Centerstage: Dave Anderson

Tell our readers about yourself. I’m a local

Huntsville musician who has played in town since

the 80s. I’ve played many great local bands, played

guitar on tour for Beebe and CeCe Winans, Brother

Cane and the current lineup of the Atlanta Rhythm

Section. I have written/produced music for TV and

movies.

First song you learned on guitar? Green River

by CCR was the first song I played by ear. I used to

watch my dad play drums along to CCR records so

that’s kind of what sparked it!

How old were you when you first performed

for an audience? I was 11 years old, 5th grade

at Weatherly Elementary. My band ROX played a

ragtag instrumental version of Smoke on the Water

for the 5th grade talent show. My parents recorded

it on cassette. For years I would laugh at how sloppy

the music sounded, but the powerful roar of the

crowd when we finished pretty much sealed the deal

for my future!

You’ve played alongside some big names in

music. Who has been your favorite? There are

really too many to name, but I would have to say

Eddie Van Halen. He was a huge influence on me.

I missed my 10-year reunion because my band

Brother Cane was opening for Van Halen! Eddie

couldn’t have possibly been any nicer.

What’s on your playlist these days? A lot of of my

old favorites – The Beatles, The Who, Joni Mitchell,

Marvin Gaye, all across the board. Plenty new stuff

as well (new to me!) like Tame Impala, Silversun

Pickups, Weyes Blood, Khruangbin/Leon Bridges to

name a few.