b. 13 December 1954, Apopka, Florida, USA. As an adolescent, Anderson was playing the songs of UK beat groups in his school band, but he then became enthused with country music. He joined his sister, Donna, in Nashville in 1972 and they played together in clubs and bars. In 1974, he began recording for the Ace Of Hearts label but none of his singles (‘Swoop Down Sweet Jesus’, ‘Losing Again’, ‘A Heartbreak Ago’) made any impression. He signed with Warner Brothers Records in 1977 and his first single was ‘I’ve Got A Feelin’ (Somebody’s Been Stealin’)’. Although Anderson had several country hits (‘My Pledge Of Love’, ‘Low Dog Blues’, ‘Your Lying Blue Eyes’ and a perfect country theme, ‘She Just Started Liking Cheatin’ Songs’), he was not allowed to make an album until he was established. Some regard Anderson as continuing the tradition of Lefty Frizzell and George Jones, and he was delighted when his song, ‘The Girl At The End Of The Bar’, was covered by Jones. His revival of a poignant ballad, ‘I Just Came Home To Count The Memories’, originally a US country hit for Cal Smith, was given an identical arrangement to Elvis Costello’s cover version of ‘A Good Year For The Roses’. As well as honky tonk ballads, he recorded the cheerful Billy Joe Shaver song, ‘I’m Just An Old Chunk Of Coal (But I’m Gonna Be A Diamond Someday)’, and his own up-tempo ‘Chicken Truck’.
In 1982, Anderson had his first US country number 1 with a song recommended to him by his sister, ‘Wild And Blue’. Anderson and his frequent co-writer, Lionel Delmore, the son of Alton Delmore, wrote ‘Swingin’’, which sold 1.4 million and became the biggest-selling country single in Warners’ history. Anderson, who plays lead guitar in his road band, named his instrument after the character in ‘Swingin’’, Charlotte.
Despite being one of country music’s first video stars, Anderson fell out with both his record label and his management. Following further big hits for Warners in the mid-80s with ‘Goin’ Down Hill’, ‘Black Sheep’ (a number 1 single) and ‘She Sure Got Away With My Heart’, he fared relatively poorly after moving to MCA, although there was a spirited duet with Waylon Jennings, ‘Somewhere Between Ragged And Right’. Mark Knopfler wrote and played guitar on a 1991 release, ‘When It Comes To You’. That song appeared on Seminole Wind, a triumphant comeback album that restored Anderson to the top rank of his profession, spawning a succession of hit singles (including the number 1 hit, ‘Straight Tequila Night’). Its title track, a lament for the loss of traditional Indian lands, was reminiscent of Robbie Robertson’s best work with the Band in its portrayal of history and American landscape.
Since that time Anderson has become somewhat unfashionable as he has not embraced contemporary rock. From time to time, he enjoys country hits, including the 1993 number 1 ‘Money In The Bank’, and continues to enjoy major label recognition as demonstrated by a new contract with Columbia Records at the turn of the century. Anderson’s association with the Nashville-based songwriting circle MuzikMafia, led by John Rich of Big And Rich, resulted in his return to Warners for 2007’s excellent Easy Money.
