Induction Year: 2024
Birth Name: Alan Gordon Anderson
Birth Date: 07-26-1947
Place of Birth: Windsor, Connecticut
“Big Al” Anderson was born in Windsor, CT. Raised by his piano teacher mother and a radio that would get WWVA in Wheeling, WV, late at night, he devoured all genres of music.
He was a member of The Wildweeds in the late 1960s. From 1971 to 1993 he was lead guitarist in the Rock band NRBQ, also releasing several solo albums. He was recognized as one of the top 100 guitar players of the 20th Century by Musician magazine.
In the 1990s, Al shifted his focus to Country music. In 1993 he celebrated his first major hit as Carlene Carter took their co-written “Every Little Thing” to #3 Country.
Among Al’s best-known songs are “Should’ve Asked Her Faster” by Ty England, “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down” by The Mavericks w/ Flaco Jiménez, “Unbelievable” by Diamond Rio, “Powerful Thing” by Trisha Yearwood, “Big Deal” by LeAnn Rimes, “The Cowboy In Me” by Tim McGraw, “Trip Around The Sun” by Jimmy Buffett & Martina McBride (also #1 Bluegrass in 2024 for Bronwyn Keith-Hynes w/ Dierks Bentley), “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright” by George Strait, and “Loving You Easy” by The Zac Brown Band.
Named BMI’s 2000 Country Songwriter of the Year, Al has had songs recorded by Vince Gill, Bonnie Raitt, Patty Loveless, George Jones and Sheryl Crow.
"(Tonight We Just Might) Fall In Love Again"
(written with Hal Ketchum)
| Hal Ketchum | 1994 | #20 Country |
"A Love Story In The Making"
(written with Craig Wiseman)
| Linda Davis | 1996 | #33 Country |
"All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down"
(written with Raul Malo)
| The Mavericks w/ Flaco Jiménez | 1996 | #13 Country |
"Big Deal"
(written with Jeffrey Steele)
| LeAnn Rimes | 2000 | #6 Country, #23 Pop |
"Cold Beer Conversation"
(written with Ben Hayslip, Jimmy Yeary)
| George Strait | 2015 | #36 Country |
"Every Little Thing"
(written with Carlene Carter)
| Carlene Carter | 1993 | #3 Country |
"Groovy Little Summer Song"
(written with Carson Chamberlain, James Otto)
| James Otto | 2010 | #26 Country |
"Love's Gonna Make It Alright"
(written with Chris Stapleton)
| George Strait | 2012 | #3 Country |
"Loving You Easy"
(written with Zac Brown, Niko Moon)
| The Zac Brown Band | 2015 | #4 Country |
"Next Big Thing"
(written with Vince Gill, John Hobbs)
| Vince Gill | 2003 | #17 Country |
"Powerful Thing"
(written with Sharon Vaughn)
| Trisha Yearwood | 1999 | #6 Country, #50 Pop |
"Should've Asked Her Faster"
(written with Bob DiPiero, Joe Klimek)
| Ty England | 1995 | #3 Country |
"Some Things Never Get Old"
(written with Vince Gill, Tia Sillers)
| Vince Gill w/ Emmylou Harris | 2006 |
| Al Anderson | 2012 |
"That's What I Get For Losin' You"
(written with Hal Ketchum)
| Hal Ketchum | 1994 | #22 Country |
"The Cowboy In Me"
(written with Jeffrey Steele, Craig Wiseman)
| Tim McGraw | 2002 | #1 Country, #33 Pop |
"The Last Thing On My Mind"
(written with Craig Wiseman)
| Patty Loveless | 2001 | #20 Country |
"Trip Around The Sun"
(written with Stephen Bruton, Sharon Vaughn)
| Jimmy Buffett w/ Martina McBride | 2004 | #20 Country |
| Maura O'Connell | 2004 |
| Al Anderson | 2006 |
| Bronwyn Keith-Hynes w/ Dierks Bentley | 2024 | #1 Bluegrass |
"Unbelievable"
(written with Jeffrey Steele)
| Diamond Rio | 1999 | #2 Country, #36 Pop |
"What You Give Away"
(written with Vince Gill)
| Vince Gill w/ Sheryl Crow | 2007 | #43 Country |
"Without Your Love"
(written with Craig Wiseman)
| Aaron Tippin | 1996 | #22 Country |
| Al Anderson | 1996 |
Induction Year: 2024
