haley, turned 99-years old back in October. I know you join me in commemorating this special occasion and wishing Mr. Haley a wonderful year ahead.
I hope each of you had a great Thanksgiving (I did), and that the Christmas season brings you joy and peace and happiness with the ones you love. I’m not planning anything fancy…just relaxing by the fire and being grateful for my many, many blessings.
See you back here in the New Year. Thanks for everything….
Ask Bill – December 1, 2022
1) At almost 65-years old I find myself yearning to write songs. Is one ever too old to get a publisher’s attention?
There’s a saying in the songwriting profession that the two best things about our job is that we never get too old to do it…and we get to wear the coolest uniforms! We can write in our pajamas, bathing suits, or tuxedos, and at any age. I’m still doing it at 85. You’re a spring chicken. Go for it.
2) Does the Grand Ole Opry management schedule your appearances or is there a mutual discussion as to when you will appear?
At the beginning of each month, the Opry will e-mail a notice to all the members letting us know what nights the following month that Opry shows are scheduled. We are then asked to let the Opry know which of those nights we might be available to perform. The schedulers take it from there.
3) I live in Ft. Worth, Texas, and I met most of my favorite country artists at a place called Panther Hall back in the 60s and early 70s, but I never remember you playing there. It’s been torn down now, but have you ever played at Panther Hall?
Yes, I played there many times. It was a fun place to work, with one of the highest stages I ever remember. We’d come in in the late afternoon and do a live TV show with our buddy, Bill Mack, then play a show and dance from eight to midnight. It was on my bus in the parking lot at Panther Hall that I got choked one night on some toothpaste, and Jan Howard had to come to my rescue. And the restaurant next door had the best chicken fried steak I’ve ever eaten. Lots of good memories from Panther Hall.
Our Question Of The Month comes from John, who is also in Texas, and who asked a very timely question: Do you ever exchange Christmas presents with other artists and/or band members?
Yes. Over the years I’ve always given my employees Christmas bonuses, and each of them will usually give me something in return. I don’t want them spending their bonuses on me, though, so it’s usually just a book they think I might like to read, an inexpensive bottle of wine, or perhaps something homemade from their kitchen. Most of the gifts I’ve given and received from other artists over the years have been nothing serious…just silly little tokens of our camaraderie and friendship. But we do celebrate the traditions of giving at Christmas time….just like normal folks!
Quickies: Did you ever have a home recording studio? I know artists like Jim Reeves and Hank Snow did. I once had a small area in my basement where I could record station breaks for disc jockies and commercials for some of my upcoming concert dates, but I never had anything close to a studio where I could make records. Nearly all the younger artists have some type of home studio today. When you write a song do you pick the person to sing it? No, I just try to write the best song I can and let it land wherever it happens to land. What songs in your illustrious career are the most emotional for you to sing and why? “Mama Sang A Song” is the most emotional of all for me because it brings back so many memories of my mother, my childhood, and my home. “Five Little Fingers,” because of my daughter, and “I Wonder If God Likes Country Music,” because of Roy Acuff, have both been known to stop me in my tracks as well. I used to see you at the Taft Theater in Cincinnati back in the good old days. Were you ever on the Ruth Lyons TV show here? I think I may have been on with Ruth one time before she retired, but I visited her successor, Bob Braun, on several occasions. He and I became good friends. What a fun show…and popular show…that was! Did you ever tour or sing with Buck Owens? No I didn’t…other than on Brad Paisley’s recording of “Too Country” where Brad overdubbed vocals from me, Buck, and George Jones. Buck was based in California, and with me working out of Nashville, our paths didn’t cross all that often. I wish they had. I was, and continue to be, a big Buck fan.
I also wish I had space to answer more of your questions, but I’ll save the leftovers for the new year. Meantime, if you have anything you’d like to ask, write to me at askbill@billanderson.com and I’ll try my best to provide an answer. If yours is chosen as our Question Of The Month, you’ll receive any item of your choice free from our online store. See you back here in 2023.
