John Anderson Commemorates Indian Day at Sell-Out Show

By Judy Weeks
Freelance Reporter

IMMOKALEE — More than 500 people joined singer/songwriter John Anderson to celebrate Indian Day at the Immokalee Seminole Casino on the evening of Sept. 26.

Midway through a national tour, Anderson said he has looked forward to making this stop in Seminole Country because it felt like a homecoming. He and his six band members entertained the crowd on a steel guitar, drums, banjo, fiddle, keyboard, base and lead guitar for nearly two hours of continuous music. On occasion the audience received an invitation to sing along.

As friends and fans filled the Immokalee Casino for Anderson’s sell-out concert, Casino Manager Tony Sanchez said the Tribe takes pleasure in hosting these kinds of events.

“This is just one of the many entertainment opportunities that we plan to bring to Immokalee,” he said. “Upon completion of the current renovations, our capacity will be greatly increased and we will be better able to serve our community. It is my pleasure to have John Anderson here to celebrate the holiday.”

Born and raised in Central Florida in the city of Apopka, John Anderson calls himself a country boy at heart.

“I grew up fishing in the lakes, running around in the swamps and climbing in the moss draped oak trees of our back yard,” he said in an interview prior to his show. “Sometimes I wish I could close my eyes and return to those lazy nights, when I would kick back to the smell of orange blossoms and listen to the gators grunting in the pond.”

Anderson said he started singing at an early age in his family’s living room, spending long hours picking his guitar and mimicking his country music heroes. By 1972 he relocated to Nashville – the epicenter of country music – to pursue his dreams in earnest.

During the next 35 years, Anderson writing, co-writing and recorded a long list of songs including several No. 1 hits such as “Swinging,” “I’m Just an Ole Lump of Coal” and one of the Tribes’ favorites, “Seminole Wind.” Following their show, the musicians left the stage to a standing ovation from the appreciative audience.

“You know it’s a funny thing about ‘Seminole Wind,’” said Anderson. “When I wrote it, I never intended to market it. It was a personal thing that I did from the heart.”

“After living in Nashville for sometime, this ole country boy sure was homesick. I missed the cypress swamps, sawgrass and Spanish moss,” he contained. “Like the Seminoles, I am a part of the Florida landscape in which I was raised.”

Chairman Mitchell Cypress, speaking to Anderson before he took the stage, commended Anderson on writing such a heartfelt song that honored the Tribe.

“When you made ‘Seminole Wind,’ you captured the spirit and culture of the Seminole people and spread it across our great land,” Chairman Cypress said. “It’s only natural that it has become something of an anthem in Seminole Country. We will always remember you for your contribution to our history.”

After the show in a meet and greet with President Richard Bowers Jr., Anderson asked if Bowers recalled a memorable time in his life when he got in an alligator pit.

“Do you remember that I entrusted you with my life?” Anderson asked. “You were wrestling gators at a fair and invited me into the pit to hold one. I climbed right in without any reservations, and I wouldn’t do that for anyone else in the world.”

“You had nothing to worry about,” replied President Bowers. “As Seminoles we have more or less adopted you and I would never hurt a brother.”

The atmosphere of a family reunion continued after the show as Anderson embraced other Tribal citizens and shared memories with some of the elders. Susie Henry traveled all the way from Tampa to see Anderson, who she referred to as an old friend.

“It’s wonderful the way he never forgets us,” Henry said. “He remembers names, people and places like yesterday.”