Former Yes frontman discusses his first big career break and songwriting, and performs an acoustic set
Former Yes frontman Jon Anderson recently participated in an installment of the GRAMMY Museum's An Evening With series. Before an intimate audience at the Museum's Clive Davis Theater, Anderson discussed his first big career break and songwriting process, among other topics. Anderson also performed two Yes tracks, "Starship Trooper" and "Time And A Word."
"I started reading [on tour]," said Anderson. "One of the first things I started to read was The Hobbitand then [The] Lord Of The Rings and I was listening to [Jean] Sibelius at the same time and I was in my own world. ... The words and the incredible mythological energy that came through, it just sort of inspired me to want to write."
GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter Anderson was the lead vocalist of progressive rock group Yes with whom he released best-selling albums such as 1972's Close To The Edge and 1974's Relayer, which reached No. 3 and No. 5 on the Billboard 200, respectively. In 1983 Yes scored their highest-charting single "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" which peaked at No. 1 and propelled the album 90125 to No. 5 on the Billboard 200. The following year Yes garnered a GRAMMY for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "Cinema," which is featured on 90125. In 1976 Anderson released his first solo project, Olias Of Sunhillow, which peaked at No. 47 on the Billboard 200. His most recent album,Survival & Other Stories, was released in 2011 and features 11 songs co-written by Anderson.
Upcoming GRAMMY Museum events include Great Guitars: Wayne Kramer (Jan. 24), An Evening With Paul Kelly (Jan. 29) and The Drop: Ron Sexsmith (Jan. 30).
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