John Anderson
Birth nameJohn Edgar Thomas Anderson
Born (1948-05-18) 18 May 1948
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Occupation(s)Composer, Record Producer
Instrument(s)Piano, Keyboard
Years active1979–present
LabelsEmerald, MCA

John Edgar Thomas Anderson (born 18 May 1948) is a Northern Irish composer, editor, arranger, TV producer and director, record producer and radio presenter. He is "one of Ireland’s most accomplished writers, producers, directors and composers".[1]

Early life

Anderson was born in Belfast in Northern Ireland. As a young child he grew up on the Rathcoole estate on the outskirts of Belfast, and attended Whitehouse Primary School, where he would learn the piano and sing in the choir.

He would later attend the Royal Belfast Academical Institution where he studied Music, English, French and Spanish at A-Level in 1966. He then was admitted to the Queen’s University of Belfast, and went on to be elected the President of the Music Society. He later graduated as a Bachelor of Music (with Honours) in 1969.

In 1971, he was appointed to be Assistant Director of Music at Methodist College Belfast. A post he would hold for the next seven years. It was during this time he was the organist for St. Comgall’s Parish Church, Rathcoole, and later as conductor for the Harlandic Male Voice Choir.[2]

Career

Anderson worked as a Producer and TV Studio Director for UTV and BBC NI.[3]

John Anderson Big Band

Anderson is known for the John Anderson Big Band, which had chart hits with the Glenn Miller Medley and In the Mood.[4] He is also known for producing the basis for the Jive Bunny hits.[5]

His Glenn Miller Medley entered the UK Singles Charts in 1985 and reached number 61 and stayed there for 5 weeks[6]

Anderson was later signed as a solo recording artist to MCA (Universal) and entered the UK Album Charts on 25 November 1995, with the album The Romance of Ireland.[7]

Radio

Anderson produced and presented a long-running, one-hour weekly radio show on BBC Radio Ulster.[8] From 2007-2018 Anderson produced and presented a weekly series for BBC Radio Ulster, called "Sing Out".[9]

On Eagle’s Wing

Anderson is perhaps best known as the writer and producer of the musical stage show On Eagle’s Wing,[10] a musical about the Ulster-Scots and their impact on the history of Scotland, Northern Ireland and the United States.[11] It was debuted in Belfast at the SSE Odyssey Arena in May 2004.[12]

Former US President Jimmy Carter stated that the show was sure to promote the parity of esteem initiated by the Good Friday Agreement, "On Eagle’s Wing will facilitate a better appreciation of the story of the Scots-Irish…it supports efforts towards reconciliation, peace and acceptance of cultural differences".[13][14][15]

It has been broadcast across the USA from coast to coast on PBS in 2005.,[16] and was also broadcast to Australia.[17] It has been distributed on DVD by Foreign Media Music (Netherlands).[18] A documentary was also made, by Moore Sinnerton.[19]

References

  1. ↑ "Music Maestro Flying High On His Success". Newsletter. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  2. ↑ "Conductors Details". Harlandic MVC. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  3. ↑ "Music Making" (PDF). bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  4. ↑ "John Anderson Big Band". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  5. ↑ "Making Music" (PDF). bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  6. ↑ "John Anderson Big Band". Official Charts. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  7. ↑ "Romance of Ireland". Official Charts. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  8. ↑ "BBC Radio Ulster". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  9. ↑ "Sing Out". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  10. ↑ "John Anderson". IMDB. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  11. ↑ "On Eagle's Wing". IMDB. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  12. ↑ "What Eagle". Ulster Scots Society. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  13. ↑ "Belfast Telegraph, 26th August 2003". HighBeam.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  14. ↑ "Newsletter Vol.4 Issue 3". Electric Scotland.
  15. ↑ "Music Maestro Flying High On His Success". Newsletter. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  16. ↑ "'On Eagles Wing' To Screen On US Television". Irish Film and Television Network. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  17. ↑ "Trove: On Eagle's Wing: The Scot's Irish Journey". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  18. ↑ "Trove: On Eagle's Wing: Video Recording". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  19. ↑ "On Eagle's Wing". Irish Film & TV Research Online - Trinity College Dublin. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
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