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Jan. 15: All hail one of country music’s all-time great songwriters, still active more than a half-century after he took up the craft professionally. In my humble opinion, notable Bill Anderson songs – “Once A Day,” “Must You Throw Dirt In My Face,” “City Lights,” “Saginaw, Michigan,” “The Lord Knows I’m Drinking,” and so many more – far outnumber notable Bill Anderson records. But this is a good one, a Top 10 single from 1961 that was on his first album, released Jan. 15, 1962.

The album contained three of the eventual mainstays of Anderson’s recording career: “Po’ Folks,” “Tip Of My Fingers” and his first chart-topper, “Mama Sang a Song.” I’d heard all of those and his other big hits growing up. But I wasn’t familiar with this one till I moved to Nashville and began listening to that walking country music encyclopedia, Eddie Stubbs, on his WSM radio shows. It was a happy introduction.

If you don’t know the story of Bill Anderson’s Hall of Fame career, or highlights of his songwriting catalog, it’s time for an introduction of your own.

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