Al Anderson, born Albert Anderson on October 11, 1952, in New York City, is a distinguished American songwriter and guitarist renowned for his contributions to reggae and rock music. Raised in Montclair, New Jersey, Anderson attended Montclair High School, where he initially learned to play the trombone before transitioning to guitar and bass. He further honed his musical skills at the Berklee College of Music alongside notable contemporaries such as Pat Metheny and Al Di Meola.

Anderson's career took a significant turn when he joined The Centurions, which led to an opportunity to collaborate with Chris Wood of Traffic. Although the collaboration with Traffic did not materialize, it paved the way for Anderson's involvement with Island Records. This connection led him to play lead guitar on Bob Marley & The Wailers' "Natty Dread" sessions, marking the beginning of his enduring association with the legendary reggae band.

As a member of Bob Marley & The Wailers, Anderson played lead guitar on iconic tracks such as "Crazy Baldhead" and contributed to the live album "Live!" He remained with the band until 1976, after which he joined Word, Sound and Power, backing Peter Tosh on the acclaimed albums "Legalize It" and "Equal Rights." Anderson later rejoined Marley's band, performing on the live album "Babylon By Bus" and the studio albums "Survival" and "Uprising."

Following Bob Marley's death, Anderson continued to tour with The Wailers Band and collaborated with a diverse range of artists, including Ben Harper and Lauryn Hill. His guitar work is featured on Hill's Grammy-winning album "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" and on Steven Seagal's "Songs from the Crystal Cave." In 2008, Anderson co-founded The Original Wailers with Junior Marvin, further cementing his legacy in reggae music.

Throughout his career, Anderson has been celebrated for his unique blend of reggae and blues-rock guitar stylings, earning recognition as one of the most important reggae guitarists. His contributions to music continue to inspire and influence artists worldwide.