Al Anderson
Encyclopedia
Al Anderson is an American
-born songwriter
and guitarist
.
Anderson attended Montclair High School where he learned to play the trombone. He later attended the Berklee College of Music
, and took up bass guitar
. He joined The Centurions, which brought him to the attention of Chris Wood
of Traffic
, who invited him to play on the band's next album. The Traffic album involvement never materialized, but led to Anderson becoming employed by Traffic's record label Island Records
, leading to him being asked to play lead guitar on Bob Marley & The Wailers' Natty Dread
sessions. Anderson played lead guitar on "Crazy Baldhead" and on the Live!
album, remaining with the band until 1976, when he joined Word, Sound and Power, backing Peter Tosh
on the albums Legalise It and Equal Rights. He returned to Marley's band and played on the Survival and Uprising albums. After Marley's death, Anderson continued to tour with The Wailers Band, In 2008 he formed his own band The Original Wailers (T.O.W) with Junior Marvin who was also tour and recorded with Marley until his passing.
Al Anderson toured with Bob Marley and the Wailers extensively, including:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
.
Anderson attended Montclair High School where he learned to play the trombone. He later attended the Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
, and took up bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
. He joined The Centurions, which brought him to the attention of Chris Wood
Chris Wood (rock musician)
Christopher Gordon Blandford 'Chris' Wood was a founding member of the English rock band Traffic, along with Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, and Dave Mason....
of Traffic
Traffic (band)
Traffic were an English rock band whose members came from the West Midlands. The group formed in April 1967 by Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason...
, who invited him to play on the band's next album. The Traffic album involvement never materialized, but led to Anderson becoming employed by Traffic's record label Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, leading to him being asked to play lead guitar on Bob Marley & The Wailers' Natty Dread
Natty Dread
Natty Dread is a 1974 reggae album by Bob Marley & The Wailers. An important transition in Marley's discography, Natty Dread was the first album released as Bob Marley & the Wailers and the first recorded without former bandmates Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer...
sessions. Anderson played lead guitar on "Crazy Baldhead" and on the Live!
Live! (Bob Marley and the Wailers album)
Live! is a Bob Marley & The Wailers live album, released on 5 December 1975. Live! was recorded 18 July and 19 July 1975 at the Lyceum Theatre in London. The performance remains one of Marley's most famous...
album, remaining with the band until 1976, when he joined Word, Sound and Power, backing Peter Tosh
Peter Tosh
Peter Tosh, born Winston Hubert McIntosh , was a Jamaican reggae musician who was a core member of the band The Wailers , and who afterward had a successful solo career as well as being a promoter of Rastafari.Peter Tosh was born in Grange Hill, Jamaica, an illegitimate child to a mother too young...
on the albums Legalise It and Equal Rights. He returned to Marley's band and played on the Survival and Uprising albums. After Marley's death, Anderson continued to tour with The Wailers Band, In 2008 he formed his own band The Original Wailers (T.O.W) with Junior Marvin who was also tour and recorded with Marley until his passing.
Al Anderson toured with Bob Marley and the Wailers extensively, including:
- Jun–Jul 1975: Natty Dread Tour (USA, Canada, England)
- May–Aug 1978: Kaya Tour (USA, Canada, England, France, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium)
- Apr–May 1979: Babylon by Bus Tour (Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii)
- Oct–Dec 1979: Survival Tour (USA, Canada, Trinidad/Tobago, Bahamas)
- May–Sep 1980: Uprising Tour (Switzerland, Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, USA)