Anderson was born in
Laurens, South Carolina, and raised in nearby
Greenville and
Spartanburg. He joined Dr. William R. Kerr of the Indian Remedy Company in 1914 to entertain the crowds, while Kerr tried to sell a concoction purported to have medicinal qualities. During this time Anderson occasionally worked with
Blind Simmie Dooley in the Spartanburg area, recording with him in 1928 for the
Columbia label. In the 1950s, Anderson toured with Leo "Chief Thundercloud" Kahdot of the
Potawatomi tribal nation and his
medicine show, He appeared in the 1963 film
The Bluesmen. Anderson reduced his activities in the late 1960s after a stroke. Anderson's son, known as
Little Pink Anderson (born July 13, 1954), is a bluesman living in
Vermillion, South Dakota.
Syd Barrett, of English
rock band
Pink Floyd, created the band's name by juxtaposing the first names of Anderson and
North Carolina bluesman
Floyd Council; ==Discography==