Missy Anderson Live at Lorimar Winery

 issy likens her musical approach to Soul dipped in Blues. While you wrap your head around that 
description, consider the early influence of her parent’s extensive record collection of soul, R&B, blues, jazz and gospel. Her mother fanned Missy’s interest in singing early by entering her in a children’s talent contest and practicing with her after school. Missy started singing and performing at six, and particularly loved listening to songs that told stories like those by Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, The Staples Singers and Teddy Pendergrass.

Teenaged Missy released a single which led to a string of club dates opening for the Grammy Award winning American soul and gospel singer, Cissy Houston. Missy’s music career had taken root, and it continued to evolve as she fronted local bands and did professional studio sessions as a background vocalist.

In the late 90’s Missy became one of the original Juke Joint Jezebelles, a gospel, blues, and soul quartet. They performed as an act, and also toured the U.S. and Europe as back-up singers in blues festivals and at clubs. While touring Missy had ample opportunity, and plenty of motivation, to further develop her chops by opening for, and sharing the stage with Ray Charles, B.B. King, Robert Cray, John Hammond, Keb’ Mo’, Kenny Neal, and The Meters.

Heine “The Great Dane” Andersen of Denmark also toured with Missy. Their off-stage romance and musical sensibilities merged over time to form a marriage and the core of the Missy Andersen band. Pre-rock-era blues gripped Heine early in his guitar playing evolution. Like most European musicians enthralled with blues, he hews closely to its American roots for tone, timing and inspiration. Heine can be counted on to deliver brilliant, often understated leads and authentic blues tone, and is the band’s musical director and driving wheel.

Missy is a San Diego artist now, but she was born in Detroit, and lived in Queens, NY during her school years. Along the way she discovered the music of Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn, and Billie Holiday, which led her in turn to O.V. Wright, Bobby Bland, Little Milton, James Carr, Ray Charles, Ann Peebles, and Irma Thomas. Like most successful singers, Missy started out trying to sound like the artists she loved. After working her craft, and accumulating invaluable professional experience, Missy’s own fine voice emerged -- which, after hearing once, you will recognize forever more.

After fronting the San Diego-based band, Tell Mama, Missy felt it was time to strike out on her own. Her self-titled debut album, Missy Andersen, released on Main Squeeze Records, is an organic mix of soul and mid-20th century blues delivered with today’s sensibilities. The CD features eight tunes, including two originals, “New Feet” and “Stand Up and Dance.” Missy Andersen (vocals) is joined by her husband and bandleader, Heine Andersen (guitar), Asmus Jensen (drums), Jeppe Juul (organ) and Søren Bøjgaard (bass). Additional musicians include Nathan James playing Dobro slide guitar on “Stand Up and Dance.”

Missy Andersen is a two-time San Diego Music Awards nominee and a recent former-boardmember of the nonprofit Blues Lovers United of San Diego, (BLUSD) an affiliate of the national Blues Foundation. She and Heine are lead presenters in its nationally renowned Blues In The Schools (BITS) program. Heine Andersen is also the Music Director for BLUSD’s 2011 grant program workshop, BITS’ Blues Guitar Workshop for Instructors.