Biography Al Anderson

There is more than one artist by the name of Al Anderson:

1) an American guitarist, singer, and songwiter who, between 1971 and the early 1990s, was the lead guitarist in the rock band NRBQ

2) an American-born songwriter and guitarist who was a member of Bob Marley & The Wailers from 1974–1975 and played live with The Wailers Band from 1978-1981

1) Alan Gordon "Al" Anderson (born 1947 in Windsor, Connecticut) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwiter. Between 1971 and the early 1990s, he was the lead guitarist in the rock band NRBQ, also releasing several solo albums. In the 1990s, Anderson shifted his focus to country music, writing hits for such acts as Carlene Carter, Vince Gill, Diamond Rio and Trisha Yearwood, as well as Tim McGraw's Number One hit "The Cowboy in Me" and several album cuts.

2) Al Anderson (born Albert Anderson, 1950, New York) is an American-born songwriter and guitarist. He attended the Berklee College of Music contemporaneously with Pat Metheny and Al DiMeola. After working with an early version of Aerosmith in the Boston music scene, 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. Anderson went on to record with Ben Harper (Diamonds On the Inside (2003)) and also Lauryn Hill on her multi-Grammy winning debut "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" (1998). He also produced and performed on an album for actor Steven Seagal (Songs from the Crystal Cave (2005)). In 2008 he formed his own band The Original Wailers (T.O.W) with Junior Marvin who had also toured and recorded with Marley for many years. Anderson toured with Bob Marley & 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)

His brother Mel Anderson was the first drummer for Twisted Sister from 1973 - 1975.

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