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Jon Anderson - Mysteries of Music
Jon Anderson explores the musical journey of his life. The former Yes frontman discusses how he was inspired by classical composers including Mozart, Delius ...
Thank you my friend SGT (Join to see) for making us aware that October 25, 1944 is the anniversary of the birth of English singer and songwriter John Roy Anderson better known as Jon Anderson, who was a member of The Warriors, and Yes.
Happy 76th birthday John Roy Anderson.
Jon Anderson - Mysteries of Music
Jon Anderson explores the musical journey of his life.
The former Yes frontman discusses how he was inspired by classical composers including Mozart, Delius and Greig, saying of Stravinsky: “I wanted to know how he did that – how did he manage to put all that together? I began playing piano.”
He continues by talking about his adventures in Indonesia and China, discovering a gamelan music school, explorations in Bali and other journeys.
Reflecting on how one’s music will last far beyond one’s life, Anderson says he’d love it if, some time in the future, a group of young musicians get together and say: “Let’s do what Yes did – let’s play their music and see what it would sound like now. That would be cool.”
The Mysteries Of Music documentary concludes with the Yes masterpiece Awaken along with many samples of music that’s meant something to Jon over the years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiKz_5cNuK8
Images:
1. Jon Anderson in Columbia, South Carolina performing with Yes in 1973 for Yes 'Live' 1974 album
2. Jon Anderson's 1976 album 'Olias of Sunhillow,'
3. Jon Anderson and family from Olias Of Sunhillow inside album cover 1976 - first wife Jennifer, daughter Deborah and son Damion
4. 'Jon & Jennifer Baker married December 22, 1969
Biographies
1. allmusic.com/artist/jon-anderson-mn [login to see] /biography
2. rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ex-yes-frontman-jon-anderson-opens-up-about-getting-fired-244492
1. Background from {[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jon-anderson-mn [login to see] /biography
Artist Biography by Gary Hill
Born John Roy Anderson on October 25, 1944, in Lancashire, England, Jon Anderson would grow up to become one of the most recognizable voices in progressive rock. He began his musical career by joining his brother Tony's group the Warriors. Eventually, that band relocated from England to Germany, but Tony had left the group by then. So, the only Anderson still in the band by 1965 when they cut their first single was Jon (technically still John at that time). The single received a less than enthusiastic welcome and Anderson left the group in 1967, having put in five years with them. His next move was to the group the Party, but that one was quite short-lived. By 1968, Anderson had returned to England and recorded two singles under the moniker Hans Christian Anderson. Those received responses similar to what the Warriors' single had. Anderson found his way into the group Gun, but only stayed there for a couple of months.
The year was 1968 and musical history was about to be made with an introduction in a London club. Jon Anderson was introduced to Chris Squire, and finding a kindred spirit in music, he began showing up at gigs of Squire's band Mabel Greer's Toy Shop, whose guitarist at the time was Peter Banks. Anderson started getting up and singing with the group from time to time, eventually becoming their vocalist. However, Banks had left by the time Anderson was inducted. More pieces gradually began to fall into the mix as various musicians were brought into the Toy Shop fold. First Bill Bruford, then Tony Kaye. By the time Peter Banks returned, the band had decided to change their name to Yes. They released their first two albums in 1969 and 1970, and both received good critical response, but didn't gain a large commercial or radio presence. By the time that they recorded 1970's The Yes Album, the band had replaced Peter Banks with Steve Howe and the combination, along with a stroke of luck at a U.S. radio station, proved the charm that started their commercial career. Interestingly, Anderson found the time for side projects even amidst recording and touring with Yes. In fact, he would show up on two albums in the first two years of the decade. The first was King Crimson's Lizard and the other was Johnny Harris' All to Bring You Morning. The next Yes album, 1972's Fragile, would feature both the debut of new keyboardist Rick Wakeman and the single "Roundabout." The combination propelled the group and Anderson well into the spotlight. For the next couple of years, Yes occupied the majority of Anderson's time. With the recording of three more studio albums before 1974 and steady touring, he would have little time for much else. However, after the tour for Relayer, things began to settle down a bit. Anderson managed to work with Vangelis Papathanassiou, who had been Yes' first choice for Rick Wakeman's replacement. Although immigration issues forced the band to go with Patrick Moraz instead, Anderson added vocals to the keyboardist's Heaven and Hell album released in 1975. It would definitely not be the last time they would work together.
1976 saw the entire band taking time to record solo albums. Anderson's outing, Olias of Sunhillow, was an ambitious creation. It was an album-long concept piece with nearly all the writing and performances being undertaken by the singer himself. He also added vocals to Yes drummer Alan White's Ramshackled album. The break seemed to revitalize the band and their next release, Going for the One, featuring the return of Rick Wakeman, was a very strong album and ushered the band into 1977 with style. Anderson's role in the group was close to coming to an end for a time, though. He stuck with them through the next album and couple of tours, but when they began recording for the follow up to Tormato, the dreaded "musical differences" cropped up and Anderson left. He definitely did not become idle, though. Indeed, the next couple of years proved very fertile for him. He released his second solo album, Song of Seven, in 1980. That same year, he collaborated again with Papathanassiou. This time they recorded an entire album together and released it under the moniker Jon & Vangelis. The album was called Short Stories, and they enjoyed that work so much that before the end of 1981, they released two more albums together. 1981 also saw Anderson appearing on Rick Wakeman's 1984 album. His next solo release was 1982's Animation, a show he took on the road.
1983 would be another turning point for Anderson. He worked on Mike Oldfield's Crises album, but that would not be the decisive factor in his career. By that time, Yes had been broken up for almost three years. Chris Squire and Alan White were working with a young guitarist named Trevor Rabin on a project called Cinema. Tony Kaye had also been enlisted for the project. Producer and one-time Anderson Yes replacement Trevor Horn suggested that Anderson should add some vocals to the project. Upon agreeing. Anderson remarked that with his voice on the songs it would be Yes. The group agreed and the name Cinema was dropped in favor of Yes. The resulting album, 90125, propelled by the hit single "Owner of a Lonely Heart," saw the band receive more success than they had ever previously attained. A tour ensued, but then the band had some quiet time. Anderson took the opportunity to record another solo album, this time a collection of holiday songs, entitled Three Ships. He also managed to work on a few other projects including movie soundtracks with John Paul Jones and Tangerine Dream. The next Yes album and tour in 1987 saw those musical differences once again appearing and Anderson again left Yes.
In the time following his second departure from the group, he released another solo album, this one a rather poppy collection entitled In the City of Angels. He also guested on Toto's release The Seventh One. By that time, he had begun talking with several Yes alumni about working together again. The group of them, Anderson, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, and Bill Bruford were joined by Tony Levin and completed an album. The only problem was deciding what to call the group. They had wanted to name it Yes, but Chris Squire proved ownership of that name and was not going to let them use it. So, they chose to forego cleverness and work with their last names. Thus their album was a self-titled one called Anderson- Bruford-Wakeman-Howe. The group toured fairly extensively for the release, but Anderson still wound up finding the time to contribute vocals to Jonathan Elias' Requiem for the Americas album. Another odd turn of events was looming on the horizon, though. As Anderson-Bruford-Wakeman-Howe were working on their second release, Yes was in the process of recording their next album. Lines of communication were once again opened and both projects were combined into one Yes album, dubbed Union. The group toured for the album to both filled stadiums and rave reviews. Anderson still found time to get together with Papathanassiou again and release the next Jon & Vangelis album, Page of Life, in 1991. The following year, he worked on Kitaro's album Dream. Among other projects, Anderson would do another album with Papathanassiou (Chronicles) and two solo albums (Deseo and Change We Must) before the 1994 release of the next Yes album, Talk. The lineup on that disc was back to a five-piece, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, and Bill Bruford having gone their separate ways.
The next couple of years were quiet ones for Yes, but not for Anderson. He made guest appearances on a few projects and released two new solo albums. And big things were once again on the horizon for Yes. It was announced in late 1995 that Trevor Rabin and Tony Kaye were no longer part of the group. They were replaced by alums Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman. A classic Yes lineup and incredible fan enthusiasm surrounded both the band and Anderson. The group did three shows in San Luis Obispo in March of 1996. The shows were recorded and released along with new studio material as the two Keys to Ascension albums. 1997 saw quite a bit more activity from Anderson. He released two solo albums, the Celtic The Promise Ring and EarthMotherEarth. Yes also released an album featuring his vocals. The disc was called Open Your Eyes and in true Yes tradition of revolving door membership, it did not feature Rick Wakeman, who had already left. Anderson went along with the group on a tour of small intimate theaters that fall. In 1998, he released his next solo album, The More You Know. That same year saw several releases featuring his vocal talents. Among them was 4Him's album Streams, Yes' The Ladder, and Steve Howe's Portraits of Bob Dylan. Touring and working on the Yes album Magnification have kept Anderson pretty busy, but he found time to appear on Béla Fleck & the Flecktones' 2000 release Outbound.
Anderson toured off and on with Yes until 2008 when he left due to health concerns. He re-emerged in 2011 with the solo album Survival and Other Stories and The Living Tree in collaboration with Wakeman. In 2012, he began collaborating with violinist Jean Luc Ponty, resulting in the Anderson Ponty Band's Better Late Than Never, comprised mostly of new readings of Yes material. A year earlier, at the instigation of InsideOut Music label boss Thomas Waber, Anderson began working with Flower Kings /Transatlantic guitarist Roine Stolt. They were asked to consider recording a series of suite-like tunes that would echo what Yes accomplished on Tales from Topographic Oceans and Anderson's own Olias of Sunhillow, albeit with a modern prog bent. After trading ideas back and forth on the internet for months, live sessions were initiated in March of 2015 with a full band and backing vocalists. Invention of Knowledge, billed to Anderson/Stolt, consisted of four long tracks. It was released by Inside/Out in June of 2016."
2. Background from {[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ex-yes-frontman-jon-anderson-opens-up-about-getting-fired-244492/]}
JULY 6, 2011 8:40PM ET
Ex-Yes Frontman Jon Anderson Opens Up About Getting Fired
As the band gets ready to release a new album and go on tour, Anderson is still bitter about how he was treated
By ANDY GREENE
When Rolling Stone posted the new Yes song “We Can Fly” last month it didn’t just provide fans of the legendary prog band the first glimpse into the band’s new album – it also allowed former lead singer Jon Anderson to check out what his band has done in his absence. “I wasn’t really convinced,” he tells Rolling Stone. “The new singer is singing good, but it sounded a bit dated to me. Also, the production wasn’t as good as I expected. They’ve got a great producer with Trevor Horn, so what the hell are you doing?”
Yes Reunite With ‘Owner Of A Lonely Heart’ Producer Trevor Horn
Anderson has reason to be bitter. He co-founded the band in 1968 with bassist Chris Squire, and with the exception of 1980’s Drama he sang on every album. In 2008 – after illness kept him off the road for four years – Yes replaced him with Benoit David, an Anderson sound-alike who previously fronted the Yes tribute band Close to the Edge.
Nobody in the band called Anderson to tell him the news – he had to hear it from a friend. “They didn’t tell me anything,” he says. “They were just off and running. But what can you do? I was pissed off in the beginning, but then you say, ‘Oh well, the boys want to go on tour and be rock & rollers. Let them to do it.’ Now people come see me and I’m suddenly 30 years younger!”
Exclusive: Listen to ‘We Can Fly,’ the First Yes Single in 10 Years
Even before getting unceremoniously replaced, Anderson had grown disillusioned with Yes. The group toured relentlessly in the early 2000s, even as Anderson’s health declined. “I was coughing so much that the only time I wasn’t coughing was onstage,” he says. “I just needed a break, but the guys were upset about that.”
Anderson travelled on a bus with keyboardist Rick Wakeman, while the other three Yes members (Chris Squire, Alan White and Steve Howe) travelled on another one. “We had the happy car,” says Anderson. “They were in the grumpy car.”
Those two buses now travel on separate tours. Anderson now tours with Wakeman as an acoustic duo, playing a set heavy on Yes classics. Yes originally replaced the elder Wakeman with his son Oliver – but he recently got replaced by ASIA’s Geoff Downes. “People get into that place where they don’t care about people,” says Anderson. “To them, it’s just business.”
So far, Anderson/Wakeman have just toured Europe – but in the fall they’re finally headed to America. “We’re bringing it to the East Coast around the middle of October through the middle of November,” he says. “We’ll do Yes songs, but we’ll concentrate more on the new album. I sing more doing these shows than I ever did with Yes. I don’t have to say, ‘Turn down the bass, Chris!'”
Anderson keeps a much lighter tour schedule than Yes, who often do five or six shows a week. “I would never do that kind of tour,” says Anderson. “It’s stupid. Some people haven’t got a life I suppose. They want to be on the road all the time.” Guitarist Steve Howe performs with ASIA when Yes are off, which means maintaining a punishing schedule. “He hasn’t got a home,” says Anderson. “He’s a journeyman, like Willie Nelson.”
Despite all the turmoil, Anderson doesn’t completely rule performing with Yes again someday. “If we ever get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame we’ll all get together,” he says. “We’ll give each other a hug and let bygones be bygones.” How about a reunion tour? “You never know,” he says. “It would have to be two or three shows a week, though.”
In the meantime, Anderson remains focused on his solo career. Last year he released Survival & Other Stories. In a unique twist, it features contributions from online fans. “There’s so many talented people out there,” he says. “Using the Internet as as vehicle to work with people is fascinating. It’s sort of a Pandora’s box of energy for me.”
The process begins with fans simply sending Anderson MP3s. “Over the last few years I’ve written indigenous music songs, symphonies, musicals . . . all sorts of things,” he says. “I’m working on my next project right now. Music is beautiful. Yes music is great. My music’s great. My new album’s great. Life is good.”
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D GySgt Thomas Vick MSG Felipe De Leon Brown SGT Denny Espinosa SSG Stephen Rogerson SPC Matthew Lamb LTC (Join to see) LTC Greg Henning Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. PO1 William "Chip" Nagel PO2 (Join to see) SSG Franklin Briant SPC Woody Bullard TSgt David L. SMSgt David A Asbury MSgt Paul Connors
Happy 76th birthday John Roy Anderson.
Jon Anderson - Mysteries of Music
Jon Anderson explores the musical journey of his life.
The former Yes frontman discusses how he was inspired by classical composers including Mozart, Delius and Greig, saying of Stravinsky: “I wanted to know how he did that – how did he manage to put all that together? I began playing piano.”
He continues by talking about his adventures in Indonesia and China, discovering a gamelan music school, explorations in Bali and other journeys.
Reflecting on how one’s music will last far beyond one’s life, Anderson says he’d love it if, some time in the future, a group of young musicians get together and say: “Let’s do what Yes did – let’s play their music and see what it would sound like now. That would be cool.”
The Mysteries Of Music documentary concludes with the Yes masterpiece Awaken along with many samples of music that’s meant something to Jon over the years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiKz_5cNuK8
Images:
1. Jon Anderson in Columbia, South Carolina performing with Yes in 1973 for Yes 'Live' 1974 album
2. Jon Anderson's 1976 album 'Olias of Sunhillow,'
3. Jon Anderson and family from Olias Of Sunhillow inside album cover 1976 - first wife Jennifer, daughter Deborah and son Damion
4. 'Jon & Jennifer Baker married December 22, 1969
Biographies
1. allmusic.com/artist/jon-anderson-mn [login to see] /biography
2. rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ex-yes-frontman-jon-anderson-opens-up-about-getting-fired-244492
1. Background from {[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jon-anderson-mn [login to see] /biography
Artist Biography by Gary Hill
Born John Roy Anderson on October 25, 1944, in Lancashire, England, Jon Anderson would grow up to become one of the most recognizable voices in progressive rock. He began his musical career by joining his brother Tony's group the Warriors. Eventually, that band relocated from England to Germany, but Tony had left the group by then. So, the only Anderson still in the band by 1965 when they cut their first single was Jon (technically still John at that time). The single received a less than enthusiastic welcome and Anderson left the group in 1967, having put in five years with them. His next move was to the group the Party, but that one was quite short-lived. By 1968, Anderson had returned to England and recorded two singles under the moniker Hans Christian Anderson. Those received responses similar to what the Warriors' single had. Anderson found his way into the group Gun, but only stayed there for a couple of months.
The year was 1968 and musical history was about to be made with an introduction in a London club. Jon Anderson was introduced to Chris Squire, and finding a kindred spirit in music, he began showing up at gigs of Squire's band Mabel Greer's Toy Shop, whose guitarist at the time was Peter Banks. Anderson started getting up and singing with the group from time to time, eventually becoming their vocalist. However, Banks had left by the time Anderson was inducted. More pieces gradually began to fall into the mix as various musicians were brought into the Toy Shop fold. First Bill Bruford, then Tony Kaye. By the time Peter Banks returned, the band had decided to change their name to Yes. They released their first two albums in 1969 and 1970, and both received good critical response, but didn't gain a large commercial or radio presence. By the time that they recorded 1970's The Yes Album, the band had replaced Peter Banks with Steve Howe and the combination, along with a stroke of luck at a U.S. radio station, proved the charm that started their commercial career. Interestingly, Anderson found the time for side projects even amidst recording and touring with Yes. In fact, he would show up on two albums in the first two years of the decade. The first was King Crimson's Lizard and the other was Johnny Harris' All to Bring You Morning. The next Yes album, 1972's Fragile, would feature both the debut of new keyboardist Rick Wakeman and the single "Roundabout." The combination propelled the group and Anderson well into the spotlight. For the next couple of years, Yes occupied the majority of Anderson's time. With the recording of three more studio albums before 1974 and steady touring, he would have little time for much else. However, after the tour for Relayer, things began to settle down a bit. Anderson managed to work with Vangelis Papathanassiou, who had been Yes' first choice for Rick Wakeman's replacement. Although immigration issues forced the band to go with Patrick Moraz instead, Anderson added vocals to the keyboardist's Heaven and Hell album released in 1975. It would definitely not be the last time they would work together.
1976 saw the entire band taking time to record solo albums. Anderson's outing, Olias of Sunhillow, was an ambitious creation. It was an album-long concept piece with nearly all the writing and performances being undertaken by the singer himself. He also added vocals to Yes drummer Alan White's Ramshackled album. The break seemed to revitalize the band and their next release, Going for the One, featuring the return of Rick Wakeman, was a very strong album and ushered the band into 1977 with style. Anderson's role in the group was close to coming to an end for a time, though. He stuck with them through the next album and couple of tours, but when they began recording for the follow up to Tormato, the dreaded "musical differences" cropped up and Anderson left. He definitely did not become idle, though. Indeed, the next couple of years proved very fertile for him. He released his second solo album, Song of Seven, in 1980. That same year, he collaborated again with Papathanassiou. This time they recorded an entire album together and released it under the moniker Jon & Vangelis. The album was called Short Stories, and they enjoyed that work so much that before the end of 1981, they released two more albums together. 1981 also saw Anderson appearing on Rick Wakeman's 1984 album. His next solo release was 1982's Animation, a show he took on the road.
1983 would be another turning point for Anderson. He worked on Mike Oldfield's Crises album, but that would not be the decisive factor in his career. By that time, Yes had been broken up for almost three years. Chris Squire and Alan White were working with a young guitarist named Trevor Rabin on a project called Cinema. Tony Kaye had also been enlisted for the project. Producer and one-time Anderson Yes replacement Trevor Horn suggested that Anderson should add some vocals to the project. Upon agreeing. Anderson remarked that with his voice on the songs it would be Yes. The group agreed and the name Cinema was dropped in favor of Yes. The resulting album, 90125, propelled by the hit single "Owner of a Lonely Heart," saw the band receive more success than they had ever previously attained. A tour ensued, but then the band had some quiet time. Anderson took the opportunity to record another solo album, this time a collection of holiday songs, entitled Three Ships. He also managed to work on a few other projects including movie soundtracks with John Paul Jones and Tangerine Dream. The next Yes album and tour in 1987 saw those musical differences once again appearing and Anderson again left Yes.
In the time following his second departure from the group, he released another solo album, this one a rather poppy collection entitled In the City of Angels. He also guested on Toto's release The Seventh One. By that time, he had begun talking with several Yes alumni about working together again. The group of them, Anderson, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, and Bill Bruford were joined by Tony Levin and completed an album. The only problem was deciding what to call the group. They had wanted to name it Yes, but Chris Squire proved ownership of that name and was not going to let them use it. So, they chose to forego cleverness and work with their last names. Thus their album was a self-titled one called Anderson- Bruford-Wakeman-Howe. The group toured fairly extensively for the release, but Anderson still wound up finding the time to contribute vocals to Jonathan Elias' Requiem for the Americas album. Another odd turn of events was looming on the horizon, though. As Anderson-Bruford-Wakeman-Howe were working on their second release, Yes was in the process of recording their next album. Lines of communication were once again opened and both projects were combined into one Yes album, dubbed Union. The group toured for the album to both filled stadiums and rave reviews. Anderson still found time to get together with Papathanassiou again and release the next Jon & Vangelis album, Page of Life, in 1991. The following year, he worked on Kitaro's album Dream. Among other projects, Anderson would do another album with Papathanassiou (Chronicles) and two solo albums (Deseo and Change We Must) before the 1994 release of the next Yes album, Talk. The lineup on that disc was back to a five-piece, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, and Bill Bruford having gone their separate ways.
The next couple of years were quiet ones for Yes, but not for Anderson. He made guest appearances on a few projects and released two new solo albums. And big things were once again on the horizon for Yes. It was announced in late 1995 that Trevor Rabin and Tony Kaye were no longer part of the group. They were replaced by alums Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman. A classic Yes lineup and incredible fan enthusiasm surrounded both the band and Anderson. The group did three shows in San Luis Obispo in March of 1996. The shows were recorded and released along with new studio material as the two Keys to Ascension albums. 1997 saw quite a bit more activity from Anderson. He released two solo albums, the Celtic The Promise Ring and EarthMotherEarth. Yes also released an album featuring his vocals. The disc was called Open Your Eyes and in true Yes tradition of revolving door membership, it did not feature Rick Wakeman, who had already left. Anderson went along with the group on a tour of small intimate theaters that fall. In 1998, he released his next solo album, The More You Know. That same year saw several releases featuring his vocal talents. Among them was 4Him's album Streams, Yes' The Ladder, and Steve Howe's Portraits of Bob Dylan. Touring and working on the Yes album Magnification have kept Anderson pretty busy, but he found time to appear on Béla Fleck & the Flecktones' 2000 release Outbound.
Anderson toured off and on with Yes until 2008 when he left due to health concerns. He re-emerged in 2011 with the solo album Survival and Other Stories and The Living Tree in collaboration with Wakeman. In 2012, he began collaborating with violinist Jean Luc Ponty, resulting in the Anderson Ponty Band's Better Late Than Never, comprised mostly of new readings of Yes material. A year earlier, at the instigation of InsideOut Music label boss Thomas Waber, Anderson began working with Flower Kings /Transatlantic guitarist Roine Stolt. They were asked to consider recording a series of suite-like tunes that would echo what Yes accomplished on Tales from Topographic Oceans and Anderson's own Olias of Sunhillow, albeit with a modern prog bent. After trading ideas back and forth on the internet for months, live sessions were initiated in March of 2015 with a full band and backing vocalists. Invention of Knowledge, billed to Anderson/Stolt, consisted of four long tracks. It was released by Inside/Out in June of 2016."
2. Background from {[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ex-yes-frontman-jon-anderson-opens-up-about-getting-fired-244492/]}
JULY 6, 2011 8:40PM ET
Ex-Yes Frontman Jon Anderson Opens Up About Getting Fired
As the band gets ready to release a new album and go on tour, Anderson is still bitter about how he was treated
By ANDY GREENE
When Rolling Stone posted the new Yes song “We Can Fly” last month it didn’t just provide fans of the legendary prog band the first glimpse into the band’s new album – it also allowed former lead singer Jon Anderson to check out what his band has done in his absence. “I wasn’t really convinced,” he tells Rolling Stone. “The new singer is singing good, but it sounded a bit dated to me. Also, the production wasn’t as good as I expected. They’ve got a great producer with Trevor Horn, so what the hell are you doing?”
Yes Reunite With ‘Owner Of A Lonely Heart’ Producer Trevor Horn
Anderson has reason to be bitter. He co-founded the band in 1968 with bassist Chris Squire, and with the exception of 1980’s Drama he sang on every album. In 2008 – after illness kept him off the road for four years – Yes replaced him with Benoit David, an Anderson sound-alike who previously fronted the Yes tribute band Close to the Edge.
Nobody in the band called Anderson to tell him the news – he had to hear it from a friend. “They didn’t tell me anything,” he says. “They were just off and running. But what can you do? I was pissed off in the beginning, but then you say, ‘Oh well, the boys want to go on tour and be rock & rollers. Let them to do it.’ Now people come see me and I’m suddenly 30 years younger!”
Exclusive: Listen to ‘We Can Fly,’ the First Yes Single in 10 Years
Even before getting unceremoniously replaced, Anderson had grown disillusioned with Yes. The group toured relentlessly in the early 2000s, even as Anderson’s health declined. “I was coughing so much that the only time I wasn’t coughing was onstage,” he says. “I just needed a break, but the guys were upset about that.”
Anderson travelled on a bus with keyboardist Rick Wakeman, while the other three Yes members (Chris Squire, Alan White and Steve Howe) travelled on another one. “We had the happy car,” says Anderson. “They were in the grumpy car.”
Those two buses now travel on separate tours. Anderson now tours with Wakeman as an acoustic duo, playing a set heavy on Yes classics. Yes originally replaced the elder Wakeman with his son Oliver – but he recently got replaced by ASIA’s Geoff Downes. “People get into that place where they don’t care about people,” says Anderson. “To them, it’s just business.”
So far, Anderson/Wakeman have just toured Europe – but in the fall they’re finally headed to America. “We’re bringing it to the East Coast around the middle of October through the middle of November,” he says. “We’ll do Yes songs, but we’ll concentrate more on the new album. I sing more doing these shows than I ever did with Yes. I don’t have to say, ‘Turn down the bass, Chris!'”
Anderson keeps a much lighter tour schedule than Yes, who often do five or six shows a week. “I would never do that kind of tour,” says Anderson. “It’s stupid. Some people haven’t got a life I suppose. They want to be on the road all the time.” Guitarist Steve Howe performs with ASIA when Yes are off, which means maintaining a punishing schedule. “He hasn’t got a home,” says Anderson. “He’s a journeyman, like Willie Nelson.”
Despite all the turmoil, Anderson doesn’t completely rule performing with Yes again someday. “If we ever get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame we’ll all get together,” he says. “We’ll give each other a hug and let bygones be bygones.” How about a reunion tour? “You never know,” he says. “It would have to be two or three shows a week, though.”
In the meantime, Anderson remains focused on his solo career. Last year he released Survival & Other Stories. In a unique twist, it features contributions from online fans. “There’s so many talented people out there,” he says. “Using the Internet as as vehicle to work with people is fascinating. It’s sort of a Pandora’s box of energy for me.”
The process begins with fans simply sending Anderson MP3s. “Over the last few years I’ve written indigenous music songs, symphonies, musicals . . . all sorts of things,” he says. “I’m working on my next project right now. Music is beautiful. Yes music is great. My music’s great. My new album’s great. Life is good.”
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D GySgt Thomas Vick MSG Felipe De Leon Brown SGT Denny Espinosa SSG Stephen Rogerson SPC Matthew Lamb LTC (Join to see) LTC Greg Henning Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. PO1 William "Chip" Nagel PO2 (Join to see) SSG Franklin Briant SPC Woody Bullard TSgt David L. SMSgt David A Asbury MSgt Paul Connors
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LTC Stephen F.
Jon Anderson Interview May 2005
This is a very personal and charming interview with Jon Anderson, of the famous progressive rock band YES. Taped in Jon's backyard, on the same hammock as th...
Jon Anderson Interview May 2005
interview with Jon Anderson, of the famous progressive rock band YES. Taped in Jon's backyard, on the same hammock as the interview for the documentary YesSpeak, Jon is very relaxed and in perfect form. The interview was taped, and post produced by life-long fan Scott Goodkin. Interviewer Steve Wagner, also a life-long fan. Together, they captured the true essence of Jon Anderson. It will touch and enlighten you. The interview was created for the San Francisco TV show called Sound Waves. The program was nominated for the 2005 (Western Alliance for Video Excellence) W.A.V.E. awards for the best TV documentary of 2005.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1vPmyteFHk
Images:
1. Jon Anderson photo by Rob Verhorst
2. Jon & Jane Luttenburger Anderson married in 1997
3. John Anderson's 2011album 'Survival and Other Stories'
4. Jon Anderson's 1988 album 'In the City of Angels'
Biographies:
1. jonanderson.com/biography
2. yes.fandom.com/wiki/Jon_Anderson
1. Background from {[https://www.jonanderson.com/biography/]
Jon Anderson is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable voices in progressive rock as the lead vocalist and creative force behind Yes. Anderson was the author and a major creative influence behind the ground-breaking album Fragile as well as the series of epic, complex pieces such as “Awaken”, “Gates of Delirium” and especially “Close to the Edge” which were central to the band’s success. Additionally, Anderson co-authored the group’s biggest hits, including “I’ve Seen All Good People”, “Roundabout”, and “Owner Of A Lonely Heart”.
Never to stand still musically, he is getting ready to release an album he started 28 years ago through Blue Élan Records. The album’s title, 1,000 Hands is a reference to the fact that numerous guest musicians perform on the album, including Ian Anderson, Billy Cobham, Jean-Luc Ponty, Steve Morse, Chick Corea, Zap Mama, Chris Squire, Alan White, Steve Howe and many more. This album, produced by his friend Michael Franklin, really speaks to the power of a musical life still in the throes of a fervent artistic endeavor, always wanting new experiences in music, always wanting to surprise the listener. The album comes out on July 31, 2020 and will be offered on deluxe double gatefold vinyl, CD, and through all digital platforms.
If you asked Jon, he would say that he loves the adventure in making music, as evidenced in 50 years of success in the music business, working not only with many variations of Yes, but also with very successful collaborations with Vangelis and Kitaro, and more recently with Roine Stolt and Jean-Luc Ponty. His collaboration with Vangelis produced a number of hit records, including Friends of Mr Cairo which was groundbreaking in its use of narrative voiceover, creating a phenomenon that was copied by many artists and producers, most notably Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones with “Thriller”. As Jon would say, “We all copy each-others musical dreams, it’s the cross-pollenization of music that keeps the world spinning around”.
In the mid 70’s he created a pure solo album, in every sense of the word: performing all the music, playing every instrument, writing a storyline, and of course singing all the vocals in the critically acclaimed Olias of Sunhillow… a milestone in recording and adventurous creativity. You only need to look at his output of solo albums over the years to see how inventive his life in music has been, from Animation to Song of Seven, Three Ships to Toltec, City of Angels to The More You Know, to name just a few. All of these albums marked his own progression and adventure through music…leading up to 2009 following his near death, the release of the life affirming album Survival and Other Stories.
In 2015, Jon partnered with his dear friend, world renowned jazz violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, creating a wonderful fusion of jazz and progressive rock in the album Better Late than Never. In 2016, Jon joined forces with well-known prog rock guitarist and producer Roine Stolt, to create Invention of Knowledge, an album that garnered great acclaim with critics and fans alike. In 2017 Jon reformed YES with former band members Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman … YES Featuring ARW has toured the world to rave reviews and released the Live At The Apollo CD/DVD in September 2018.
Finally, in Jon’s words: “Music is our spiritual connection to the soul, that’s why people all over the world connect to Music and to each other through Music.”
2. Background from {[https://yes.fandom.com/wiki/Jon_Anderson]}
Background from {[ https://yes.fandom.com/wiki/Jon_Anderson]}
Jon Anderson
________________________________________
Birth name John Roy Anderson
Birth date October 25, 1944
Birth place Accrington, Lancashire, England
Occupation
• Singer
• songwriter
• musician
Instrument(s) Vocals
Years active 1963–present
Label
• Angel
• Atlantic
• Blue Élan
• Cleopatra
• Columbia
• Eagle
• Elektra
• EMI
• Higher Octave
• Polydor
• Voiceprint
• Windham Hill
• Wounded Bird
Official site
https://www.jonanderson.com
[Edit]
Jon Anderson (born John Roy Anderson, October 25, 1944) is the lead singer and a founding member of Yes. He has participated in all of the Yes albums, except Drama, Fly From Here and Heaven & Earth.
Contents
[show]
Biography
He 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".
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, a 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.
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!"[1].
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, with this period now known as the classic Yes era. Jon was a major creative force and band leader throughout the period (describing himself as the "team captain") — 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.
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 Bill Bruford in King Crimson. After the successful first 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 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 and appeared on all Yes albums, except Drama, Fly From Here and Heaven & Earth.
Nicknamed "Napoleon" by his bandmates for his diminutive stature and leadership of Yes, Anderson was fond of experimenting within the band, also adding to what were at times conflicted relationships within the band and with management. He originally wanted to record the album Tales From Topographic Oceans in the middle of the woods, and instead decided to put hay and animal cut-outs all over the recording studio, causing lice to infest one of Rick Wakeman's keyboards. In another incident, Anderson had tiles installed in the studio, to simulate the echo effect of one's vocals in a bathroom.
Though he considers himself an alto tenor vocalist, Jon's performance on "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" is an example of what is known by singers as "the blend voice": a technique where the head voice, falsetto and chest voice (speaking voice) are gradually blended allowing a smooth breakless transition to the male countertenor register. The higher the voice gets, the more falsetto and less chest and head voice are used. The lower the voice gets, the less falsetto and more chest voice come to bear. At the highest limit, (the high "yeeows" before the guitar solo) full falsetto is used. Other practitioners of blended singing include Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Sting and Hugh Wilson (Invertigo).
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 Autobiography of a Yogi inspired Tales from Topographic Oceans album. Recurring themes include environmentalism, pacifism and sun-worship.
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 1985 Jon's song "This Time It Was Really Right" was featured on the soundtrack for the movie St. Elmo's Fire.
Also in 1985, along with Tangerine Dream he recorded the song "Loved by the Sun" for the film Legend directed by Ridley Scott. 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 1982 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. In 2004, Anderson appeared with the Contemporary Youth Orchestra of Cleveland. The concert was recorded and distributed to the orchestra members, but was never publicly released, to the dismay of many concert attendees. In 2006 Animation was finally released on CD. The same year Anderson also participated in The Fellowship's project recording In Elven Lands, based on the works of J. R. R. Tolkien.
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. Kings Bar and Grill in New York City. He has also toured the same group for the second time.
Jon has also appeared on the Dream Theater 2007 album Systematic Chaos, as part of a vocal ensemble on the fifth track "Repentance".
In 2010 Anderson joined Wakeman touring as Anderson/Wakeman, touring and releasing the album The Living Tree. In 2011 Jon has also released his next solo album Survival & Other Stories, based on the contributions from different musicians, submitted online. His next release was an EP titled Open, including a long piece with the participation of orchestra and a choir. Working on the sequel to Olias Of Sunhillow, he finally titled it The Songs of Zamran: Son of Olias — however the recording still remains unfinished.
His 2013-2014 world tour included Australia, North America, Europe, and Iceland, North and South America. From then he has collaborated on a recording and touring project with Jean-Luc Ponty named Anderson Ponty. They have toured in 2014-2016, releasing a live album and DVD Better Late Than Never. In 2013 Jon joined the Icelandic band Todmobile, guesting on "Awaken", "Roundabout", "State Of Independence", "Wings of Heaven", "Heart Of The Sunrise" and "Owner of a Lonely Heart" renditions, with an orchestra. He has also collaborated with Roine Stolt, with his The Flower Kings band as session musicians, recording Invention of Knowledge album. Later he announced another comeback, forming Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman, aiming to tour and record some new songs. After two successful tours they have released an official live album and video Live at the Apollo (2018).
Jon has participated in Yes' induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, performing "Roundabout" and "Owner of a Lonely Heart" at the ceremony. His next studio album, 1000 Hands: Chapter One, was released in 2019. It is based on some musical ideas developed some decades before and includes collaborations with Steve Howe, Ponty, Chick Corea and Billy Cobham. The release was also followed by a tour.
Personal life and activities
Anderson's children include daughter Deborah Anderson (who has done work singing for the French electronica band Télépopmusik on the 2005 album Angel Milk), Jade Anderson (who has released a solo album Dive Deeper in Japan) and Damion Anderson (also a musician).
Anderson was a smoker in the 1960s and 70s. To this day, before live performances he often meditates in a tent with crystals and dreamcatchers — a practice he started in the 1980s. Anderson was also a vegetarian, as were most members of Yes during the mid-seventies. 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". 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' breakup(s) to be from over-touring. Some of his projects have also included a rock fantasy camp. Anderson's religious beliefs are syncretic and varied, including respect for the Divine Mother Audrey Kitagawa. He has also worked with the Contemporary Christian music band 4HIM: in 1999, his vocals were featured on the song "The Only Thing I Need", which appeared on a various artists CD titled Streams.
One of Jon's biggest passions is his painting and heuses his art as yet another channel for his creativity and self expression. His artwork is available to view on his official website.
Solo Discography
Studio Albums
1. Olias Of Sunhillow - 1976
2. Song Of Seven - 1980
3. Animation - 1982
4. 3 Ships - 1985
5. In The City Of Angels - 1988
6. The Power Of Silence - 1992
7. The Best Of South America - 1993
8. Deseo - 1994
9. Change We Must - 1994
10. The Deseo Remixes - 1995
11. Angels Embrace - 1995
12. Toltec - 1996
13. Lost Tapes Of Opio - 1996
14. The Promise Ring - 1997
15. EarthMotherEarth - 1997
16. The More You Know - 1998
17. SoloShowSongs - 2005
18. The Lost Tapes - 2006
19. Survival & Other Stories - 2011
20. 1000 Hands: Chapter One - 2019
Singles & EPs
1. "Olias Of Sunhillow" - 1976
2. "Some Are Born" - 1980
3. "Surrender" - 1982
4. "Cage Of Freedom" - 1984
5. "Hold On To Love" - 1988
6. "Candle Song" - 1994
7. "Change We Must" - 1994
8. "State Of Independence" - 2005
9. Open - 2011
10. "Race to the End" - 2012
Videos & DVDs
1. Tour Of The Universe - 2005
Jon & Vangelis Discography
1. Short Stories - 1980
2. The Friends Of Mr. Cairo - 1981
3. Private Collection - 1984
4. The Best Of Jon And Vangelis - 1984
5. Page Of Life - 1991
6. Vangelis: Portraits (So Far Away So Clear) - 1996"
FYI CPL Dave Hoover Sgt John H. Maj Wayne CristSGM Bill FrazerCSM (Join to see)SSG Jeffrey LeakeSSG Paul HeadleeSSG Samuel KermonCpl (Join to see)SGM Major StroupeCPL Michael PeckSSG Jeff Furgerson]Sgt (Join to see)PO1 Steve Ditto SPC Michael Terrell CPL Douglas ChryslerSP5 Geoffrey Vannerson LTC John Shaw SPC Diana D. LTC Hillary Luton
interview with Jon Anderson, of the famous progressive rock band YES. Taped in Jon's backyard, on the same hammock as the interview for the documentary YesSpeak, Jon is very relaxed and in perfect form. The interview was taped, and post produced by life-long fan Scott Goodkin. Interviewer Steve Wagner, also a life-long fan. Together, they captured the true essence of Jon Anderson. It will touch and enlighten you. The interview was created for the San Francisco TV show called Sound Waves. The program was nominated for the 2005 (Western Alliance for Video Excellence) W.A.V.E. awards for the best TV documentary of 2005.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1vPmyteFHk
Images:
1. Jon Anderson photo by Rob Verhorst
2. Jon & Jane Luttenburger Anderson married in 1997
3. John Anderson's 2011album 'Survival and Other Stories'
4. Jon Anderson's 1988 album 'In the City of Angels'
Biographies:
1. jonanderson.com/biography
2. yes.fandom.com/wiki/Jon_Anderson
1. Background from {[https://www.jonanderson.com/biography/]
Jon Anderson is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable voices in progressive rock as the lead vocalist and creative force behind Yes. Anderson was the author and a major creative influence behind the ground-breaking album Fragile as well as the series of epic, complex pieces such as “Awaken”, “Gates of Delirium” and especially “Close to the Edge” which were central to the band’s success. Additionally, Anderson co-authored the group’s biggest hits, including “I’ve Seen All Good People”, “Roundabout”, and “Owner Of A Lonely Heart”.
Never to stand still musically, he is getting ready to release an album he started 28 years ago through Blue Élan Records. The album’s title, 1,000 Hands is a reference to the fact that numerous guest musicians perform on the album, including Ian Anderson, Billy Cobham, Jean-Luc Ponty, Steve Morse, Chick Corea, Zap Mama, Chris Squire, Alan White, Steve Howe and many more. This album, produced by his friend Michael Franklin, really speaks to the power of a musical life still in the throes of a fervent artistic endeavor, always wanting new experiences in music, always wanting to surprise the listener. The album comes out on July 31, 2020 and will be offered on deluxe double gatefold vinyl, CD, and through all digital platforms.
If you asked Jon, he would say that he loves the adventure in making music, as evidenced in 50 years of success in the music business, working not only with many variations of Yes, but also with very successful collaborations with Vangelis and Kitaro, and more recently with Roine Stolt and Jean-Luc Ponty. His collaboration with Vangelis produced a number of hit records, including Friends of Mr Cairo which was groundbreaking in its use of narrative voiceover, creating a phenomenon that was copied by many artists and producers, most notably Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones with “Thriller”. As Jon would say, “We all copy each-others musical dreams, it’s the cross-pollenization of music that keeps the world spinning around”.
In the mid 70’s he created a pure solo album, in every sense of the word: performing all the music, playing every instrument, writing a storyline, and of course singing all the vocals in the critically acclaimed Olias of Sunhillow… a milestone in recording and adventurous creativity. You only need to look at his output of solo albums over the years to see how inventive his life in music has been, from Animation to Song of Seven, Three Ships to Toltec, City of Angels to The More You Know, to name just a few. All of these albums marked his own progression and adventure through music…leading up to 2009 following his near death, the release of the life affirming album Survival and Other Stories.
In 2015, Jon partnered with his dear friend, world renowned jazz violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, creating a wonderful fusion of jazz and progressive rock in the album Better Late than Never. In 2016, Jon joined forces with well-known prog rock guitarist and producer Roine Stolt, to create Invention of Knowledge, an album that garnered great acclaim with critics and fans alike. In 2017 Jon reformed YES with former band members Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman … YES Featuring ARW has toured the world to rave reviews and released the Live At The Apollo CD/DVD in September 2018.
Finally, in Jon’s words: “Music is our spiritual connection to the soul, that’s why people all over the world connect to Music and to each other through Music.”
2. Background from {[https://yes.fandom.com/wiki/Jon_Anderson]}
Background from {[ https://yes.fandom.com/wiki/Jon_Anderson]}
Jon Anderson
________________________________________
Birth name John Roy Anderson
Birth date October 25, 1944
Birth place Accrington, Lancashire, England
Occupation
• Singer
• songwriter
• musician
Instrument(s) Vocals
Years active 1963–present
Label
• Angel
• Atlantic
• Blue Élan
• Cleopatra
• Columbia
• Eagle
• Elektra
• EMI
• Higher Octave
• Polydor
• Voiceprint
• Windham Hill
• Wounded Bird
Official site
https://www.jonanderson.com
[Edit]
Jon Anderson (born John Roy Anderson, October 25, 1944) is the lead singer and a founding member of Yes. He has participated in all of the Yes albums, except Drama, Fly From Here and Heaven & Earth.
Contents
[show]
Biography
He 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".
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, a 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.
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!"[1].
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, with this period now known as the classic Yes era. Jon was a major creative force and band leader throughout the period (describing himself as the "team captain") — 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.
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 Bill Bruford in King Crimson. After the successful first 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 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 and appeared on all Yes albums, except Drama, Fly From Here and Heaven & Earth.
Nicknamed "Napoleon" by his bandmates for his diminutive stature and leadership of Yes, Anderson was fond of experimenting within the band, also adding to what were at times conflicted relationships within the band and with management. He originally wanted to record the album Tales From Topographic Oceans in the middle of the woods, and instead decided to put hay and animal cut-outs all over the recording studio, causing lice to infest one of Rick Wakeman's keyboards. In another incident, Anderson had tiles installed in the studio, to simulate the echo effect of one's vocals in a bathroom.
Though he considers himself an alto tenor vocalist, Jon's performance on "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" is an example of what is known by singers as "the blend voice": a technique where the head voice, falsetto and chest voice (speaking voice) are gradually blended allowing a smooth breakless transition to the male countertenor register. The higher the voice gets, the more falsetto and less chest and head voice are used. The lower the voice gets, the less falsetto and more chest voice come to bear. At the highest limit, (the high "yeeows" before the guitar solo) full falsetto is used. Other practitioners of blended singing include Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Sting and Hugh Wilson (Invertigo).
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 Autobiography of a Yogi inspired Tales from Topographic Oceans album. Recurring themes include environmentalism, pacifism and sun-worship.
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 1985 Jon's song "This Time It Was Really Right" was featured on the soundtrack for the movie St. Elmo's Fire.
Also in 1985, along with Tangerine Dream he recorded the song "Loved by the Sun" for the film Legend directed by Ridley Scott. 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 1982 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. In 2004, Anderson appeared with the Contemporary Youth Orchestra of Cleveland. The concert was recorded and distributed to the orchestra members, but was never publicly released, to the dismay of many concert attendees. In 2006 Animation was finally released on CD. The same year Anderson also participated in The Fellowship's project recording In Elven Lands, based on the works of J. R. R. Tolkien.
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. Kings Bar and Grill in New York City. He has also toured the same group for the second time.
Jon has also appeared on the Dream Theater 2007 album Systematic Chaos, as part of a vocal ensemble on the fifth track "Repentance".
In 2010 Anderson joined Wakeman touring as Anderson/Wakeman, touring and releasing the album The Living Tree. In 2011 Jon has also released his next solo album Survival & Other Stories, based on the contributions from different musicians, submitted online. His next release was an EP titled Open, including a long piece with the participation of orchestra and a choir. Working on the sequel to Olias Of Sunhillow, he finally titled it The Songs of Zamran: Son of Olias — however the recording still remains unfinished.
His 2013-2014 world tour included Australia, North America, Europe, and Iceland, North and South America. From then he has collaborated on a recording and touring project with Jean-Luc Ponty named Anderson Ponty. They have toured in 2014-2016, releasing a live album and DVD Better Late Than Never. In 2013 Jon joined the Icelandic band Todmobile, guesting on "Awaken", "Roundabout", "State Of Independence", "Wings of Heaven", "Heart Of The Sunrise" and "Owner of a Lonely Heart" renditions, with an orchestra. He has also collaborated with Roine Stolt, with his The Flower Kings band as session musicians, recording Invention of Knowledge album. Later he announced another comeback, forming Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman, aiming to tour and record some new songs. After two successful tours they have released an official live album and video Live at the Apollo (2018).
Jon has participated in Yes' induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, performing "Roundabout" and "Owner of a Lonely Heart" at the ceremony. His next studio album, 1000 Hands: Chapter One, was released in 2019. It is based on some musical ideas developed some decades before and includes collaborations with Steve Howe, Ponty, Chick Corea and Billy Cobham. The release was also followed by a tour.
Personal life and activities
Anderson's children include daughter Deborah Anderson (who has done work singing for the French electronica band Télépopmusik on the 2005 album Angel Milk), Jade Anderson (who has released a solo album Dive Deeper in Japan) and Damion Anderson (also a musician).
Anderson was a smoker in the 1960s and 70s. To this day, before live performances he often meditates in a tent with crystals and dreamcatchers — a practice he started in the 1980s. Anderson was also a vegetarian, as were most members of Yes during the mid-seventies. 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". 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' breakup(s) to be from over-touring. Some of his projects have also included a rock fantasy camp. Anderson's religious beliefs are syncretic and varied, including respect for the Divine Mother Audrey Kitagawa. He has also worked with the Contemporary Christian music band 4HIM: in 1999, his vocals were featured on the song "The Only Thing I Need", which appeared on a various artists CD titled Streams.
One of Jon's biggest passions is his painting and heuses his art as yet another channel for his creativity and self expression. His artwork is available to view on his official website.
Solo Discography
Studio Albums
1. Olias Of Sunhillow - 1976
2. Song Of Seven - 1980
3. Animation - 1982
4. 3 Ships - 1985
5. In The City Of Angels - 1988
6. The Power Of Silence - 1992
7. The Best Of South America - 1993
8. Deseo - 1994
9. Change We Must - 1994
10. The Deseo Remixes - 1995
11. Angels Embrace - 1995
12. Toltec - 1996
13. Lost Tapes Of Opio - 1996
14. The Promise Ring - 1997
15. EarthMotherEarth - 1997
16. The More You Know - 1998
17. SoloShowSongs - 2005
18. The Lost Tapes - 2006
19. Survival & Other Stories - 2011
20. 1000 Hands: Chapter One - 2019
Singles & EPs
1. "Olias Of Sunhillow" - 1976
2. "Some Are Born" - 1980
3. "Surrender" - 1982
4. "Cage Of Freedom" - 1984
5. "Hold On To Love" - 1988
6. "Candle Song" - 1994
7. "Change We Must" - 1994
8. "State Of Independence" - 2005
9. Open - 2011
10. "Race to the End" - 2012
Videos & DVDs
1. Tour Of The Universe - 2005
Jon & Vangelis Discography
1. Short Stories - 1980
2. The Friends Of Mr. Cairo - 1981
3. Private Collection - 1984
4. The Best Of Jon And Vangelis - 1984
5. Page Of Life - 1991
6. Vangelis: Portraits (So Far Away So Clear) - 1996"
FYI CPL Dave Hoover Sgt John H. Maj Wayne CristSGM Bill FrazerCSM (Join to see)SSG Jeffrey LeakeSSG Paul HeadleeSSG Samuel KermonCpl (Join to see)SGM Major StroupeCPL Michael PeckSSG Jeff Furgerson]Sgt (Join to see)PO1 Steve Ditto SPC Michael Terrell CPL Douglas ChryslerSP5 Geoffrey Vannerson LTC John Shaw SPC Diana D. LTC Hillary Luton
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