Bill Lister

"Big Bill" Lister (January 5, 1923 – December 1, 2009) was an American honky tonk country music singer. Born Weldon E. Lister, he was nicknamed "Radio's Tallest Singing Cowboy," standing over 6-foot-7 without his cowboy boots and hat.^[1][2]

For several years in the 1950s, he traveled with Hank Williams, Sr., as the opening act for Williams and his "Drifting Cowboys." As a regular performer on the Grand Ole Opry, Lister worked with most of the stars of the day, including Little Jimmy Dickens, String Bean, Minnie Pearl, Del Wood, The Carter Family, and others. He was also a recording artist for both Everstate and Capitol Records. He is probably best known for his ties to Williams' song "There's a Tear in My Beer." Lister recorded the song in the 1950s, after Williams gave him a demo recording. Years later, after Lister's wife found the old demo recording in their attic, Lister gave the recording to Williams' son, Hank Williams, Jr. Junior went on to record an overdubbed version of the song in 1988, in which (late) father and son sang together, some 40 years apart.^[3] That recording won a Grammy Award and a Country Music Association (CMA) Award in 1989.^[1] After leaving professional music in the early '60s, Lister became one of the best firearms engravers of his generation. Other Lister recordings included "RC Cola and a Moon Pie,"^[4] recorded for Capitol Records in 1951.^[2]

Discography

Year	Album	Label
1999	There's a Tear in My Beer	Bear Family
2004	Remembering Hank Williams	Heart of Texas

References

1. ^ ^{a b} [1], Bill Lister, ‘Tallest Singing Cowboy,’ New York Times, December 5, 2009
2. ^ ^{a b} [2], Big Bill Lister Website
3. ^ [3], Hank Sr. & Jr., "Tear in my Beer" (video 1989)
4. ^ [4], Big Bill Lister sings "RC Cola and a Moon Pie."

External links

• Official Website of Big Bill Lister
• Weldon Lister, Fine Hand Engraving of Fine Firearms, Knives and other Collectibles

Persondata
Name	Lister, Big Bill
Alternative names
Short description	American country and western singer
Date of birth	January 5, 1923
Place of birth	Kenedy, Texas
Date of death	December 1, 2009
Place of death	San Antonio, Texas