b. May 1957, USA. Anderson started her professional life as a clerical worker, with very few ambitions to enter the world of showbusiness. Her parents, conversely, had been stalwarts of James Brown's touring revue in the 60s and 70s. Her mother, Vicki Anderson, was also a backing vocalist, and her stepfather was Bobby Byrd of the Famous Flames. By her mid-twenties Anderson had married, given birth to a son, and started a college scholarship in Los Angeles to train to be a music teacher. However, times were tough, and she eagerly accepted an offer from her parents to travel to London to investigate the emerging soul scene. There she linked with the duo Young Disciples. Though never an official member of the band, she wrote and sang on most of their best songs, notably "Apparently Nothin'", written about the Gulf War. However, her tenure with the Young Disciples ended, amicably, with the release of Dusky Sappho, a limited edition EP. Its title referred to Phyllis Wheatley, an American poet and slave who had come to Britain and was a prime mover in the lesbian movement.

Listen to Carleen Anderson at Finetune.

• Who Chooses The Seasons

• Aretha Franklin
• Bettye LaVette
• Curtis Mayfield
• Dr. John
• Etta James
• Gwen McCrae
• Isaac Hayes
• James Booker
• Mink Deville
• Ray Charles
• Sam & Dave
• Stevie Wonder
• The Neville Brothers
• Tower of Power
• willy deville
• 2 Banks of 4
• 4 Hero
• Cloud Nine
• Beastie Boys
• DJ Krush

• tongpoooo
• leiya
• VALlewellyn
• RaimundE

• VALlewellyn on 2008-10-24 13:18:17.547:
  This was the voice that brought many of us to the dance floor. She needs to do more stuff! Love her!