MORGANTOWN — Saturday, Al Anderson was the man of the hour.
The Morgantown History Museum presented “Morgantown Memories” a documentary series highlighting the lives of influential people in the Morgantown area. Anderson’s is the first in a series of documentaries. One will also highlight Pam Ball, executive director of the Morgantown History Museum.
The turnout proved well for the reception entitled Al Anderson: Cobbler, Osage Mayor and Rock-N-Roll Star, leaving some standing without a seat to see Anderson speak, sing, and the showing of the documentary.
“You’ve got to come over and do a little speaking, do a little answering questions,” said Anderson.
Anderson talked about how it all started. When he was 11 years old he worked at a shoe shop – that was 70 years ago. He has since become a cobbler, sang in bands and has been called the unofficial mayor of Osage, the town here he grew up. Anderson is very involved in the community in Scott’s Run.
Right now, he’s working on a program that allows kids to work with their hands, much like he does as a cobbler.
“If we don’t find a way to give these kids an identity, all the things about trying to beat opioids and all that. The only way you’re going to beat any of those things is if you give those kids a chance to work and make a little money,” he said.
Aside from his work in the community, Anderson is an accomplished musician. He said that’s the easy part. Next year will mark 60 years of performing as a singer. Anderson still sings on the weekends at rest homes and churches.
Anderson is known for being the frontman of The Fabians and The Dominoes where he performed in parts of California and Washington D.C. Anderson also spent time performing at bar mitzvahs and weddings.
“If you still have vocal chords after almost 60 years you’re very lucky,” said Anderson.
Anderson said he never drank or smoked cigarettes when he performed at clubs. The most important thing however is always the microphone.
“That microphone, I don’t know nothin’ about notes and music or playing an instrument, but I know that microphone, and it better be right. I don’t care where I’m at,” he said.
Given his 60 year anniversary as a performer, Anderson said he’s working on putting together a show honoring everyone he has ever performed with next year. It’s a two hour, one man show that’s in the works, which he said would be a big production and a celebration of the time he’s spent as a musician.
“Life has been real good, and I work every day down there at that shop and at 81 years old a lot of folks are retired to their rocking chairs,” he said.
Anderson has also been on the board of the Coalition for Social Justice for 18 years, the Scott’s Run Settlement House Board for 8 years, the United Way Board for 8 years and the Chairperson of the Lion’s Club in Westover, among other things he’s been involved in and working on.
“That’s quite a bit, isn’t it?” he said.
Although Anderson faced adversity in his life, he said what you have to do in life is “just do.”
“You don’t have to say nothing, just do and people will find out how much talent you have and how much you bring back to your hometown. You can come back and do nothing, but that’s not my style you know,” he said.
Anderson said the blessing is going out there and doing things because you’re able. God gives gifts and people are meant to use those gifts.
“He’s still blessing me to be able to do things. So I won’t stop that. Unless He stops me,” he said.
