Ask Bill – November 1, 2024

1) How did you come up with the book title, “I Hope You’re Living As High On The Hog As The Pig You Turned Out To Be”?  I was looking for a title that said “country” and at the same time said “humor”, and a couple of songwriting friends of mine, Billy Edd Wheeler and Steve Clark, had written a song by that name. It had never been recorded, but the title struck me as just what I was looking for. I reached out to them and asked if I might borrow the title for my book, and they gave me permission. I gave them credit in the book. After twelve printings and over thirty years, I’d say it turned out to be a pretty good fit.

2) I am absolutely loving your new Forevermore EP as every song is pure perfection! I’m curious, though, about the recent duet you recorded with Crystal Gayle. Will it be on another upcoming project? Can’t wait to hear it!  I guess I jumped the gun in announcing we would be recording together, because, unfortunately, it didn’t work out. Crystal had agreed to sing with me on the song, “I Love Us,” but as the recording date approached she became ill and unable to sing. We were on a deadline with the record company to turn our project in, and we had to move forward with the song as a solo. I hated that I missed the chance to sing with this special and talented lady, but who knows? Maybe another opportunity will come along one of these days for us to do something else together. I hope so.

3) My first time seeing you live was in Salem, Ohio, at Ponderosa Park in the early 1970’s. Sadly, the campgrounds and stage is no longer in operation. What was it like performing in that rain or shine venue?  I have many good memories of Sunday afternoons and evenings pickin’ and grinnin’ at Ponderosa Park and several other similar venues back in the day. I must have especially enjoyed Ponderosa Park, though, because I performed there for 15 consecutive years, and they gave me a beautiful engraved plaque to prove it! Along with venues like Sunset Park and Williams Grove in Pennsylvania, Buck Lake Ranch and Mockingbird Hill in Indiana, and many more similar places scattered across the country, Ponderosa was a staple of every country artist’s touring schedule in those days.

Instead of a Question Of The Month this time I want to share with you a letter I received a couple of weeks ago. Guess we can call it our Letter Of The Month. It just illustrates the power of music in the midst of whatever our circumstances might be. It comes from Del in Florida and it really touched me: Your “Forevermore” EP was especially helpful these past few days, Bill. I had downloaded it in early October, but my first listening was as Hurricane Milton passed over Sarasota this week. When the eye hovered, it was deadly quiet save for your songs about serenity, safety, and the love of others. My wife of nearly 50-years and I sheltered in place and listened on the music player’s ear buds. Even as the worst of the storm followed, your voice was better than bourbon or melatonin to sooth! Thank you. No, thank YOU, Del. What a beautiful letter…and it reminds me all over again of the reason why I do what I do.

Quickies: Back in ’94 you and Vicki Bird did a show in Connellsville Pennsylvania, and she pulled me onstage to sing with her. Later she gave me two autographed pictures which were stolen along with her address. I was wondering if you could in any way get me her address again so I could write her? I’m sorry, but I haven’t heard anything of or from Vicki Bird in years. She was from West Virginia and a regular on Hee Haw from 1989-1991. I have no idea how you might contact her. Anybody know? Are you ever going to play your Martin guitar again? I honestly don’t know. I got it back when my display closed at the Hall of Fame, but it would take a very special occasion for me to break it out and play it in public again. But then again, I try to never say never. I enjoyed your old TV shows back in the sixties. Will these shows ever be put on DVD? No, not unless a really good lawyer shows up to negotiate the contracts and he or she promises to work for free! Only a few episodes of those shows exist today, and virtually all of my guest artists have since passed away. That means the administrator of each artist’s estate would have to get involved so that the estates could share in the monies generated from these shows. That, my friend, would be a legal nightmare, and I’m too old and too tired to get caught up in all of that! How come we never got to see Johnny Cash or any of his family on the Family Reunion shows? I guess it’s because they were never on there.

Thanks once more for your questions this month, but I need to tell you we’re running a bit low and need some good new questions for December. Get curious and let me know what’s on your mind. Send your questions to askbill@billanderson.com and I should be able to get to them right away. And don’t forget that our Question Of The Month wins the sender any item of their choice from our online store absolutely free. I’ll look forward to hearing from you!