I met Bob 26 years ago in Moline, Illinois. Here was this very young, good-looking kid with a voice so powerful that people, when they heard him sing, always stopped and did a double-take. We were working together back then, he the singer, me the drummer. A few year later Bob moved to Las Vegas and built an impressive resume including numerous appearances on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson," "The Merv Griffin show," "The Mike Douglas Show," benefits for Henry Kissinger, Kirk Douglas, Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda and many more. People like Tony Bennett, Jack Jones, Joe Williams and Mel Torme make a point of stopping in to see Bob sing whenever they are in town. So who is Bob Anderson anyway?

Born and raised in a suburb of Detroit, Bob was influenced by a variety of singers and musicians. When I met him in 1970, he was a dead ringer for Tom Jones, yet he was more comfortable singing "Don't Worry 'bout Me" or "Where or When" then he was performing "Delilah".

I've always kidded Bob about being born too late. Why did this kid growing up in the age of Elvis Presley and The Beatles fall in love with the great saloon singers of our time? I mean Bob spent literally thousands of hours studying the nuances of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Jack Jones, and Bobby Darin, and because he listening so intently to those great artists, he learned and understood the intricacies and subtleties of interpretation and phrasing so lacking in much of today's music. These very traits led to his fame as a singing impressionist. But people in the business always knew Bob as a uniquely talented singer in his own right and encouraged him to perform simply as Bob Anderson.

Now we finally have the opportunity to hear Bob as Bob. Listening to him on this CD reminded me of drinking a fine wine. He has matured, as has his voice, his interpretation, his phrasing and most significantly, his soul. Though admittedly I am writing about my best friend, I invite you to pour a glass of wine, turn the lights down, and give a listen. What you will hear is uniquely Bob Anderson. I think he carries a legacy of those great signers with enormous integrity. Enjoy.

Frank Merlotti