Listen to this article
Bandmaster James Anderson
Promoted to Glory
In the world’s parlance, the headline would read that James Anderson “lost his battle with cancer.” But since his diagnosis three years ago the bandmaster has insisted, in his warm Scottish brogue: “I’m not losing anything – I’m gaining heaven!”
Anderson, 64, was promoted to Glory on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010, from his son’s home in Denton, Texas. His family was at his side, singing “Peace, Perfect Peace.”
A celebration of his life was held on Sunday, Oct. 31, at the Dallas Temple Corps, with Major James Allison officiating. Internment was in the Holy Family Salvation Army section of Restland Cemetery, Dallas.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, to Elizabeth Christina Hannah and James Baird Anderson Sr. on Sept. 21, 1946, he is a fourth-generation Salvationist who made a personal commitment to Christ at a young age. He married Christina Ruth Neale on Sept. 9, 1972. The Lord blessed them with three children: Esther Louise (married to Aaron Puckett), Lois Dawn (Benjamin Lyda), and Timothy James (Karina Montoya). Altogether, he has five grandchildren.
Anderson graduated in 1974 from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music to pursue a life-long passion for music education. A music teacher for 11 years, his public school career culminated in his appointment as advisor in music for North East Scotland in 1985. In 1992, he answered God’s call to minister as Divisional Music Director for Texas, and thereafter served The Salvation Army joyfully for 18 years across the United States as Southern Territorial Music Education Director, Western Territorial Music Secretary, and National Capital and Virginia Divisional Music Director. He also served for a time as leader of the Southern Territorial Songsters, and was a regular on the staff each year at Territorial Music Institute.
He composed over 60 published band and choral works, performed and recorded internationally. His musical compositions include his first piece, Jesus Loves Me, written at the age of 15, and Words Of The Amen, a tone poem written on the cusp of his cancer, featuring the chorus, “Someday I shall be like him, and I shall see him face to face.” Bandmaster Anderson was an educator, conductor, and composer with a reputation for true spiritual leadership.