This will be our final edition of 2009. It has been a year with many good things. We’d like to extend every good wish to you and yours for a very Happy Holiday Season and a Happy, Healthy New Year!!
    
If you don’t think Bill Anderson isn’t a living legend, think again. I attended his tribute at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s quarterly bash to honor top songwriters. It was sensational. Not only did we show up, but so did historic songwriters Hank Cochran, Roger Murrah, Dean Dillon, Curley Putnam, Buddy Cannon and others. The interview was conducted by Michael Gray. Michael did a great job with the interview. Naturally, there were several industry folks in attendance.

Bill told of his first big break while being a disc jockey on Commerce, GA while he was a studying of journalism at University of Georgia in Athens, where he got his degree. While at WJJC, he wrote the standard “City Lights”, a huge hit for Ray Price. While in Georgia, he struck up a friendship with the late Roger Miller. Both guys agreed that if one got to Nashville, he’d try carving out an opportunity for the other. Roger got here first and was to become the opening act for Ray Price. He urged Bill to come here. They co-wrote “When Two Worlds Collide”. This tune has been cut by many artists and it then started a complete string of hit songs that Bill wrote.

If you get the opportunity, go to the Bill Anderson website and check out his credentials. I first met Bill when he signed with Decca many years ago. We began working his records in Pittsburgh. When I transferred with Decca to Cleveland, our staff made Bill Anderson a priority for promotion. I feel the Midwest was first in making Anderson a star. I think he’ll agree. At any rate, he’s won top awards recently for writing George Strait’s “Give It Away” and Brad Paisley’s “Whiskey Lullaby”.  Bill Anderson has been writing hits for the past 50 years. He is indeed the modern day Hank Williams, and a great friend.