One of the most successful songwriters in country music history, Bill Anderson was also a hugely popular singer in his own right, earning the nickname Whispering Bill for his gentle, airy vocal style and occasional spoken narrations. Anderson was born in Columbia, SC, in 1937 and grew up mostly in Atlanta. He studied journalism at the University of Georgia, with an eye toward sports writing, and worked his way through school as a radio DJ, during which time he first tried his hand at songwriting and singing. His composition City Lights, written when he was just 19 years old, was recorded by Ray Price in 1958 and went all the way to the top of the country charts. Anderson took full advantage of his big break, moving to Nashville and landing a record contract of his own with Decca. His first chart hit came with 1959s Thats What Its Like to Be Lonesome, and he had his first Top Ten entry with 1960s Tip of My Fingers. Early hits like Po Folks (1961), Mama Sang a Song (his first number one, from 1962), and 8 X 10 (number two, 1963) still remain among his best-known. Anderson recorded his biggest hit and signature song, the partly spoken ballad Still, in 1963, and it not only topped the country charts, but crossed over to the pop Top Ten as well.