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Bill Anderson papers
Descriptive Summary | |
| Title: Bill Anderson papers | |
| Creator: Anderson, Bill, 1937- | |
| Inclusive Dates: circa 1940s-2011 | |
| Language(s): English | |
| Extent: 20.25 Linear Feet (14 boxes, 4 oversize folders, 2 artifacts) | |
| Collection Number: ms3941 | |
| Repository: Hargrett Library | |
Collection Description
Historical Note
Country music song writer and singer Bill Anderson was born in Columbia, South Carolina on November 1, 1937. His family moved to Georgia, where they lived in Griffin and Decatur. Anderson majored in journalism at the University of Georgia. From Athens, he became a disc jockey in nearby Commerce. Here, he began writing and recording songs. One of these - "City Lights" - became a hit in 1955 and changed his career. After graduating in 1959, Anderson headed to Nashville, where he began composing a series of hit songs. His greatest hit - "Still"- came in 1963. He went on to compose more than 500 songs and record some 40 albums. Known as "Whisperin' Bill" (also the title of his autobiography), Anderson has been voted Songwriter Of The Year six times, Male Vocalist Of The Year, and half of the Duet Of The Year with both Jan Howard and Mary Lou Turner. In 1975 he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 1985, Anderson was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, becoming only the 7th living performer to be so honored. In 1993, he was also inducted into the Georgia Broadcasters' Hall of Fame. The following year South Carolina inducted him into their Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. Anderson received the ultimate honor in 2001, when he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Bill Anderson - GeorgiaInfo http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/people/article/all/bill-anderson (Retrieved September 9, 2015)
Scope and Content
The collection consists of many photographs from Bill Anderson's tours and performances, as well as newspaper clippings, professional papers, performance clothes, related ephemera, and several decades of his fan club newsletters. Also included is a Fender King guitar and strap. Many of the photograph albums were donated on behalf of Kathryn House, Georgia Representative of the Bill Anderson Fan Club.
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Bill Anderson papers, ms3941, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.
Related Materials and Subjects
Subject Terms
Related Collections in this Repository
Related audiovisual materials from this collection are housed in the Walter J. Brown Media Archive: http://purl.libs.uga.edu/brown/har-ms3941/bmac-coll