Bill Anderson's Blog, page 41
March 1, 2017
March 1, 2017
Hi Folks:
Well, did March come in like a lion or like a lamb in your neck of the woods? Legend has it that it will go out opposite of the way it came in, but I don’t know. We had tornado warnings here this morning, the groundhog saw his shadow this year, the temperature in Nashville hit 80-degrees in February, and I’ve been confused ever since!
I told you last month that a new song Brad Paisley and I wrote and recorded together would be coming out March 3rd, but, to quote another song of mine, “the truth is I lied.” Brad told me yesterday the release date for his new album has been moved back to April 21st, so I guess we’ll have to wait a little longer to see whether or not you like what we’ve done. I sure hope you will.
There’s a chance the two of us might perform the song on the Opry between now and then, though, and if that comes about, I promise you’ll be the first to know.
March looks to be an interesting month for me. On the 10th and 11th we’ll be out in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada, two places where winter has been known to come early, stay late, and hold a grudge. Hopefully we won’t get snowed in, though, because the next weekend I’m planning a trip to Florida to take in a little spring training baseball. The co-author of my book, Peter Cooper, is going with me and he’s like a kid in a candy store. It will be his first spring training trip and I’ve assured him there’s nothing like it. Of course, as always, I’ll be rooting for the Braves. (He will, too, although he may not know it yet!)
As soon as we come home with our gorgeous suntans, we’ll head back indoors to record another in our series of Country’s Family Reunion TV shows. This series promises to be one of our “funnest,” with each regular member of our cast bringing an artist to the show who has never appeared with us before. That should make for some great fun, laughter, and music.
Many of our longtime fans will remember Mike “Chickenhawk” Toppins who was the steel guitar and banjo player in my Po’ Folks Band for several years. Unfortunately, Chicken had to have the lower part of his right leg amputated a few weeks ago to help prevent the spread of diabetes. If you’d like to drop him a note to let him know you’re thinking about him, his address is 4chicken1@gmail.com. He not only was a part of our band, but he produced several of my recordings as well.
And I don’t think I’ve told you that we’ve added a full-time sound engineer to our traveling circus. John Nicholson, with whom we’ve all worked many times at his Hilltop Recording Studio, is mixing our sound now and doing a great job. Reach out and welcome him to the family the next time you’re at one of our concerts.
Sorry I had to miss the Opry last night, but I managed to catch a little 24-hour stomach bug. I’m fine now, and our other Opry dates this month are March 3rd, 4th, 24th, 25th, 28th, 31st, and April 1st. If all goes as planned, I’ll be hosting the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree April 8th.
Keep your eye on our Tour page and come see us if and when you can. Meantime, thanks for continuing to be the world’s best fans and friends. See you back here next month.
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Ask Bill – March 1
1) Do you ever write songs that you prefer to keep to yourself because they are too personal to share with other people?
Not very many, but a couple do come to mind. When my first child was born, I wrote a song for her that nobody outside our family has ever heard. And recently, when a special person in my life was diagnosed with cancer, I wrote a song that I hoped might encourage her. It did, and I’ve thought about maybe recording it someday in hopes of encouraging others. Stay tuned.
2) At one of the very first country radio conventions in Nashville I met you at the airport, and you said you owned several radio stations. Are you still involved in ownership?
No I’m not. The two happiest days of my life were the day I bought my first station and the day I sold it.
3) Which season of the year do you enjoy the most?
The fall. I love the first bite of cool air after a long, hot summer…and I love it when the end of baseball season collides with the beginning of football. Bring it on!
4) I’m combining two questions here: Have you ever considered coming to Alaska for a performance? Have you ever performed in the state of Nebraska?
I have performed in every state except Hawaii. I’ve never performed for the general public in Alaska, but I did some shows at Elmendorf Air Force Base back in the seventies and on an Alaskan cruise a couple of years ago. I’ve performed many times in Nebraska, and always enjoyed it there. The same goes for Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and other states you have asked about recently. I still love performing, and I’ll come back to your area as soon as I’m invited!
Thanks for your questions. Send yours to askbill@billanderson.com and stay curious.
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February 27, 2017
Latest Photos
Randy Travis and his wife, Mary, recently stopped by the Opry before returning home to Texas, and I had the honor of introducing them to a standing ovation onstage. Mary says she reads our newsletters every month, and I appreciate that. At the recent Legends Lunch, T. Graham Brown tried to hog his way into a picture with me, Mark Wills, and Tim Rushlow. Look close and you can see the Bellamy Brothers and others in the background. And when Jerry Dowling learned I was going to spring training later this month, he couldn’t resist drawing another of his great cartoons in my honor. Remember his terrific book of country caricatures is available at fstopjd@fuse.net.
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February 13, 2017
February 13, 2017
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My friend, Jerry Dowling in Cincinnati, did this drawing, and I thought you’d get a kick out of it. If you like his work (he did the 94th birthday drawing of Little Jimmy Dickens back in 2015), you might want to check out his book of country music caricatures. It’s called Grand Ole Country and you can look it over at www.jerrydowling.com.
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February 7, 2017
Feb. 7, 2017
Hi Folks:
I’m sorry our newsletter is a bit late this month, but as most of you know I just got back from the 20th Anniversary Country’s Family Reunion cruise. I’m still trying to get my land-legs back, my suitcase unpacked, and my brain back in gear. A week in the Caribbean sun in the middle of winter will do strange things to a guy!
We had a remarkable time…definitely one of the nicest cruises I’ve ever been on. We had a great group of entertainers, musicians, singers, and fans. I was amazed at the number of fans who had cruised with us before and who signed up to cruise with us again next year. These cruises are really named correctly. They feel like an honest-to-goodness “family reunion!”
If you’re interested in going with us next year you can check out the details at www.cfrcruise.com or by calling 800-820-5405. Our 2018 dates will be the same as this year, but for the first time we’ll be sailing out of Galveston, Texas, which should make it more convenient for our friends and fans in the middle of the country.
While we were away, we learned that our concert date in Modesto, California, has been moved from February 17th to October 1st of this year. This will give our agency more time to schedule other west coast dates to go along with it. I hope this won’t inconvenience those of you who had planned to come and, hopefully, will give us a better opportunity to visit other venues out west where we don’t get to perform nearly often enough.
The new song Brad Paisley and I wrote together will be coming out before our March newsletter, and I hope you’ll be watching and listening out for it. It’s called “Dying To See Her Again,” and it’s a story that plays out all too often in our lives it seems. One partner in a long-term relationship passes away and the other virtually grieves themselves to death as well. It’s a sad song, as you might expect, but one filled with hope and love. Brad and I are both proud of it, and we hope you will like it too. Brad’s album will be called “Love And War” and released on March 3rd.
Thank you for your continuing support of my book, “An Unprecedented Life In Country Music,” and the accompanying audio book as well. Peter Cooper tells me that ours was the #1 best selling book at the University of Georgia Press for 2016 which is exciting news. Thanks so much to each of you who purchased a copy. And they are still available!
Let me brag on my family just a little: My grandson, Blake’s, middle school basketball team won the Tennessee state championship, and it’s going to take a long time to wipe the grin off of his face. They ended up with a 26-1 record for the season, and their only loss came in their opening game in overtime. Blake wasn’t on the varsity team at the start of the season, but he impressed the coaches with his hard work and determination and eventually earned a spot on the roster.
Blake’s dad, Jamey, left Monday to begin his training as a pilot for Delta Air Lines. He will be flying the MD88 planes and will be based exactly where he wanted to be based, in Atlanta. His training is expected to last approximately three months, after which he will truly be living his dream.
Hope to visit with lots of you in Shelby, N.C. and Weirsdale, Florida, this coming weekend and on the Grand Ole Opry February 10th, 18th, 21st, 24th, 25th and 28th. Thanks for everything, and we’ll see you right back here again next month.
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Ask Bill -February 7
1) Do you happen to know how Minnie Pearl autographed books? Did she sign them ‘Minnie Pearl’ or use her actual name, Sarah Cannon?
I never knew her to sign any way other than “Minnie Pearl.” In fact, I’ve never known a performer with a stage name, such as Minnie or Conway Twitty, who didn’t use that name virtually all the time. The only people I ever heard refer to Conway as “Harold,” were people he had known since childhood. I don’t think I ever heard anyone call Minnie “Sarah.”
2) I’m grouping two questions together here: I was wondering whatever happened to Carole Lee? I miss seeing her on Country’s Family Reunion. Who are the current background singers on CFR?
Carole Lee tells me she is doing well and enjoying retirement. There is no truth to the rumor that she suffers from a terminal illness. The current background singers are Noralee Allen, Dennis McCall, and Jamie Martin. Jamie is Noralee’s daughter. Her dad, and Noralee’s husband, is Duane Allen of the Oak Ridge Boys.
3) Being from Oklahoma, I was a big Hank Thompson fan. Did you ever meet him or work with him or write anything for him? I loved your book.
Thank you. In reading my book you probably remember my saying that my three biggest musical influences growing up were the three Hank’s: Hank Williams, Hank Snow, and Hank Thompson. I loved Hank Thompson’s songwriting plus the fact that, during the peak years of his career, he always carried a great band. The Brazos Valley Boys were terrific musicians, good showmen, and Hank dressed them impeccably. I introduced myself to Hank during my radio days when I met him at one of our annual D.J. Conventions, never dreaming I would someday tour with him and be able to call him a friend. I never wrote a song for him that he released as a single, but he did record great album versions of “The Corner Of My Life” and “The Lord Knows I’m Drinking,” both of which I wrote.
Thanks for your questions…but we can always use more. Stay curious, and send yours to me at askbill@billanderson.com or at P.O. Box 888, Hermitage, TN. 37076.
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Latest Photos
A few scenes from our Country’s Family Reunion cruise on board Royal Caribbean’s Freedom Of The Seas: In the top picture I’m leading the group in singing the song, “Family Reunion.” I’m singing “Bright Lights & Country Music” in the next shot, and Jeannie Seely and I are signing autographs and posing for pictures with the fans in the last picture. A good time was had by all!
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January 23, 2017
January 23, 2017
Hi Gang:
I haven’t posted anything on our Bill’s Journal page for quite some time, and some of you have begun asking why. It’s simply been a matter of time. By the time I write a fan club newsletter each month, do my Ask Bill column, and try to stay responsive to your personal messages, there’s not a lot of time left over.
I’ll try and remedy that today by sharing with you a few random things that are on my frazzled mind.
Nobody asked me but:
Pete Fisher is leaving the Grand Ole Opry a better place than he found it. Our general manager for the past eighteen years, Pete has decided to accept the CEO position with the Academy of Country Music and relocate himself and his family to California.
Pete took over the Opry at a very difficult time in its history. We were about to move into a new century, music and the way music is distributed was about to change dramatically, and Pete’s charge was to keep the Opry true to its roots while, at the same time, move it into the 21st century.
We laughed together in his office a few days ago when I reminded him of all the times I’d pass him in the hallways backstage and say, “I wouldn’t have your job!” He would always smile and assure me there were days when he wasn’t so sure he wanted it himself.
I didn’t always agree with every decision he made, but Pete always treated me fair. I told him in our meeting that when someone once asked my dad how he wanted to be remembered, my dad replied, “I hope they will say I was fair.” Based on that, I told him I couldn’t pay him a higher compliment than to call him “fair.”
Thanks, Pete. Good luck and Godspeed in your new position.
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Now that the contentious election and protest-filled presidential inauguration are behind us, I can only say Bobby Bare was ahead of his time in 1969 when he co-wrote and recorded the prayerful, “God Bless America Again.” Maybe we all need to take it out and listen to it again.
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I’ve always been a hometown guy when it comes to rooting for my favorite sports teams. My first choice for the Super Bowl, naturally, would have been the Tennessee Titans, but when they came up a game short of getting into the playoffs, my next choice fell to the Atlanta Falcons. The town where I grew up has only had one championship sports team in all its history, the 1995 Atlanta Braves. To all my friends in New England, I’m sorry, but you’ve had your share. Let us have the Super Bowl this year. Thank you.
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From the mailbag:
A letter signed, “From one of your fans…Bob and Carol.”
Which reminds me of another letter I once received in which a man told me, “My favorite country singer is Merle Haggard and George Jones.”
Funny, but I always thought those were two separate people.
Take care, keep smiling, and stay warm….
January 4, 2017
January 4, 2017
Hi Folks:
And welcome to our first fan club newsletter of 2017.
I trust that each of you had a wonderfully Merry Christmas and that you’re ready to rock ‘n roll (in a country kind of way, of course) your way into a brand new year.
Thanks SO much for all the beautiful Christmas cards and greetings that you sent my way again this year. I read every single one of them (as I always do) and appreciated hearing from old friends and new friends alike.
I had a great Christmas with my family. On Christmas Eve night, I went to church with my son Jamey and his family, then over to their house for food, gifts, and entertainment. An extremely talented magician named Kevin King came over and, knowing my grandson Gabe’s interest in magic, proceeded to entertain us with comedy and magic for over an hour. I nearly broke my wrist trying to write down his jokes! Not to steal them, of course, but maybe to “borrow” one or two!
Christmas Day I went to my daughter, Jenni’s, house for more food, gifts, and fun. All her kids were there, plus my daughter, Terri, and her husband Grant. The preacher had said the night before that a survey shows “family” is the #1 thing people associate with Christmas, and getting to be with mine is always my greatest joy of the season.
So what’s on the horizon for 2017? It will be hard to match the excitement of 2016 with the release of my new book and audio book, but I’ll bet we find some fun things to do. I’ll start by going on the Country’s Family Reunion cruise in late January, having a new song released with Brad Paisley in early March, then recording a new Family Reunion TV show March 22nd. Mixed in will be some tour dates that will take us from Florida to California and out into western Canada. I’ll look forward to seeing lots of you along the way.
And speaking of Canada, a movie production company from there has contacted us about using an old song of mine called “Bad Seed” in an upcoming theatrical release. Some of you may remember Jan Howard’s hit of that song in 1968. Not sure just how the song will fit into a movie, but I’ll keep you posted.
Our Opry dates in January will be limited to the first weekend of the month as I will be having a small medical procedure performed on January 11th and will need some recuperation time afterward. We return from the Ryman to the Grand Ole Opry House in February.
I hope you enjoyed the Happy New Year cartoon that Jerry Dowling drew for us to kick off 2017. His work always amazes me, and he continues to come up with new things to share. Thanks, Jerry.
Stay warm these next few weeks, and a very happy and blessed New Year’s wish to you all. Or as comedian Jackie Mason once said, “May this next year be even better than last year should have been.”
Ask Bill – January 4
1) Do you have a favorite Christmas song? Mine is “Oh Holy Night.”
That’s sure a pretty one. I’m reminded all over again every Christmas just how many great Christmas songs have been written and sung over the years. I guess my all-time favorite is probably “Silent Night,” especially sung at church on Christmas Eve with everybody in the congregation lifting up a lighted candle. Of the non-sacred Christmas songs, I get teary-eyed every time I hear Amy Grant’s “Tender Tennessee Christmas.” I’ve never had to spend Christmas away from home, but I can only imagine how hard it would be to be away and for that song to come on the radio. I’ve been lucky enough to spend over fifty tender Tennessee Christmasses, and there’s nothing like them.
2) I love Mo Pitney’s record, “Country,” and I would like to know if Jan Howard was the inspiration behind the last verse. The first time I heard it I thought of her.
And I thought of her when we were writing it, but, no, she was not the inspiration behind it. You are referring to the patriotic verse toward the end of the song, I’m sure, where the mother is touching her son’s name on the tombstone. He was a “soldier who never came home.” Jan has certainly walked in those shoes, but the song was written for ALL the mothers who have unfortunately had to live those lines. And all of us who love our “country.”
3) Didn’t Debbie Reynolds once record a song you wrote? Did you ever meet her? I was shocked by her sudden passing.
As unlikely as it sounds, Debbie Reynolds recorded a pop version of “City Lights” in the late fifties, and it actually made the pop charts. I was a big fan of hers, but never had the opportunity to meet her. A few years ago, a mutual friend sent me an 8×10 picture of her with the inscription, “To Bill – Thank you so much for ‘City Lights’ – Debbie Reynolds.” It’s been hanging on my office wall ever since I received it. I was as shocked as you by her sudden death.
We could use a new supply of questions for the New Year, so send us any that you might have. Our address is askbill@billanderson.com. We’ll get to them as quickly as we can. Thanks and stay curious.
