VETERAN MUSICIAN GLADSTONE “GLADDY” ANDERSON DIES AT 81!

Gladstone ‘Gladdy’ Anderson, a prolific musician who made his mark in the rocksteady era, died on December 3 at age 81.

Kingsley Goodison, Anderson’s close friend, told the

Jamaica Observer that he passed away but did not disclose the cause of death.

A keyboardist, Anderson mainly worked as a session musician for producer Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid’s Treasure Isle label where he started his career in the late 1950s.

In the 1960s, Anderson was a member of several high-profile bands including the Jets, Harry J All Stars, Supersonics and the Dynamites.Some of his bandmates included saxophonist Tommy McCook, guitarist Lynn Taitt, bassist Jackie Jackson and organist Winston Wright.

With the Jets, he played on Take it Easy, the 1966 song by singer Hopeton Lewis, regarded as the first rocksteady record.

In 2012, Anderson was recognized by Goodison’s Tribute To The Greats organisation for outstanding contribution to Jamaican music.

Anderson played on countless hit songs such as Alton Ellis’ Girl I’ve Got a Date, Roy Shirley’s

Hold Them and You’re Gonna Need Me, one of singer Errol Dunkley’s first hit songs.

By Howard Campbell