Five Decades in Music: Still Going Strong in Colorado
We Are Proud to Add Robert Anderson to our Pop Bop Rock Honor Roll!
I was very pleased to receive an email telling me about Colorado-born musician Robert Anderson from Michael Aisner who managed the Righteous Bluegrass Band and Rufus Krisp at one time. Michael related this impressive information: “Robert is only one of two Colorado-born songwriters to have number one charted hits. The other is Philip Bailey (from Earth, Wind & Fire) who is two years younger than Robert!”
Beginnings: Yuma, Colorado
Robert Anderson was born in Yuma, Colorado located in eastern Colorado between Akron and Wray on Colorado highway 34. Robert tells us “I was the first boy to be born in the Yuma Hospital which was brand new at that time.”
Anderson was very active in high school as a member of the Science Club, French Club, “Y” Club and playing on the Yuma football team and wrestling team where he competed in State competition.
Anderson also took part in the school variety show, in chorus – a member of the Stage Band – was in the Junior class play and was on the yearbook staff.
During his high school years he an good friend Michael Woody performed together as well as playing with a rock band. Anderson tells us the band went through several name changes and during their time together played not only in Colorado but also in Kansas and Nebraska doing sock hops, high school proms, dances and the like.
On to Boulder and a Career in Music
After graduating in at Yuma High, Anderson journeyed to Boulder, Colorado and enrolled at the University of Colorado where he studied for two and a half years before embarking on his musical career.
Along the way Robert would be a member of the “Righteous Bluegrass Band” – a band who provided according to Anderson bluegrass, country and rock music as well as humor. The band performed as the “Righteous Bluegrass Band for three months at Disney World’s Diamond Horseshoe Theater in Orlando, Florida in it’s opening year – along with Roni Stoneman from the TV show “Hee-Haw”.
Next it was the Rufus Krisp band again playing bluegrass and rock – both bands performed locally and nationally.
Anderson with Mike Seeger
Anderson performed with famed bluegrass musician Mike Seeger from the notorious Seeger family from which gave us Pete Seeger of the Weavers and Peggy Seeger. Mike is an inductee into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame and was a member of the New Lost City Ramblers.
Anderson Beyond the Righteous Blue Grass Band
His next endeavor was with the B’everly Hills Brothers – country and pop duo – Then the 17th Avenue All-Stars which fluctuated between four and five members and delivered A Cappella songs both locally and nationally (the group continues today after more than 20 years in entertainment. Then came “Devotion” another duo with Lori Sandstrom specializing in inspirational/positive original covers.
Anderson co-composed the song “He’s Back and I’m Blue” with his home town friend Michael Woody. It was recorded by the Desert Rose Ban a country group that included former Byrds Chris Hillman giving Robert the distinction of becoming one of two native Colorado musicians to pen a number one song.
Michael Aisner provided the following regarding Robert and his musical journey:
(While with his Righteous Bluegrass Band) “they met John Prine & Steve Goodman in Chicago at the “Earl of Old Town” on an extended gig and opened for them.
“The band opened for a Doc Watson west coast tour, (as well as) several with Earl Scruggs and played frequently at Marvelous Marv’s (Denver) and then as a darling at Ebbet’s Field opening for Steve Martin whenever he played there.”
This song recorded in 1973 with Rufus Krisp had significant plays on KLAK in Denver for months and months. It was about the construction of the Eisenhower Tunnel on Loveland Pass.
Along the way, Anderson would open or back other acts including Helen Reddy, Tanya Tucker, David Steinberg, Linda Ronstadt, the Country Gazette and many, many others. They played for a summer in a main stage show at the brand new Disney World in Florida and many colleges.
(Robert) wrote music and performed in a feature film with John Astin, and recorded music for the Great American Dream Machine on ABC Afterschool Specials.
Anderson teamed up with Firefall member Jock Bartley to write “In the Dead of the Night” which was released in December of 1982
His next endeavor was with the B’everly Hills Brothers – country and pop duo – Then the 17th Avenue All-Stars which fluctuated between four and five members and delivered A Cappella songs both locally and nationally (the group continues today after more than 20 years in entertainment. Then came “Devotion” another duo with Lori Sandstrom specializing in inspirational/positive original covers.
Anderson tells us that he was very fortunate, spending an entire career making music stating “I was blessed to make a great living with my music.
CD – Devotion – All You Can Do
CD – Devotion – Intention
CD – Intention – We Are Healing
Today, Robert resides once again in his beloved Yuma where he composes music, sings and plays guitar and also engages in inspirational speaking. Anderson is married and has a son.
From Michael Aisner:
“Robert is one of my oldest and dearest friends from the day I met them in the Hungry Farmer in Boulder when I went there in my ’31 Chevy to watch Buster Keaton silent films there showed and have a burger and peanuts. A friend Bud and I were miffed they shut the movie off and then this wild band came in and months later I was managing them.
“They played hundreds and hundreds of gigs and made the cover of Bluegrass Unlimited, the Rolling Stone of that genre.
“I think there’s more accolades too you may not be aware of including National Acapella awards and another category Robert is in— Positive Music which he’s won a number of times as well. His acapella work produced some outstanding albums from a true group of All-Stars…Robert arranged most of their music. In addition he’s had another life in music as an arranger for high schools and maybe colleges too.”
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