Charley Anderson

British bassist and founding member of The Selecter.

Anderson. was born in Negril, Jamaica, but moved to Coventry when he was 11 years old. His brother and Lynval Golding were friends and often rehearsed downstairs in the Anderson garage. He gained his first stage and musical experience by dj-ing at sound systems in the Coventry area. After various stints as a soundman and guest musician he and Charlie 'H' Bembridge formed 'Hard Top 22' consisting of members who would eventually become the Selecter: Gaps, Desmond, Komie Amanor.
Though The Selecter’s success didn’t change his life financially, Charley has been quoted as saying “It was a great mental boost – like graduating with a triple Ph.D. on how to survive in music.”
He refused to play on “Celebrate the Bullet” as he didn’t think it was the right direction for the band and left together with Desmond Brown. Both started The People with Silverton Hutchinson, then Chris Christie joined too. They supported the Specials and did quite a few gigs around London. But the band was dismantled after they finished one single produced by Lynval Golding and Dave Jordan.
In 1982 he joined Century Steel Band for their first recording and toured Ireland and UK with them. Later he moved to Mombasa, Kenya where he formed 'The Vikings Band' and worked as Entertainment Manager. In the late 1990's he became a member of the Swedish ska band The Skalatones up to their split in 2001.
He now lives in Bogota, Colombia and has been in the UK recently to re-connect with some of his band mates and members of The Specials.