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R&B singer Carleen Anderson was introduced to music at an early age, as both her mother (Vicki Anderson) and stepfather (pianist Bobby Byrd) toured throughout the '60s and '70s with the great James Brown. Due to her parents constantly being on the road, Anderson grew up in Houston, TX, and was raised by her grandparents, until relocating to Los Angeles to study music at the University of South California. Interestingly, Anderson was at first pursuing a career in teaching music, not performing, but when she was invited by her mother to sing at a J.B. All Stars in London circa 1988, Anderson changed her mind. She set up a residence in England, joining up with Young Disciples in the early '90s and appearing on their lone full-length release, 1991's Road to Freedom. After Young Disciples split in 1993, Anderson embarked on a solo career, issuing a pair of releases — 1994's True Spirit and 1998's Blessed Burden, in addition to lending her talents to recordings by such acclaimed British artists as Bryan Ferry (1994's Mamouna), Paul Weller, (1992's self-titled release and 1995's Stanley Road), and Dr. John (1998's Anutha Zone). Anderson was then invited to join the Brand New Heavies, but the union only last a short while, as she split from the group in the early 21st century to work on a third solo album.
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.
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