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B I O G R A P H Y
— by Don Garlock Jr.
Those who want to know more about the man behind "The Voice" have come
to the right place. Nowhere else does there exist a more comprehensive
sketch of Carl Anderson —
his heritage, experiences, and myriad accomplishments — than right
here.
Carl Anderson's vocal gymnastics, his stage persona, his indescribable
innate rapport with people, his contagious intensity, the private man
— each is an aspect of the complex and multi-faceted talent known
around the world as Carl Anderson. The legion fans of Jesus Christ Superstar,
of jazz standards, of contemporary jazz, of Broadway and cinema —
each find something to satisfy them in the enigma known as Carl Anderson...
for Carl Anderson defies description... and had one heck of a good time
doing it. Carl was able to command a stage... yet relate to anyone in
his audience. He could dominate a room, or be quite invisible. Equally
personable with royalty as he was with some friends down on the corner,
working as intently with legends of stage, studio and screen as he did
with the youngest of aspiring performers, Carl Anderson made those around
him feel downright good. That was part of his magic. Carl was at his best
and happiest when he was... well... Carl. On the other hand, such is a
complex subject. Nevertheless, here's a rare glimpse into the remarkable
man who for decades brought so much joy to so many millions through his
wealth of gifts, which he so freely shared. Join me now for an unforgettable
journey...
Beginnings
James
and Alberta Anderson both hailed from Bedford County, Virginia. When they
were married in 1934, they began a 64-year union that would bless them
with 12 children, including four sets of twins. James, who went to be
with the Lord in December 1998, was a steelworker, and Alberta, (known
to friends and family alike as "Mizz Anderson") who left us
in 2005, was a seamstress who still managed to sew up a storm well into
her 90s. At little more than four feet tall, Alberta made up for her tiny
frame with a sparkle and a wit that crackled like a warm fire. Her deep
and abiding faith in God was evident in even the briefest of conversations.
It was also evident that each member of her now enormous family —
four generations of it, and nearly 100 strong — received equal billing
with her. (Carl got no more attention, yet no less; at home, he was still
"just Carl.")
In
1934, the newlyweds moved into the home (pictured here), the ruins of
which still stand today near Perrowville, (Bedford County), Virginia.
They would live there through the remainder of the 1930s and into the
40s before moving about a dozen miles to the East into the city of Lynchburg
and settling in a modest home on Boston Avenue.
(Lynchburg is a burgeoning city nestled along the banks of the mighty James River and at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and, even though Carl left here in the late 1960s, is the place he always called "home." Lynchburg is named for John Lynch, a Quaker, who started a ferry crossing on the James River in the 1780s. Carl often took breaks from globetrotting to return to Lynchburg to visit his large family and also to conduct performance workshops and put on a concert for revitalizing the downtown riverfront and providing opportunities for all to develop and appreciate the performing arts.)
James and Alberta would bring their first child into the world about a year after they were married, and would add five more before they welcomed a set of identical twin boys into the world on 27 February 1945... Carlton Earl and Charles Edward Anderson. At the age of just 11 months, Carl's twin Charles died of bronchitis. (Carl often explained his boundless energy by saying that he got both his energy and that of his twin brother.)
