Robert Anderson Biography
Finger Style Guitarist
Robert Anderson
Fingerstyle Guitarist, Robert Anderson, was born on October 30th, 1957, in Maryville Tennessee to Jesse and Edna Mae Anderson. His older sister, Janie, bought him his first real guitar at the age of eight. It was about this time when he first heard Chet Atkins, playing Say It With Soul on the radio.
Not coming from a musical background didnt necessarily prove to be a handicap for Robert, who is a self-taught player. The influence of Atkins fingerstyle guitar playing becomes readily apparent when Robert begins to play. Many experts in the field have likened Roberts tone and technique, truly to that of Mr. Atkins.
His musical ability developed very rapidly, and in 1979 and 1980, Robert taught fingerstyle guitar at Tommy Covingtons Music Store in Maryville, TN. Then for reasons that hes not even sure of, Robert didnt play much at all for a seven year period from 1980-87.
In late 1987, he joined with a Southern Gospel group called The Joyful Sound. They toured the Southeast until about 1992. From then until August 1998 he played little anywhere except at home.
However, one day while in a local music store, Broadway Sound, located in Knoxville, Tennessee, he was invited to a jam session on a Tuesday night by a member of the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society who just happened to be in the local music store. Not playing at first and letting his boyhood shyness take over, he waited for a while before taking his guitar out of the case. Finally after playing a few of Atkins tunes, he was given a thumbs up welcome and strongly encouraged to join the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society, something he had wanted to do for some time but didnt know how to contact any club members.
Robert Anderson and Meagan Taylor Music In August of 1999, Robert entered the Home of The Legends International Thumb and Fingerstyle Guitar Contest in Kentucky, and came in second place. He entered again in August 2000 and took first place for the championship in the thumb and fingerstyle class, as well as the open style division. Almost immediately his first CD project was created, entitled, ""The World of Fingerstyle Guitar"". A dream came true!
A short while later, Roberts life long dream finally came true! He met some of Chets family which included a younger sister, Billie Rose, and his grand niece, Meagan Taylor in Luttrell, TN at a bonfire for an outdoor gathering of picking and fellowship. They asked Robert if he would like to come to Nashville to meet Chet and play for him. He could hardly believe this was happening!
Robert went to Nashville, and he wondered if he would actually be able to play for the maestro, Mr. Guitar himself, realizing his life-long goal. Robert did not know how Chet would react to the east Tennessee native from the Smoky Mountains, but Chet just smiled and listened as Robert played for him, applauding every so often. Wow, Robert thought, dreams do come true!
On two separate occasions about six to eight months before Chet passed away, Billie Rose and Meagan asked Robert to come down and spend some time with Chet and play for him. Chet must have dearly loved these two visits, for although it was getting late and he was asked if he was ready to go home, Chet just looked at Robert and his guitar and smiled as if to say, Keep playing! Perhaps Chet was remembering back through the years when he recorded and played those same tunes as well.
Robert Anderson and Meagan Taylor Music
Chet spoke very highly of Roberts ability to play music. Due to his health problems, Chet was nearly to the point of not being able to help his grandniece increase her knowledge of the guitar. Robert offered his help with the knowledge that he had learned down thru the years from listening to Chet. Robert and Meagan now travel and play shows together, which led to his next CD project, and Meagan's first "Carryin' On".
Robert's latest cd, "Acoustic Waves", was finished shortley after.
His next goal is to travel and play guitar for the people of this world, bringing as much joy to everyone as he possibly can. Robert says he only wants to give back the same things that he has learned in the most humble way, in hopes that his guitar playing will have an affect on someone s life the same way that Chets music affected his life. Robert's motto is sincere devotion along with hard work and practice on an instrument that you love to play is a very rewarding experience when someone pays you back with a nice smile.
Robert Anderson and Meagan Taylor Music In addition to Chet Atkins, Roberts other musical tastes are Django Reinhardt, Lenny Breau, Jerry Reed, Les Paul, Earl Klugh, and one of the founding fathers of thumb and fingerstyle guitar, Merle Travis. Robert is certainly a fingerstyle guitarist that the world will be hearing more of in the near future. Aside from playing monthly shows in some area cafes, Roberts on the road quite a bit playing in Nashville, Atlanta, Florida, and Ohio. Robert is a regular performer at the CAAS Convention held annually at the Music City Sheraton in Nashville, TN where a lot of the best players in the world attend, paying tribute and honor to Mr. Guitar, Chet Atkins.
In September of 2000, he was invited to perform at the famous Everly Brothers Homecoming in their hometown of Central City, KY., an outdoor event which always has crowds in access of around 15,000 people. Robert likes small venues as well because he enjoys communicating with as many people as possible. Roberts soft spoken down-to-earth personality, is purely natural for this Tennessee native. Other venues where Robert has been featured are PBS channel 2 - Riders of the Silver Screen Show, WATE TV6 - Good Morning TN Show, WBIR TV10 - The Live At 5 Show, and WBIR TV10 - The Heartland Series.
On October 18, 2003, the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival presented Robert the first place award as the official State Champion in the Fingerstyle Guitar Division with 1st place, which took place at the Georgia Mountain Fair in Hiwassee, Georgia.
In October of 2004, the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention presented Robert the first place award as the champion for the Thumb And Fingerstyle Guitar contest.