Whispering Bill

Many live by the philosophy, “If you want someone’s attention, whisper,” and Bill Anderson has held our attention for decades.

For more than 40 years he’s drawn listeners and audiences in with his unique voice. His singing style has been described as “breathing a song,” using his “breathy voice and his warm, soft approach to singing a country song.”

Anderson, 72, must be doing something right, as he has sold millions of albums, has had 80 singles on the country music charts, and is one of the most awarded country music songwriters. He also adds appearances on the soap opera One Life to Live, television game show host, nationwide restaurant chain spokesman, and expert onstage performer to his long list of accomplishments.

Born in Columbia, S.C., Anderson’s passion for music began at an early age. Anderson’s true love for music started during his childhood in Georgia at age 12, when he formed his own band.

Anderson then continued on to the University of Georgia to study journalism. While in college, Ray Price covered Anderson’s “City Lights.” The song remained No. 1 for 13 weeks during 1958, and earned Price a gold record. After Price’s success, Decca Records offered Anderson a contract where he recorded “The Tip of My Fingers,” Anderson’s own Top 10 hit. After his overnight success, he joined the Grand Ole Opry three years later.

His career really started to pick up after joining the Opry in 1961. Songs “Po’ Folks” and “Mama Sang a Song,” which stayed at No. 1 for seven weeks, added to Anderson’s success.

Five years later, Anderson’s nickname was created. Comedian Don Bowman was teasing Anderson about his singing during “Golden Guitar.”

“Ralph Emery picked it up from Don, and began to refer to me as ‘Whispering Bill’ on his radio shows,” Anderson says. “Virtually every disc jockey in America listened to Ralph back in those days, and it spread from there. At first I was sensitive to it because I thought they were making fun of me. Later, I realized it was probably one of the best things to ever happen to me professionally.”

During the 1970s, with his new nickname permanently attached, Anderson created 18 additional Top 10 hits and two other No. 1 singles. The ‘80s for Anderson included life on The Nashville Network, as well as the Grand Ole Opry. At the end of the decade, he published a best-selling autobiography, followed in 1993 by a book of anecdotes.

Anderson’s most recent accomplishment has been his latest album Whisperin’ Bluegrass. The album features 16 songs, eight secular and eight gospel, including a 30-minute DVD and 28-page color booklet.

With many achievements under his belt, music is still number one for Anderson, even though following his beloved Georgia Bulldogs is a close second.

“I feel like I’ve come full-circle,” he smiles, “because songwriting is what got me to Nashville in the first place.”