Robert C. ’Bob’ Anderson

Robert C. "Bob" AndersonBob died peacefully on August 29, 2009 at Golden Living Nursing Home, Moorhead, MN.Robert C. "Bob" Anderson was born on November 1, 1928 in Fargo, ND, to Axel T. and Olga S. Howe Anderson. He grew up in the Horace Mann area of north Fargo, graduating from Fargo Central High School in 1946. Bob toured the central United States with Territory Orchestras until 1949, when he joined the WDAY Orchestra under the music direction of Frank Scott and remained through 1951 when he moved to Chicago to begin a seven year career with American Airlines. During those years Bob played with a series of Chicago bands. In 1958 Bob began a 15 year career with Olivetti Corporation, played with Twin Cities bands and formed his own musical group. Bob returned to the F-M area in 1979 and, along with friend, Paul Severson, formed three music groups, "Tuxedo Junction", "The Red River Dixieland Band" and "The Great American Ballroom Band". These groups were so successful that Bob formed an entertainment agency, "Crescendo Music Productions". In November of 1990, embracing a new concept in jazz, Bob founded the non-profit "Jazz Arts Group". Next he founded the "Jazz Arts Big Band", and the first subscription series was presented. During the Jazz Arts Big Band's seventeen seasons, he brought seventy-nine nationally and internationally acclaimed Jazz artists to Fargo-Moorhead. In June of 1993 Bob married Alice Nystrom. Together they became a "team" and Alice was at Bob's side for the next sixteen years as he continued to mentor many into the world of jazz. That same year, he launched a very extensive Jazz Arts Education Program. During this time, Bob received a Bachelor of Music degree from Minnesota State University, Moorhead, MN. He was president of the F-M Musicians Association, local 382 of the American Federation of America. He was also Executive Producer for the first Jazz Arts CD in 1999. In 2001, Bob was awarded the "Jazz Arts Lifetime Achievement Award". In 2004, he received the prestigious "Lake Agassiz Arts Council's Advocacy Award" and in April 2007 Bob was given an official proclamation from Mayors Dennis Walaker, Fargo and Mark Voxland, Moorhead, proclaiming "April 3, 2007 Robert C. Anderson Appreciation Day.Bob is survived by his wife Alice E. Anderson, Moorhead, MN; brother Richard RuthAnn Anderson, and their children, Mark, Cory, and Darcy, Durango, CO; step-daughters Deb Pete Pollard, Portland, OR, Kim Tim Jacobson, Fargo, Joni Scott Larson, Fargo, Heidi Jesse Symynkywicz, Blaine, MN; step-sons Jeff Lori Nystrom, Blaine, MN, Dan Suzanne Nystrom, Minneapolis, MN, Matt Nystrom, Fargo; nineteen grandchildren; five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Laurette.His integrity, sense of humor and creative vision will be missed. Bob was a true gentleman. True to his word, true to his actions, for this he will always be remembered.