"Saginaw, Michigan" started with an idea by Don Wayne (Choate), the Nashville native who wrote a big hit for Ireland's Val Doonican, originally recorded by Faron Young, "Walk Wall". Don also composed "Country Bumpkin" which topped the country charts for Cal Smith.

Bill Anderson has appeared in our hometown of Belleville a number of times. One occasion was his "Songs I Wrote for Others (?)" Tour. He told the story of composer Don Wayne coming to him with an unfinished tune. That was "Saginaw, Michigan". In the song it's inferred that the city is on "Saginaw Bay" which is really miles north.

The same year it was written, 1964 Lefty Frizzell's version hit Billboard's Top 100 and number one on the Country chart. This was the final time Lefty hit that position. Roy Orbison's name in the Traveling Wilburys is "Lefty" after Mr. Frizzell.