Harvey Anderson

Harvey Anderson was born in Cleburne Texas in September, 8 1924. He learned to play the saxophone and read music from his father, Harvey Anderson Sr., who was a band leader. He was a graduate of TCU in Fort Worth where he was drum major of the marching band. The young Anderson went on to form his own band, which was a mainstay of the Lake Worth Casino during the heyday of big band swing music. Mr. Anderson's musicianship and his library of arrangements were nationally known in music circles. When touring orchestras played the North Texas area, the leaders frequently hired Mr. Anderson to play lead alto saxophone, clarinet or flute and to provide other local musicians to fill out the bandstand. The long list of band leaders he worked with during the years included Ted Weems, Harry James, Tex Beneke, Doc Severinsen, Sammy Kaye, Vaughn Monroe, Les Elgart, Peter Nero, Ray Price and Skitch Henderson. He died in his hometown of Cleburne on December 21st, 1993. In addition to being known regionally as "Mr. Big Band," Mr. Anderson organized a four-piece group The Harvey Anderson Quartet with pianist Jim Ecker.