>> Carleen Anderson
bio: Carleen Anderson was born into a family of the musically inclined, steeped in gospel music, raised by her father's parents in Houston, Texas. Her Grandfather was a singing preacher who played guitar and piano, and his children also played keyboards, as well as sang in gospel choirs. Her favourite Aunt was an opera singer with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in the 1960's. Carleen's mother, Vicki Anderson, was the featured vocalist on the James Brown Show during the 60's and 70's, and is also the wife of Bobby Byrd, who had been making music with the Godfather of Soul since Bobby Byrd and James Brown were teenagers. Many of Carleen's 50 , first cousins, including singer/songwriter Jhelisa, are musicians as well. No surprise then that Carleen was also blessed with the gift of music. However, singing for her supper was not Carleen's plan for how she would live her life. Instead, she had studied at the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles, to become a music teacher, opting for a more steady existence, rather than joining in the circus that is the life of a performance musician. Carleen had married the younger brother of Sweet Charles Sherrell, the bass player for James Brown during the 70's, but the marriage didn't take. Now Carleen had a child to look after who would be the determining factor of what decisions she made, from that point onwards. After the Reagan administration withdrew the arts programs from the US schools, Carleen then took on various jobs as an office clerk, until she was approached by her mother, Vicki Anderson, and her step-father, Bobby Byrd, to join them in a tour of Europe with the James Brown All Stars Band, which included Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis, Marva Whitney and Lynn Collins. The part Carleen was to play was to sing backing vocals for the featured artists, as well as sing a solo song for the opening of the shows. The song she sang was Denise Williams' "Free". The first time Carleen performed this song was at what is now called The Forum, in London's Kentish Town. The audience gave her an overwhelmingly approving response, which prompted the soon to be formed Young Disciples' band members, Marco Nelson and Femi Williams, who had orchestrated the JB All-Stars tour, to suggest to Carleen that she move to England and sing for a living. Already looking for a way out of the limited options available in the US for her and her son, Carleen decided to cross the pond, with her son in tow, and take on a career that until that time, had never even been a remote possibility she would consider. With the Young Disciples, Carleen had a surprise success with a dance track called "Apparently Nothin'", and they recorded an album, "Road to Freedom", at Paul Weller's studio in London. Paul Weller played guitar on the album, as did keyboardist, Mick Talbot, Weller's band mate from the Style Council. As Marco and Femi had not planned on a performance career, the band dissolved. Courted by several record companies, Carleen chose Virgin Records/Circa label, on which she recorded 2 solo albums, "True Spirit" and "Blessed Burden". Paul Weller co-produced and co-wrote songs on her "Blessed Burden" album which forged a musical kinship that has been a mainstay for Carleen ever since. For nearly 2 years, Carleen was the lead singer of the popular R'n'B Funk band, the Brand New Heavies. She has been fortunate enough to be able to perform with a variety of contemporary and legendary performers from Brian Ferry and Leon Ware, to Guru and Omar. Her 3rd solo album, "Alberta's GrandDaughter", recorded independently with Ben Castle, son of famed British trumpeter, Roy Castle, is fused with jazz, blues, gospel, funk and soul, with a bit of rock opera as well. Carleen's musical expressions are her passions for love and harmony and the harsh reality that life makes these accomplishments difficult to attain. But that doesn't stop her from trying. Nowadays the former voice of the Young Disciples and Brand New Heavies is firmly back in the soul arena with ?Soul Providence?, a brand new album, considered by Echoes magazine to be ?the finest of her solo career?. She wrote every song herself ? with the exception of a fine new rendition of Leon Ware?s soul classic Wanna Be Where You Are, with her good friend Paul Weller ? and with producers Colin Walker and Mark Edwards she has created a superbly crafted, joyful album of stunning musicianship and impeccable vocal arrangements. Incognito horn players Nichol Thomson and Dominic Glover plus saxist Ben Castle give the album an uplifting, vibrant feel, especially on My Door Is Open and Gotta Believe in The Future. Jocelyn Brown contributes guest lead vocals on the powerful Parting The Waters.
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