Carleen Anderson

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Preview of Carleen's Live Concert/Documentary DVD, "Grace & Favours".



Career Documentation:

Born in the Spring of 1957 in Houston, Texas USA, I was reared up on the sounds rooted in Gospel music inherited from the Pentecostal church where the pastor, David Anderson Sr., my paternal Grandfather, along with my Grandmother Alberta, raised me from an infant. Since 1973, my biological Father, Dr. Reuben P. Anderson Sr., still presides as the pastor of his own church in Compton, California. Soul music training came from James Brown (Godfather), Bobby Byrd (Step-father) and Vicki Anderson (aka Myra Barnes: biological Mother).



In 1976, my first Rock 'n Roll / Country & Western music studio session was with Johnny Winter (Edgar Winter’s brother) in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1978, I married the drummer of my own band. My son was born in 1979. As a divorced single mother, I received classical and jazz music scholarships in 1981 through to 1985 from Los Angeles Community College and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Sporadically, from 1974 to 1992, I performed as the opening act and understudy for Vicki Anderson, Marva Whitney and Lynn Collins, touring the southern regions of the USA as well as the UK and continental Europe with the Bobby Byrd and JB All Stars band.



My son and I relocated to the UK in June 1990, where I was hired as the lead vocalist and songwriter for the band The Young Disciples. The Young Disciples released an album, Road to Freedom, in February 1991 which won a Mercury Prize nomination in 1992. The Road to Freedom album included the dance floor hit “Apparently Nothin’”. After signing to Virgin Records’ Circa label in 1992, my first solo album True Spirit, released in 1994, was nominated for a Brit Award in 1995. The follow up album, Blessed Burden, was co-produced with Paul Weller in 1998. From early 1999 to late 2000, I toured with The Brand New Heavies as their lead singer to promote their ‘Best Of’ album entitled “Trunk Funk”. My first independent album, Alberta’s GrandDaughter, was released in 2002, produced by Ben Castle (famed trumpeter Roy Castle’s son), Mark Edwards and Colin Walker. A further independent release was a live performance DVD/CD "Grace and Favours" in 2003. EMI released a Best of Carleen Anderson CD “Up to Now” in 2004. Dome Records released my album Soul Providence in 2005, which was also produced by Mark Edwards, Ben Castle and Colin Walker, with duet performances by Paul Weller and Jocelyn Brown.



In 2006, after a guest appearance with the John Dankworth band and special acknowledgement from Dame Cleo Laine, this inspired my current periodic performances with the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz All Stars Band in London’s West End. Music teaching began at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music in 2002 where I am now the Head of their Vocal Music Department. The association with the Brighton Institute of Modern Music resulted in my performing for and meeting HRH the Queen of England in 2007, the same year in which I was a presenter for the BBC Jazz Music Awards.



I am fortunate that my musical heritage has granted me such diverse experiences: From Johnny Cash to Paul McCartney, Jocelyn Brown to Chrissie Hynde, Guru to Omar, Dr. John to Courtney Pine, The London Community Gospel Choir to the Guy Barker Orchestra, Incognito to Ocean Colour Scene… My musical career continues to be an incredible adventure.



The current album that I am working on is seasoned with a variety of harmonic flavours and melodic spices which has passionately inspired me during my lifetime. Stay tuned for the release date.



Meanwhile, keep ever moving forward, onwards towards the aims of the brighter and most positive journey!



CA.