Jon Anderson

Infobox musical artist
Background = solo_singer
Name = Jon Anderson
Birth_name = John Roy Anderson

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|thumb|240px
Img_capt = Anderson in Vicenza 29 November 2007
Born = birth date and age|1944|10|25|df=y
Origin = Accrington, Lancashire, England
Genre = Progressive rock, Symphonic rock, Pop rock, New Age
Occupation = Vocalist, lyricist, Songwriter, Painter, guitarist, harpist
Years_active = 1968 - present
Label = Atlantic Records Polydor Records Elektra Records Columbia Records Angel Records Windham Hill Records Higher Octave Records Eagle Records Cleopatra Records Voiceprint Records Wounded Bird Records
Associated_acts = Yes
Jon & Vangelis
URL = [http://www.jonanderson.com/ Official website]

Jon Anderson, born John Roy Anderson [cite web | url=http://www.jonanderson.com/life.html | title= Jon Anderson's biography | date=2003|accessdate=2008-03-04] on 25 October 1944 [cite web | url=http://www.jonanderson.com/life.html | title= Jon Anderson's biography | date=2003|accessdate=2008-03-04] , is an English musician, best known as the lead singer of the progressive rock band Yes.cite web
last = Anderson
first = Jon
coauthors =
title = Jon Anderson's biography
url = http://www.jonanderson.com/life.html
accessdate = 2007-12-30 ] He is also an accomplished solo artist, and has collaborated with the Greek musician Vangelis, as part of the duo "Jon & Vangelis".

Early life and childhood

Jon Anderson was born in the town of Accrington, Lancashire, England, in a family of Irish ancestry, his parents being Albert and Kathleen Anderson. He was later to drop the "h" from his first name in 1971, as he had a dream where he was given the name "Jonathan". Thus, on "The Yes Album" he is still credited as "John", and on the next album "Fragile", credited as "Jon".Fact|date=December 2007

He attended St. John's Infants School in Accrington, and made a tentative start to his musical career at an early age by playing the washboard in "Little John's Skiffle Group", which played songs by Lonnie Donegan among others. Anderson left school at the age of fifteen, and went through a series of jobs including working as a farm hand, lorry driver, and a milkman. He also tried to pursue a football career in the club he is still a fan of, Accrington Stanley F.C., but he was eventually turned down because of his frail constitution.

Early career

In 1962, Anderson joined The Warriors (also known as The Electric Warriors), where he and his brother Tony shared the role of lead vocalist. He quit this band in 1967, released two solo singles in 1968 under the pseudonym Hans Christian Anderson, and then briefly sang for the bands The Gun and The Open Mind.

In the summer of 1968, Anderson met bassist Chris Squire and joined him in a group called Mabel Greer's Toyshop, which had previously included guitarist Peter Banks. Anderson fronted this band, but ended up leaving again before the summer was over. He remarks on his website that his time with the band consisted of "too many drugs, not enough fun!".

Yes

Anderson, Squire, and Banks went on to form Yes, with drummer Bill Bruford and keyboardist Tony Kaye. Their debut album was released in 1969. He stayed with the group until 1980, and this period is now known as the classic period of Yes. Jon was a major creative force and band leader throughout the period (describing himself as the 'team captain'; nicknamed by his bandmates "Napoleon")-- and is recognized as the main instigator of the series of epics produced by Yes at the time. His role in creating such complex pieces as "Close to the Edge", "Awaken", and especially "The Gates of Delirium" is central, despite his limited instrumental abilities.Fact|date=December 2007

He rejoined a reformed Yes in 1983 which produced their most commercially successful album "90125" with newcomer Trevor Rabin, and departed again in 1988 over the band's continued pursuit of major commercial success and mainstream radio play. In 1989, Anderson and other former Yes members formed the group Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe (ABWH), augmented by bassist Tony Levin who had played with drummer Bill Bruford in King Crimson. After the successful first ABWH album, a bizarre series of business deals caused ABWH to reunite with the then-current members of Yes, who had been out of the public eye while searching for a new lead singer. The resulting eight-man band assumed the name Yes, and the album "Union" (1991) was assembled from various pieces of an in-progress second ABWH album as well as recordings that "Yes proper" had been working on, without Anderson. A successful tour followed, but the eight-man lineup of Yes never recorded a complete album together before splintering in 1992. Many more personnel changes followed, but Anderson has been with the band ever since. He appears on all Yes albums except their 1980 album "Drama".

.

Anderson last performed with Yes in 2004. A tour planned for summer 2008 with Anderson was cancelled when he suffered acute respiratory failure. The band have since announced a tour without him and he has been replaced by Benoit David [http://www.yesworld.com/ywtour-REVISED.html] , singer in a Yes tribute act Close to the Edge. [http://mog.com/blog_post/content/265/190871]

Vocal and lyrical style

It is a commonly held misconception that Jon Anderson sings falsetto, a vocal technique which artificially produces high, airy notes by using only the ligamentous edges of the vocal cords; however, Jon Anderson does not sing falsetto. His normal singing (and speaking) voice is naturally above the tenor range. In a 2008 interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Jon stated, "I'm an alto tenor and I can sing certain high notes, but I could never sing falsetto, so I go and hit them high." [>cite web | url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08066/862775-42.stm | title= Jon Anderson says Yes to the School of Rock | date=2008 |accessdate=2008-05-22]

Anderson is also responsible for most of the mystically-themed lyrics and concepts which are part of many Yes releases. These elements are crucial components of the classic Yes sound, but have occasionally alienated some members of the band (most notably Bruford and Rick Wakeman), contributing to their leaving the group. The lyrics are frequently inspired by various books Anderson has enjoyed, from Tolstoy's "War and Peace" to Hermann Hesse's "Siddhartha". A footnote in Paramahansa Yogananda's "" inspired an entire double album "Tales from Topographic Oceans" (1973). Recurring themes include environmentalism, pacifism and sun-worship.

Beyond Yes

In 1970, Anderson sang as a session singer on King Crimson's "Lizard" album, on the track "Prince Rupert Awakes", as it was outside the range of the then Crimson vocalist, Gordon Haskell.

In September 1975, Anderson guested on the Vangelis album "Heaven and Hell".

When Anderson and Wakeman left Yes early 1980, Anderson started recording again with Vangelis and by summer 1980 Jon & Vangelis had released "Short Stories", followed in November by Jon's solo album "Song of Seven" and a major UK tour with The New Life Band.

Guested on Rick Wakeman's 1981 concept album "1984".

In 1983, Jon worked as vocalist for Mike Oldfield's release of "In High Places" from the album "Crises", and the song "Shine". He has also guested with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.

The song "Cage Of Freedom" was also featured on the 1984 soundtrack for the re-release of the classic black and white movie "Metropolis".

In 1985, Anderson's song "This Time it Was Really Right" was featured on the soundtrack for the movie "St. Elmo's Fire". He also sang "Silver Train" and "Christie" on the film soundtrack "Scream for Help".

Also in 1985, along with Tangerine Dream he recorded the song "Loved by the Sun" for the film "Legend" directed by Ridley Scott.

The 1986 film "" features a song sung by Jon.

In 1987, Jon Anderson guest vocals on "Moonlight Desires" on Gowan's album "Great Dirty World".

In 1988, Jon Anderson has a vocal appearance on "Stop Loving You" on Toto's album "The Seventh One".

On the 1992 album "Dream" by Kitarō, Jon adds lyrics and vocals to the songs "Lady of Dreams", "Island of Life" and "Agreement".

In 1994 Jon Anderson sang on the 7th Level children's video game "Tuneland".

In 1999 while 4Him was recording the song "The Only Thing I Need" for the special multi-group album "Streams", Jon Anderson offerd his assistance as vocalist for the main chorus.

In 2004, Anderson appeared with the Contemporary Youth Orchestra of Cleveland. The concert was recorded and released for the orchestra members, but was never publicly released, to the dismay of many concert attendees.

In 2006, "Animation" was finally released on CD but was sourced from a worn vinyl record. The mastering was also poorly done and was overly loud and distorted. The second pressing used a better source although the sound quality still leaves a lot to be desired. Voiceprint denies any differences between pressings, obviously to clear themselves of a free replacement program.

In a 2006 tour, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (East Coast Troupe) got Anderson to appear in 2 concerts on December 16 in Philadelphia, PA to play "Roundabout".

In 2007, Anderson toured with The Paul Green School of Rock Music, finishing the tour with two sold out shows at B. B. King's Bar and Grill in New York City.

He also contributed vocals to the new album from American Progressive rock group Glass Hammer "Culture of Ascent".

Currently Jon is on tour for a second time with The Paul Green School of Rock Music

Jon appears on the new Dream Theater album "Systematic Chaos", as part of a vocal ensemble on the fifth track "Repentance". The album was released on June 5th, 2007.

On the 2008 album "Namah" by Peter Machajdik, Jon adds lyric and vocal to the song "Sadness of Flowing".

Jon also contributed lyrics, musical collaboration and vocals in 2008 on the remaster of the former Blue Oyster Cult keyboardist Tommy Zvoncheck's CD, titled "ZKG."

Family

Jon Anderson's children include daughter Deborah Anderson (who has done work singing for the French electronica band Télépopmusik on the album "Angel Milk", released in summer 2005), Jade Anderson (who has released a solo album in Japan) and Damion Anderson (also a musician).

Health and spirituality

Anderson was a smoker in the 1960s and 70s but now prides himself on a much healthier lifestyle. In the mid 70s, Anderson became a vegetarian, as did most members of Yes; however in a recent interview he states, "I was a veggie for a while, but again I grew out of that. But I do eat very healthy." cite web
last = James
first = Gary
coauthors =
title = Interview with Jon Anderson of Yes
url = http://www.classicbands.com/JonAndersonInterview.html
accessdate = 2008-01-24 ] In an 16 August 2006 interview on The Howard Stern Show Jon said he eats meat, mostly fish on occasion. In the interview, he also stated he had a spiritual adviser that "helped him see into the fourth dimension". To this day, before live performances he often meditates in a tent with crystals and dreamcatchers, a practise he started in the 1980s. He considers himself to be part of the "elf culture" and this revelation occurred during a trip on mushrooms, which he experimented with once a year until recent years. Jon attributes certain abilities, including being able to play the piano, to a back injury. Anderson now refers to the reason for Yes's breakup(s) to be from over-touring. His current projects include a rock fantasy camp. Anderson's religious beliefs are syncretic and varied, including respect for the Divine Mother Audrey Kitagawa. [See [http://www.jonanderson.com/news1.html] and [http://starbulletin.com/2003/09/26/features/story2.html] .] He has worked with the Contemporary Christian music band 4HIM: in 1999, his vocal was featured on the song "The Only Thing I Need", which appeared on a various artists CD entitled "Streams".

One of Anderson's passions is his painting and uses his art as yet another channel for his creativity and self expression. His artwork is available to view on [http://www.jonanderson.com/ his official website] .

On May 13, 2008, Anderson suffered a severe asthma attack which required a stay in the hospital. According to Yes' website, he is "currently at home and resting comfortably." [ See [http://www.yesworld.com] .] Yes' planned summer 2008 tour was subsequently cancelled, with the press release saying, "Jon Anderson was admitted to the hospital last month after suffering a severe asthma attack. He has now been diagnosed with acute respiratory failure and was told by doctors this weekend that he needs to rest and not work for a period of at least six months or suffer further health complications." [ [http://www.yesworld.com/ywtour-2008-update.html YES cancels 40th anniversary tour] ] According to Anderson's own website he is none to happy that the other members of Yes, White, Squire and Howe have gone out without him. A quote from his site "....disappointed that they were not willing to wait till 2009 when I’m fully recovered.....This is not YES on tour..."

Discography

*With Yes:
**"Yes" (1969)
**"Time and a Word" (1970)
**"The Yes Album" (1971)
**"Fragile" (1972)
**"Close to the Edge" (1972)
**"Tales from Topographic Oceans" (1973)
**"Relayer" (1974)
**"Going for the One" (1977)
**"Tormato" (1978)
**"90125" (1983)
**"Big Generator" (1987)
**"Union" (1991)
**"Talk" (1994)
**"Keys to Ascension" (1996)
**"Keys to Ascension 2" (1997)
**"Open Your Eyes" (1997)
**"The Ladder" (1999)
**"Magnification" (2001)

*With Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe:
**"Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe" (1989)
**"An Evening of Yes Music Plus" (1993)

*Solo:
**"Olias of Sunhillow" (1976)
**"Song of Seven" (1980)
**"Animation" (1982)
**"3 Ships" (1985)
**"In The City of Angels" (1988)
**"The Best of South America" (1994)
**"Deseo" (1994)
**"Change We Must" (1994)
**"Angels Embrace" (1995)
**"Toltec" (1996)
**"Lost Tapes of Opio" (1996)
**"The Promise Ring" (1997)
**"Earth Mother Earth" (1997)
**"The More You Know" (1998)
**"Animation (Re-Release on CD)" (2006)
**"The Lost Tapes (20 CD Box)" (2006-2007)

* With Kitaro:
**"Dream (a.k.a. Lady of Dreams)" (1992)

* With Mike Oldfield:
**"Crises" (1983)
**"Shine (single)" (1986)

* With Tangerine Dream:
**"Legend" (1986)

* With King Crimson:
**"Lizard" (1970)

*With Vangelis:
**"Heaven and Hell" (1975) - Vangelis album with Anderson vocals on one track
**"See You Later" (1980)

*Jon & Vangelis:
**"Short Stories" (1980)
**"The Friends of Mr. Cairo" (1981)
**"Private Collection" (1983)
**"The Best of Jon & Vangelis" (1984)
**"Page of Life" (1991)
**"Chronicles" (1994)
**"Page Of Life" (1998) - alternate version not approved by Vangelis

* With The Fellowship
**"In Elven Lands" (2006)

Notes

External links

* [http://www.jonanderson.com/ Jon Anderson online]
* [http://www.jonanderson.com/life.html Jon Anderson's biography]
* [http://www.relayer35.com/Yescography/jonander.htm Jon Anderson discography]
* [http://www.myspace.com/jonandersonmusic Jon Anderson MySpace]
* [http://www.chriscomerradio.com/jon_anderson/jon_anderson3-21-2006.htm Jon Anderson Radio Interview With Chris Comer March 21, 2006]
* [http://www.jonboxset.com/ The Lost Tapes CD box set]
* [http://www.classicrockcentral.com/classic_rock_gimme5-Display.cfm?week=22 1983 audio interview with Trevor Rabin, Alan White, Chris Squire, Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman]
* [http://www.zkgmusic.com/ Jon Anderson's collaboration with Tommy Zvoncheck]