This illustrated biography tells the story of one of the most decorated songwriters in history, Country Music Hall of Fame member Bill Anderson, who broke into the music business with “City Lights,” which he penned at the age of nineteen, in 1957. When singer Ray Price released the song in 1958 on Columbia Records, it became a #1 country hit, and it launched Anderson’s long and storied career as a songwriter and recording artist.

Anderson’s songs have been recorded by performers as varied as Connie Smith, James Brown, Dean Martin, Willie Nelson, Charley Pride, the Louvin Brothers, Elvis Costello, Conway Twitty, Jerry Lee Lewis, Kenny Chesney, and countless others. His multifaceted career has included stints as a disc jockey, sportswriter, and television star. At the same time, he has demonstrated a remarkable ability to bridge eras in his music and collaborate with writers across the country music spectrum, cementing his reputation as a songwriter and recording artist of uncommon impact and distinction.

This book was published as a companion to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s exhibition Bill Anderson: As Far as I Can See, and it contains a foreword from fellow Grand Ole Opry star Jeannie Seely, along with seventy-five personal photographs and significant images rarely seen.

Letter from the CEO

Acknowledgements

Foreword: A Man For All Seasons, by Jeannie Seely

Bill Anderson: As Far As I Can See, by Peter Cooper

• The Power of Song
• Teenage Dreams
• The Glow of City Lights
• Behind the Song with Bill Anderson: "City Lights"
• From a Whisper to a Dream
• Bright Lights and Country Music
• Behind the Song with Bill Anderson: "Walk Out Backwards"
• The Right Combination
• Behind the Song with Bill Anderson: "Tips of My Fingers"
• Behind the Song with Bill Anderson: "Still"
• Lend a Helping Hand
• I've Enjoyed as Much of This as I Can Stand
• Behind the Song with Bill Anderson: "Saginaw, Michigan"
• A Turning Point
• A Bridge to Cross
• Behind the Song with Bill Anderson: "Cincinnati, Ohio"
• Behind the Song with Bill Anderson: "Once a Day"
• Behind the Song with Bill Anderson: "Three A.M."
• The Thrill of Creation
• Award-Winning Songs in the 2000s
• Behind the Song with Bill Anderson: "Whiskey Lullaby"
• Behind the Song with Bill Anderson: "A Lot of Things Different"
• Behind the Song with Bill Anderson: "Give It Away"
• It's All in the Game
• Bill Anderson: Still

Circle Guard

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum collects, preserves, and interprets the evolving history and traditions of country music. Through exhibits, publications, and educational programs, the Museum teaches its diverse audiences about the enduring beauty and cultural importance of country music.