The story of John Anderson and his platinum-plus album, Seminole Wind, is the story of the country music "come-back" of the decade. It's the true-to-life, yet larger-than-life, saga of one of the most dramatic career turn-arounds of the 1990's. It's the story of just reward for a singer who originally took country music by storm and helped keep it true to its roots back in the early '80's. John Anderson's memorable hits from that musical era included Wild and Blue, I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal, 1959, I Just Came Home To Count The Memories, Black Sheep and Swingin'. Swingin' was not only the Country Music Association's 1983 Song of the year; more recently it was cited by the A.M.O.A. as one of its all-time top-forty jukebox hits--right up there with Hey Jude and other perennial favorites by The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Patsy Cline, George Jones, and The Rolling Stones.
Straight Tequila Night, the lead-off single from Seminole Wind (John Anderson's debut album for BNA Entertainment), went to number one across the board on every country chart. It was his first bona-fide chart-topper since Black Sheep in 1983. When It Comes To You, the second single, reached number two, while Seminole Wind, the heartfelt title tune soared to number one when released later in 1992. Jay Orr, a noted music writer for the Nashville Banner, was one of several critics to list Seminole Wind in a top-ten album round-up for 1992.
Seminole Wind is a vivid personal statement which Anderson wrote after visiting John Anderson 95-year old grandmother, and after driving around Florida observing the drastic ecological changes that time and progress wrought on his native state. Its accompanying video was shot at a cypress preserve in the Florida Everglades with assistance and participation of the region's native Seminole Indians. It too leaped to the number one spot on national video charts.
Those of us who've followed the vicissitudes of John Anderson's recording career aren't particularly surprised at his "rediscovery" in the wake of Seminole Wind. This is, after all, the vocal genius who won the Country Music Association's 1983 Horizon Award and helped lay the cornerstone for the late 1980's neo-traditionalist boom with his aforementioned early '80's stone-country hits. Those hits which showcased Anderson's arresting, instantly recognizable vocal style; a provocative mixture of honky tonk fervor, rockabilly/outlaw gusto, sly, tongue-in-cheek humor, and just a hint of rock n' roll swagger. The John Anderson we hear today is merely the new and slightly mellowed adult version of the stylistically headstrong, fiercely determined 17-year old who hit Nashville running in 1972. He clawed his way up the ladder one rung at a time, from $5-a-night gigs in the honky tonk closets of lower Broadway and a day job tacking shingles on the new Grand Old Opry house at Opryland.
John Anderson followed Seminole Wind with three more critically acclaimed albums, spawning hits like, Money In The Bank, I Fell In The Water, I Wish I Could Have Been There, Country 'Til I Die, Bend It Until It Breaks and Mississippi Moon.
John Anderson is a seasoned and improved model of the same tried-and-true, dyed-in-the-wool country vocalist who critics lauded more than a decade ago for having brought, "renewed beauty and elegance to the twin-fiddle, steel guitar tradition of the old-time honky-tonk balladeer." The editors of Country Music Magazine, in celebration of the magazine's twenty- fifth anniversary, compiled their individual choices for the best twenty records of the past twenty years, three of John Anderson's early albums made their respective short lists.
Other awards include a Grammy Award in 1996 for Amazing Grace: A Country Salute To Gospel. In 1994 the Academy of Country Music honored him with their "Career Achievement Award." The same year he received the Country Music Association "Album of the Year" for Common Threads: The Songs of the Eagles. Swingin' won the CMA "Single of the Year" in 1983. John Anderson has also received numerous nominations for Grammies, ACM's and CMA's and has several gold and platinum album certifications.
John Anderson.an influence to many of today's country artists, a colorful character and truly a country music treasure!