Ask Bill November 3, 2020

1) I have been a huge fan of yours for most of my 52 years. In all those years I have never recalled your coming to British Columbia, Canada. Don’t you like us? 

Of course I like you, and I happen to think British Columbia is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. I even vacationed there once years ago. I have performed there several times, although not since 2003. Back in the sixties, I played several shows at the Queen Elizabeth Theater in Vancouver. I have also performed in Prince George, in Kamloops, in Victoria, and the last time with Kitty Wells in Vernon, B.C. I hope I get the chance to return to your wonderful province someday.

2. I was listening to satellite radio’s All Elvis channel recently, and I was wondering if you ever considered doing an All Bill Anderson program. You have written and recorded enough songs yourself along with so many other artists. Having you tell some of the stories would really be interesting.

Thank you. Sirius/XM has devoted several channels over the years to particular artists including Garth Brooks, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Buffet, Billy Joel, and others. It might be fun to have a Bill Anderson channel, but nobody has approached me about it. Maybe somebody at headquarters will read this column and come up with the idea to try it.

3. I have a large record collection and have been going through and logging them. I wondered, “Does Bill have a record album collection? And is it large or just a few of your favorite artists?”

I had an extensive record collection at one time, but when I bought my radio station out in Utah years ago, I shipped most of my albums out there. The station’s record library was sorely lacking and they needed music to play. When I sold the station, I didn’t ask to get them back. These days I try to round up copies of all the albums that have songs of mine on them (mostly CD’s now), but I’m no longer a collector like I used to be.

Quickies: You and the band used to tape your TV show in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Do you remember what years that ran?  The show itself ran from 1965 to 1974, but we only taped in Windsor in 1966 and 1967. I have a friend who co-wrote a big hit for Eddy Arnold some 50-years ago. When the song is played now do they still receive payments? Provided the copyright has not been allowed to expire, yes they do. Have you ever considered bringing back the game show you hosted called Fandango? I’d love to see it back or at least released on DVD. I don’t think the Fandango master tapes exist anymore. When TNN sold to CBS years ago, everything was transferred to New York and  I’m told it was all destroyed in a fire. Sad but true. It tugs at my heart the way you talk about your kids and grandkids. Have you ever written a song about your feelings for them? No, but thank you. They are a very special part of my life, but I’m probably too close to them to write songs about them. Besides, I wouldn’t want to embarrass them.

Thanks for another month of great questions. If you’re curious about something connected to me or to the music business, let me know and I’ll try to satisfy your curiosity. Our address is askbill@billanderson.com or P. O. Box 888, Hermitage, TN. 37076. See you back with more next month.