Anderson, Robert, 1928-2009.

Robert 'Bob' Anderson was born November 1, 1928 in Fargo, N.D. to Axel T. and Olga S (Howe) Anderson. After graduating from Fargo Central High School in 1946 he toured with the Territory Orchestra in the central U.S.A. until 1949 when he joined the WDAY Orchestra under the music direction of Frank Scott and remained with them until 1951 when he moved to Chicago. There he worked for American Airlines. While in Chicago he played with a series of Chicago bands. In 1958 he began a fifteen year career with Olivetti Corporation, played with Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. bands and formed his own musical group. In 1979 Bob Anderson returned to the Fargo-Moorhead area and with friend Paul Severson formed three music groups, Tuxedo Junction, The Red River Dixieland Band, and The Great American Ballroom Band. Due to their success he formed an entertainment agency Crescendo Music Productions. In 1990 he founded the local Jazz Arts Group, then the Jazz Arts Big Band. In 1993 Bob Anderson married Alice Nystrom and she worked at his side for the next sixteen years. Also in 1993 he launched the Jazz Arts Education Program. During this time he received a B.A. degree in music from Minnesota State University Moorhead. He also served as president of the F-M Musicians Association, Local 382 of the American Federation of America. In 2001 he was awarded the Jazz Arts Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2004 the Lake Agassiz Arts Council's Advocacy Award. Bob Anderson died August 29, 2009 in Moorhead, Minn.