Bill Mack (born 1932) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and radio host.
For many years, Mack was best known as the host of The Country Roads Show, (later U.S. 1 Trucking Show, and later still, Midnight Cowboy Trucking Show) the overnight country music show on WBAP, a clear channel station in Fort Worth. Mack's show catered primarily to truck drivers who traveled during the late-night hours. Its opening theme music was an instrumental rendition of Orange Blossom Special, performed by Felix Slatkin and his orchestra.
Because of WBAP's clear channel signal range via skywave at night, Mack's show was heard over most of the continental United States. Mack began his show in 1969. He briefly took his show to Mexican "border blaster" station XERF, but returned to WBAP when an agreement for Mack to do his show from his Fort Worth home fell through.
In addition, Mack hosts the syndicated radio show Country Crossroads, heard on more than 800 stations across the country, and a similar cable television show on FamilyNet. He also hosts the Overdrive Top Ten Countdown, a weekly one-hour country music countdown geared toward truckers, in syndication.
Mack was born in Minneapolis. He attended University of Minnesota and majored in Journalism with a minor in art history while continuing to do commissioned work as a free-lance artist.
Relief Sculptures
Mack's early background as a commissioned sculptor also included creating several full-round artworks. This ability has continued in his gallery work, and in the creation of several life-size or larger cast bronze sculptures for the Minnesota Twins' Target Field,Hazeltine National Golf Club, and corporate executive commissions.
Mack 's reliefs and full-round sculptures are in many major sports hall of Fame in America, including the NBA Hall Of Fame - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Baseball Hall of Fame - Harmon Killebrew, Figure Skating Hall of Fame - Peggy Fleming, Tennis Hall of Fame - Arthur Ashe, Cowboy Hall of Fame - Casey Tibbs, The Canadian and U.S. Hockey Halls of Fame - The Hobey Baker Award.
"Blue" is a song written and recorded in 1956 but released in 1958 by Bill Mack, an American songwriter-country artist and country radio disc jockey. It has since been covered by several artists, in particular by country singerLeAnn Rimes, whose 1996 version became a hit. The song won Mack the 1996 Grammy Award for Best Country Song, a 1996 Academy of Country Music Award for Song of the Year, a 1997 Country Music Association Awards nomination for Song of the Year, a 1997 Country Radio Music Awards nomination for Song of the Year, and is included on the CMT list of the top 100 country songs of all time.
Composition
"Blue" is a heartache ballad about a lonely man who is wondering why his lover can't be blue or lonely over him. However, he later realizes that words his lover had whispered were only lies:
History
Contrary to popular opinion, Mack has often denied that Patsy Cline was his inspiration for writing the song, stating "I didn't write it for Patsy. I never wrote one for anybody." In his autobiography Bill Mack's Memories from the Trenches of Broadcasting, Mack again debunks the publicity claim that he had written the song specifically for Cline, when in fact he did not have Cline in mind when he wrote it. According to his self-penned article for Truckers Connection, Mack reveals that his "most noteworthy inspirations have been a billboard and attempting to create note changes on a new guitar" in which he also states,
Bill Mack (The Midnight Cowboy) And Harold Taft At WBAP - Early 1970s
KERA Collection.
This content is copyrighted and may be used for research and educational purposes only.
published: 22 Dec 2021
Bill Mack On Writing "Blue" and Patsy Cline
GRAMMY Winning country songwriter, Bill Mack, talks about the legendary Patsy Cline, and shares the story behind writing the hit song "Blue", which won a GRAMMY Award for Best Country Song in 1996. Excerpt from a GRAMMY Foundation Living History interview.
For more information on the Living History program, visit http://www.grammyfoundation.org.
published: 18 Mar 2016
Bill Mack sings "Drinking Champagne"
Second Generation- Brought to you by Country's Family Reunion
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published: 19 Dec 2023
Bill Mack - Blue (Starday 360) [original 1958 version]
Here's an original version of a song that was a huge hit for LeAnn Rimes in 1996.
published: 27 Nov 2014
Country Radio Legend Bill Mack reflects on Fort Worth's music history
He says Fort Worth's deep roots and solid reputation in country circles helped draw the Academy of Country Music's 50th Anniversary Awards Show to Arlington this week.
published: 13 Apr 2015
The Once Great Billy Mack (Bill Nighy) | Love Actually (2003) | Big Screen Laughs
He was a big star but has since become a washed up has-been. Check out this compilation as the once great Billy Mack, played by the hilarious Bill Nighy, makes his way back into stardom!
Love Actually (2003). Nine intertwined stories examine the complexities of the one emotion that connects us all: love. Among the characters explored are David (Hugh Grant), the handsome newly elected British prime minister who falls for a young junior staffer (Martine McCutcheon), Sarah (Laura Linney), a graphic designer whose devotion to her mentally ill brother complicates her love life, and Harry (Alan Rickman), a married man tempted by his attractive new secretary.
Watch the full movie here: https://www.uphe.com/movies/love-actually
Welcome to Big Screen Laughs, the destination for the funniest mov...
published: 28 Dec 2022
Bill Mack & Wanda Conklin - Somewhere Between
Merle Haggard wrote and had a hit with this song with his then wife Bonnie Owens in the late 60's Bill Mack then DJ at WBAP Ft. Worth-Dallas release this on Hickory records with Wanda Crocklin in 1970 it never hit the chart but was very famous due to Bill all night show
published: 19 Jan 2011
Bill Mack-Cat Just Got Into Town
Rockabilly 1956
published: 16 Jun 2009
Texas country radio legend Bill Mack dies of COVID-19
Texas country radio legend Bill Mack dies of COVID-19
published: 01 Aug 2020
Bill Mack interview
Renowned artist and Hollywood fanatic Bill Mack talks about bringing Hollywood history to the world for the very first time.
GRAMMY Winning country songwriter, Bill Mack, talks about the legendary Patsy Cline, and shares the story behind writing the hit song "Blue", which won a GRAMMY...
GRAMMY Winning country songwriter, Bill Mack, talks about the legendary Patsy Cline, and shares the story behind writing the hit song "Blue", which won a GRAMMY Award for Best Country Song in 1996. Excerpt from a GRAMMY Foundation Living History interview.
For more information on the Living History program, visit http://www.grammyfoundation.org.
GRAMMY Winning country songwriter, Bill Mack, talks about the legendary Patsy Cline, and shares the story behind writing the hit song "Blue", which won a GRAMMY Award for Best Country Song in 1996. Excerpt from a GRAMMY Foundation Living History interview.
For more information on the Living History program, visit http://www.grammyfoundation.org.
Second Generation- Brought to you by Country's Family Reunion
STREAM MUSIC HERE! https://lnk.to/SecondGenVol1
To read exclusive stories from our blog about a...
Second Generation- Brought to you by Country's Family Reunion
STREAM MUSIC HERE! https://lnk.to/SecondGenVol1
To read exclusive stories from our blog about artists like this one:
https://www.countryreunion.com/read/
To HEAR more songs like these on other streaming platforms:
https://www.countryreunion.com/listen/
For more great Country Family Reunion videos, songs and stories head on over to http://www.countryreunion.com
Don't forget to like and subscribe!
#countrysfamilyreunion #countrymusic
Second Generation- Brought to you by Country's Family Reunion
STREAM MUSIC HERE! https://lnk.to/SecondGenVol1
To read exclusive stories from our blog about artists like this one:
https://www.countryreunion.com/read/
To HEAR more songs like these on other streaming platforms:
https://www.countryreunion.com/listen/
For more great Country Family Reunion videos, songs and stories head on over to http://www.countryreunion.com
Don't forget to like and subscribe!
#countrysfamilyreunion #countrymusic
He says Fort Worth's deep roots and solid reputation in country circles helped draw the Academy of Country Music's 50th Anniversary Awards Show to Arlington thi...
He says Fort Worth's deep roots and solid reputation in country circles helped draw the Academy of Country Music's 50th Anniversary Awards Show to Arlington this week.
He says Fort Worth's deep roots and solid reputation in country circles helped draw the Academy of Country Music's 50th Anniversary Awards Show to Arlington this week.
He was a big star but has since become a washed up has-been. Check out this compilation as the once great Billy Mack, played by the hilarious Bill Nighy, makes ...
He was a big star but has since become a washed up has-been. Check out this compilation as the once great Billy Mack, played by the hilarious Bill Nighy, makes his way back into stardom!
Love Actually (2003). Nine intertwined stories examine the complexities of the one emotion that connects us all: love. Among the characters explored are David (Hugh Grant), the handsome newly elected British prime minister who falls for a young junior staffer (Martine McCutcheon), Sarah (Laura Linney), a graphic designer whose devotion to her mentally ill brother complicates her love life, and Harry (Alan Rickman), a married man tempted by his attractive new secretary.
Watch the full movie here: https://www.uphe.com/movies/love-actually
Welcome to Big Screen Laughs, the destination for the funniest movie moments ever put to screen. From the classics, to the slapsticks, the romcoms and more, we have the best clips to bring you big laughs from the big screen.
Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0_g6ajXaboi9oVJwem7WXw?sub_confirmation=1
#LoveActually #billnighy #HughGrant #RomanticComedy #romcoms
He was a big star but has since become a washed up has-been. Check out this compilation as the once great Billy Mack, played by the hilarious Bill Nighy, makes his way back into stardom!
Love Actually (2003). Nine intertwined stories examine the complexities of the one emotion that connects us all: love. Among the characters explored are David (Hugh Grant), the handsome newly elected British prime minister who falls for a young junior staffer (Martine McCutcheon), Sarah (Laura Linney), a graphic designer whose devotion to her mentally ill brother complicates her love life, and Harry (Alan Rickman), a married man tempted by his attractive new secretary.
Watch the full movie here: https://www.uphe.com/movies/love-actually
Welcome to Big Screen Laughs, the destination for the funniest movie moments ever put to screen. From the classics, to the slapsticks, the romcoms and more, we have the best clips to bring you big laughs from the big screen.
Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0_g6ajXaboi9oVJwem7WXw?sub_confirmation=1
#LoveActually #billnighy #HughGrant #RomanticComedy #romcoms
Merle Haggard wrote and had a hit with this song with his then wife Bonnie Owens in the late 60's Bill Mack then DJ at WBAP Ft. Worth-Dallas release this on Hic...
Merle Haggard wrote and had a hit with this song with his then wife Bonnie Owens in the late 60's Bill Mack then DJ at WBAP Ft. Worth-Dallas release this on Hickory records with Wanda Crocklin in 1970 it never hit the chart but was very famous due to Bill all night show
Merle Haggard wrote and had a hit with this song with his then wife Bonnie Owens in the late 60's Bill Mack then DJ at WBAP Ft. Worth-Dallas release this on Hickory records with Wanda Crocklin in 1970 it never hit the chart but was very famous due to Bill all night show
GRAMMY Winning country songwriter, Bill Mack, talks about the legendary Patsy Cline, and shares the story behind writing the hit song "Blue", which won a GRAMMY Award for Best Country Song in 1996. Excerpt from a GRAMMY Foundation Living History interview.
For more information on the Living History program, visit http://www.grammyfoundation.org.
Second Generation- Brought to you by Country's Family Reunion
STREAM MUSIC HERE! https://lnk.to/SecondGenVol1
To read exclusive stories from our blog about artists like this one:
https://www.countryreunion.com/read/
To HEAR more songs like these on other streaming platforms:
https://www.countryreunion.com/listen/
For more great Country Family Reunion videos, songs and stories head on over to http://www.countryreunion.com
Don't forget to like and subscribe!
#countrysfamilyreunion #countrymusic
He says Fort Worth's deep roots and solid reputation in country circles helped draw the Academy of Country Music's 50th Anniversary Awards Show to Arlington this week.
He was a big star but has since become a washed up has-been. Check out this compilation as the once great Billy Mack, played by the hilarious Bill Nighy, makes his way back into stardom!
Love Actually (2003). Nine intertwined stories examine the complexities of the one emotion that connects us all: love. Among the characters explored are David (Hugh Grant), the handsome newly elected British prime minister who falls for a young junior staffer (Martine McCutcheon), Sarah (Laura Linney), a graphic designer whose devotion to her mentally ill brother complicates her love life, and Harry (Alan Rickman), a married man tempted by his attractive new secretary.
Watch the full movie here: https://www.uphe.com/movies/love-actually
Welcome to Big Screen Laughs, the destination for the funniest movie moments ever put to screen. From the classics, to the slapsticks, the romcoms and more, we have the best clips to bring you big laughs from the big screen.
Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0_g6ajXaboi9oVJwem7WXw?sub_confirmation=1
#LoveActually #billnighy #HughGrant #RomanticComedy #romcoms
Merle Haggard wrote and had a hit with this song with his then wife Bonnie Owens in the late 60's Bill Mack then DJ at WBAP Ft. Worth-Dallas release this on Hickory records with Wanda Crocklin in 1970 it never hit the chart but was very famous due to Bill all night show
Bill Mack (born 1932) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and radio host.
For many years, Mack was best known as the host of The Country Roads Show, (later U.S. 1 Trucking Show, and later still, Midnight Cowboy Trucking Show) the overnight country music show on WBAP, a clear channel station in Fort Worth. Mack's show catered primarily to truck drivers who traveled during the late-night hours. Its opening theme music was an instrumental rendition of Orange Blossom Special, performed by Felix Slatkin and his orchestra.
Because of WBAP's clear channel signal range via skywave at night, Mack's show was heard over most of the continental United States. Mack began his show in 1969. He briefly took his show to Mexican "border blaster" station XERF, but returned to WBAP when an agreement for Mack to do his show from his Fort Worth home fell through.
In addition, Mack hosts the syndicated radio show Country Crossroads, heard on more than 800 stations across the country, and a similar cable television show on FamilyNet. He also hosts the Overdrive Top Ten Countdown, a weekly one-hour country music countdown geared toward truckers, in syndication.