Bill Anderson's Blog, page 32
September 4, 2018
September 4, 2018
Hi Gang:
It’s good to greet you again, this time through the pages of our September fan club newsletter.
I’ve been looking forward to this month for quite some time now, and I’m excited that it’s finally arrived. I’ve got some very special events marked on my calendar over the next 26-days.
First, of course, will be the release of my new album, “Anderson,” on Sept. 14th. We’ve been teasing you with bits and pieces of the recordings for the past several weeks now, and I appreciate your kind comments based on what you’ve heard so far. On the 14th you’ll be able to hear it all, and I can only hope you’ll like it enough to want to add it to your collection. The downloads will be available through iTunes and other such places, and the hard-copy CD’s will be available for you to order through my website and through our office.
Jamey Johnson and I have had the chance to sing our song from the album, “Everybody Wants To Be 21,” on the Opry and on one of the upcoming Country’s Family Reunion shows, and you’ve been very generous with your praise. We both thank you.
Another song from the album, called “Waffle House Christmas,” has been endorsed by the Waffle House restaurant chain, and they have invited me back to one of my many hometowns, Avondale Estates, Georgia, as their special guest to help recognize the 10th anniversary of the Waffle House Museum located there. The Waffle House chain was founded in Avondale (where I went to high school) in 1955, the year I graduated. I probably ate one of the first waffles they ever served! How cool it will be to return there on Sept. 8th (noon to 3 p.m.) for a big meet ‘n greet….’n eat!
The Waffle House chain is also currently the largest operator of jukeboxes in America, and on top of everything else, they have promised to put our record on all 3,200 of the boxes in their stores! Maybe they’ll even come up with a Whisper Waffle!
A third major event this month will be on Sept. 19th when the Nashville Songwriters’ Association, Int’l. will present me with only their second Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ryman. I am so proud of this honor for several reasons. First, it’s named for one of the greatest songwriters who ever lived, and, second, it’s only been presented once before – in 2013 to Willie Nelson. Talk about my being in great company! From what I’m told, several of my friends and contemporaries in country music will be on hand to honor me and sing some of my songs. My family and many of my friends will be there, and if there are any tickets left, perhaps one or two of you could join us as well. It promises to be quite a night.
Even with all that’s going on, we won’t be suspending any of our regular activities this month. We’ll be appearing on the Opry Sept. 11th, 15th, 25th, and 29th, and traveling to Scottsburg, Indiana, for a concert on the 21st and on to Winchester, Ohio, for another show on the 22nd. Come see us if you’re anywhere nearby.
Thank you for your continuing prayers and positive thoughts for my daughter, Terri, my grandson, Gabe, and my significant other, Vickie, as they struggle with health issues in their lives. There’s no new news to report, but it means so much when one of you comes up at a show or writes me that you’re keeping these special people close to your hearts. We all appreciate it more than you know.
Enjoy this month, the cooler weather, the merging of the baseball and the football seasons (my favorite time!), and we’ll see you back here in October. I’m thankful every day for each of you being in our fan club, and for your continuing to bless me in so many wonderful and special ways.
“Still”
[image error]
August 31, 2018
Bill Anderson to be Part of Waffle House National Waffle Week
What do a food truck tour, blueberry waffles, Country music legend Bill Anderson and a museum milestone all have in common?
They are all parts of this year’s Waffle House National Waffle Week celebration. The week, which runs September 2-8, is also a tribute to the 63rd anniversary of the Waffle House restaurant chain.
“National Waffle Week provides an opportunity for all the waffle fanatics nationwide to come together to profess their love of waffles,” says Shelby White, Waffle House Senior Marketing Manager. “And this year’s celebration will be bigger and better for everyone in the Waffle Nation.
The week will cap off with the 10th anniversary Waffle House Museum celebration. The public can join us from noon to 3 pm on September 8, 2018, in Avondale Estates, Ga., at the site of the first Waffle House restaurant. Country music hall of famer “Whisperin’ Bill” Anderson, an Avondale Estates native, will be the guest of honor.
“Since opening its doors in 2008, the Waffle House museum has seen many thousands of the waffle faithful make the pilgrimage to Avondale Estates” adds White. “And we are excited that ‘Whisperin’ Bill’ will be joining us this year.”
You may have noticed that Bill has a song called, “Waffle House Christmas,” on his soon-to-be-released new album!
August 23, 2018
EXCLUSIVE: BILL ANDERSON UNVEILS “OLD THINGS NEW” TRACK BY TRACK VIDEO – CountryFanCast
Exclusive: Bill Anderson Unveils “Old Things New” Track by Track Video
Legendary country music artist Bill Anderson’s 72nd album is set to drop in September! Watch the star talk about the lead track, “Old Things New,” here! Country music icon Whisperin’ Bill Anderson is preparing for the release of his 72nd album, Anderson, available on September 14th.
August 17, 2018
August 15, 2018
The Boot Premiers “Everybody Wants to be 21” with Jamey Johnson from Bill’s Upcoming Album Titled ANDERSON
Here’s a sneak peek from Bill Anderson’s album, Anderson, available for pre-order this Friday. Thanks to The Boot for premiering a first listen of “Everybody Wants to be 21,” the new duet with Jamey Johnson.
Bill Anderson, Jamey Johnson Reflect on Aging in ‘Everybody Wants to Be Twenty-One’ [Exclusive Video]
When “Whisperin’ Bill” Anderson and Jamey Johnson co-wrote their newest collaboration “Everybody Wants to Be Twenty-One” together, they weren’t intending to record it as a duet. In fact, they weren’t intending to record the song at all. “We just intended maybe to pitch it to Willie Nelson,” Anderson says, “or maybe George Strait, or somebody like that.”
August 2, 2018
Latest Photos
My ten-year old granddaughter, Hallie, pleaded with me to take her to the Country Music Hall of Fame to see the Loretta Lynn exhibit before it closes later this month. While we were there, we just “happened” to pass by my plaque in the Hall of Fame Rotunda. It was my month for youngsters as I welcomed 11-year old WalMart yodeling sensation, Mason Ramsey, to the Opry stage. And I thought I’d share this last picture just to prove that John Anderson is not the only Anderson who goes “Swingin’!”
[image error]
[image error]
[image error]
August 2, 2018
Hi Gang:
It’s hard to believe it’s already time for our August newsletter. Seems like I just finished writing my July letter yesterday!
A lot of exciting things are on the horizon for this month, most of them centering around the release of my new album. The first single from my “Anderson” package will be “Everybody Wants To Be 21,” a song I wrote and recorded with Jamey Johnson. It will be available August 10th, then on August 17th you can pre-order the entire album from iTunes or here on our website. The album release date is September 14th. A complete list of the song titles follows.
“ANDERSON”
(Available for pre-order August 17th. Release date September 14th)
Titles:
Old Things New
Everybody Wants To Be 21 w/Jamey Johnson
Dixie Everywhere I Go
Dead To You
Something To Believe In
Watchin’ It Rain
That’s What Made Me Love You
Practice Leaving Town
The Only Bible
Waffle House Christmas
Thankful
With all the social media sites these days and the totally new world of music promotion and merchandising, I feel like an old dog trying to learn new tricks. I’ve decided to simply surround myself with young people who understand this new digital universe, though, and let them do their thing. They’ve had me jumping through all kinds of hoops I’ve never tried before, but I guess if it results in more records being sold then it’s all been worth it.
In other news, thanks for your great support of our “Too Country! – What’s That?” merchandise offer during July. Our sales exceeded all our expectations, and because of your response we’ll be back with other offers shortly. Stay tuned.
We’ll be going back in the TV studio the 28th and 29th of this month to tape a new series of Country’s Family Reunion shows, these being titled “Country’s Unbroken Circle.” Those of us who have been regulars on the show for the past twenty-plus years will again be bringing some of the exciting young, new talent to the show in an effort to continue reaching out to the next generation of country fans. I’m told these new shows will air on RFD-TV in the fall and be available for purchase in plenty of time for Christmas.
In my “spare time” I’ll be trying to write some new songs this month with some of my favorite co-writers, including Jon Randall, Bobby Tomberlin, and Lance Miller. The band and I will also be traveling up to Minnesota and back to Pennsylvania for a series of concerts in Sandstone, Albert Lea, and Lancaster. I hope to see many of your smiling faces when we come calling. Our Opry dates will be August 3rd, 4th, 7th, 10th, and 31st.
On the personal front, I continue to appreciate your thoughts and prayers for my daughter, Terri, my grandson, Gabe, and my best friend, Vickie, as they each struggle with their various health issues. Larry Black can use our prayers right now, too, and I hope you’ll remember him.
Enjoy the remainder of your summer and be listening for the new musical whispers coming your way. I sure hope we’ve done some things that you’ll like. Thanks for continuing to be so good to me, and we’ll see you back here again in September. My best to you all.
[image error]
Ask Bill – August 2
1) How are the guests picked to perform on the Grand Ole Opry?
That’s a great question, and I reached out to our talent coordinator, Gina Keltner, for the answer: “Thie Grand Ole Opry is a one-of-a-kind production where all genres of country music are represented. An ideal show will include a mix of the most revered country legends, biggest contemporary chart toppers, and rising stars as well as other genres such as bluegrass and comedy. The Opry administrative office tracks and juggles artists’ availability to put together what are hopefully the most well-balanced and entertaining shows.” And now you know.
2) On an old Opry segment I heard recently you introduced a group called “The Four Guys.” Are they still around?
No, unfortunately the group disbanded back around 2000. They became Opry members in 1967, and performed countless times on our shows. At various times the group consisted of Richard Garrett, Sam Wellington, Brent Burkett, Gary Buck, Laddie Cain, John Frost, and possibly others. I used to marvel at the way they would perform an early Opry spot, sneak out and do a complete show at their popular nightclub, The Harmony House, then return to the Opry for the late show. No matter who was in the group they were always the consummate professionals. I miss them.
3) My question is about songwriting today. I have had some songs published, but I stopped because no one wants songs that are country. It’s all about trucks, beer, and dirt roads. Ugh! Have you felt that impact and has it made you want to stop writing for the fluff music industry?
I understand your frustration, and, believe me, you are not the only person who has expressed these thoughts to me. In the midst of it all, I have tried to just stay true to myself and write songs the way I have always written them. I’m not trying to write for today’s popularity charts so much as to write things I can be proud to put my name on. If something I create manages to sneak onto the charts then that’s a bonus. But no trends or fads, no matter how far fetched they might be, will ever take away my desire to create. First thing I plan to do at the Golden Gate is ask St. Peter for a pencil so I can jot down my latest idea for a song.
QUICKIES:
Who is going on 2019 Family Reunion Cruise and on what cruise line?
It will be on Royal Caribbean cruise lines, but I don’t have the complete list of artists in front of me. You can get that information by contacting info@gabrielcommunications.com
or by calling 615-673-2846.
Did you write the song “Farther Along?” I love it.
I recorded it, but, no, I didn’t write it. It was written way back before my time.
The number of questions we received slacked off a bit this month, so if you’ve got something you’re wanting to know, jot it down and send it to me. I’ll answer as many of your inquiries as I can. Send them to me at askbill@billanderson.com or to my snail mail address at P. O. Box 888, Hermitage, TN. 37076. See you back here next time.
[image error]
