Lewis Burr Anderson (May 7, 1922 – May 14, 2006) was an American

actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...

and

musician A musician is a person who composes, conducts, or performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general term used to designate one who follows music as a profession. Musicians include songwriters who wri ...

. He is widely known by TV fans as the third and final actor to portray

Clarabell the Clown Clarabell the Clown is a character who was part of the main cast on the 1947-1960 series ''The Howdy Doody Show''. Clarabell, who wore a baggy, striped costume, communicated through mime and by honking a horn for "yes" or "no". Clarabell would also ...

on ''

Howdy Doody ''Howdy Doody'' is an American Children's television series, children's television program (with circus and Western (genre), Western frontier themes) that was created and produced by Victor F Campbell

'' between 1954 and 1960. He famously spoke Clarabell's only line on the show's final episode in 1960, with a tear visible in his right eye, "Goodbye, kids." Anderson is also widely known by jazz music fans as a prolific jazz arranger, big band leader, and alto saxophonist. Anderson also played the clarinet.

Early years

Anderson was born in Kirkman, Iowa, the son of a railroad telegrapher. He began playing his sister's

clarinet The clarinet is a musical instrument in the woodwind family. The instrument has a nearly cylindrical bore and a flared bell, and uses a single reed to produce sound. Clarinets comprise a family of instruments of differing sizes and pitches ...

when she tired of it, and by high school had formed his own dance band. After a year in junior college in

Fort Dodge, Iowa Fort Dodge is a city in, and the county seat of, Webster County, Iowa, United States, along the Des Moines River. The population was 24,871 in the 2020 census, a decrease from 25,136 in 2000. Fort Dodge is a major commercial center for North Ce ...

, he received a music scholarship to

Drake University Drake University is a private university in Des Moines, Iowa. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs, including professional programs in business, law, and pharmacy. Drake's law school is among the 25 oldest in the United States. Hi ...

Des Moines Des Moines () is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, ...

. He attended for two years, but then quit school to begin his professional musical life by accepting a job with the Lee Barron Orchestra, a

territory band Territory bands were dance bands that crisscrossed specific regions of the United States from the 1920s through the 1960s. Beginning in the 1920s, the bands typically had 8 to 12 musicians. These bands typically played one-nighters, six or seven n ...

based out of

Omaha Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest city ...

. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, Anderson served in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

where he started his first band. While in the Navy, he served aboard the USS Howard W. Gilmore (AS-16), a submarine tender which supplied submarines and other ships. After serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II, he joined the Carlos Molinas Latin Orchestra, where he also wrote the American dance arrangements. In the late 1940s, he joined

The Honey Dreamers The Honey Dreamers was a singing group composed of 3 males and two females that appeared on radio and early television programs like CBS-TV, CBS's ''Faye Emerson's Wonderful Town'' and ''The Ed Sullivan Show''. The group was formed at St. Olaf Coll ...

, a singing group which appeared on radio and early television shows like ''

The Ed Sullivan Show ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' is an American television program, television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971, and was hosted by New York City, New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in Septembe ...

''. While working with the group, he met "Buffalo" Bob Smith who offered him the role of Clarabell on the ''

'' show. Anderson again played Clarabell on the short-lived "New Howdy Doody Show" in 1976-1977 and in the 1987 40th anniversary special and made personal appearances as Clarabell with Buffalo Bob for many years thereafter. Anderson also wrote many of the TV jingles for the 1950s and 1960s, including for Pepsi and Buick. Many of the jingles were performed by his group "The Honey Dreamers."

Lew Anderson All-American Big Band

After working six-years as Clarabell, Anderson returned to music. In 1989, he formed a 16-piece jazz orchestra — The Lew Anderson All-American Big Band — which began playing Fridays from 5:45 to 7:45 PM at the Red Blazer, Too, 349 West 46th Street,

Manhattan, New York Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...

. The venue is currently occupied by Swing 46 Jazz & Supper Club. Anderson secured the gig through Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins, who, in 1989, proposed the idea to Denis Carey, co-owner of Red Blazer, Too. The band began an eight-year stint at Red Blazer Too. Musicians in 1990 included saxophonist

Aaron Sachs Aaron Sachs (July 4, 1923 – June 5, 2014) was an American jazz saxophone and clarinet player. Career A native of New York City, Sachs began his music career as a young swing protégé of Benny Goodman, and later eased into bebop music, also ...

and trombonist

John Fedchock John William Fedchock (born September 18, 1957) is an American jazz trombonist, bandleader, and arranger. Early life and education Fedchock was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He studied at Ohio State University and the Eastman School of Music at the ...

. The band members were mostly musicians with steady jobs in recording studios and the pit orchestras of Broadway musicals. The early evening time-slot allowed his musicians to get to their theater jobs for the 8 o'clock curtain. Red Blazer, Too, closed on June 1, 1997, after its landlord doubled the rent. In 1997, before Red Blazer, Too, had closed, composer, producer, and owner of Sovereign Records, Inc., Ruby Fisher (Reuben Fischer; 1923–2009) invited

Don Kennedy Donald J. Kennedy (born March 2, 1930) is an American radio and television personality and voice talent, whose career began in the late 1940s with a radio announcer spot on Pennsylvania station WPIC. In the mid-1950s, Kennedy was a contributor ...

of radio's "Big Band Jump" show to come up from Atlanta to host "Live at the Blazer!" The one-hour program aired June 14, 1997 on Jump's 130 stations, was re-broadcast in August on New York's WQEW and now constitutes ''Live at the Blazer! The Lew Anderson Big Band'', Sovereign CDSOV-506, joining the band's previous Sovereign albums, ''Feelin' Good, Yeah'' and ''Fired Up.'' In August 1997, The Lew Anderson Big Band began an open-ended engagement at Birdland, then on the Upper Wide Side of Manhattan. The introduction to Birdland was made by American Music Projects' Janet Solesky (born 1949).''Lew Anderson,'' Audio Archive, Internet Underground Music Archive Collection
/ref> The band, until Anderson's death, remained in residence during the same time — early set, Fridays — at Birdland Jazz Club.

Selected discography

Lew Anderson Big Band * ''Lew Anderson Big Band Live'' : Recorded live (radio broadcast), March 8, 1974, at the

Half Note Club The Half Note was a jazz club in New York City, New York that flourished in two Manhattan locations – from 1957 to 1972 in SoHo (then known as the Village) at 289 Hudson Street at Spring Street and from 1972 to 1974 in Midtown at 149 West 54 ...

, West 54th Street, New York City : Lew Anderson (leader), Bob Millikan (nl), Dean Pratt, Chuck Winfield (es) (trumpets),

Eddie Bert Edward Joseph Bertolatus (May 16, 1922 – September 27, 2012), also known as Eddie Bert, was an American jazz trombonist. Music career He was born in Yonkers, New York, United States. Bert received a degree and a teaching license from the Manha ...

, Sonny Costanza (trombone), Lew Anderson,

Frank Strozier Frank R. Strozier Jr. (born June 13, 1937) is a jazz alto saxophonist. Strozier was born in Memphis, Tennessee, where he learned to play piano. In 1954, he moved to Chicago, where he performed with Harold Mabern, George Coleman, and Booker Littl ...

(alto saxes), Neil Slater (piano), Joe Cocuzzo (drums), others unknown : Radio broadcast on

WLTW WLTW (106.7 FM) is an adult contemporary radio station licensed to New York City and serving the New York metropolitan area. WLTW is owned by iHeartMedia and broadcasts from studios in the former AT&T Building in the Tribeca neighborhood of ...

, under its former call letters, WRVR: "Jazz Adventures," two sets of the Lew Anderson Orchestra; Jack TaFoya (born 1932) was the announcer * ''Lew Anderson All American Big Band'' Sea Breeze Jazz (1986) : Recorded at J.A.C. Studio, New York, May 6–8, 1983 : Personnel includes drummer

Dave Weckl Dave Weckl (born January 8, 1960 in St. Louis, Missouri) is an American jazz fusion drummer and the leader of the Dave Weckl Band. He was inducted into the ''Modern Drummer'' Hall of Fame in 2000. Biography Weckl started playing his first se ...

: * ''Feelin' Good, Yeah'', Sovereign Records (1989) : Recorded at A & R Studios, New York, 1989 : Lew Anderson (alto saxophone); Vinnie Riccitelli ''(né'' Vincent S. Riccitelli; born 1926) (alto saxophone); Leo Ursini, Ken Hitchcock (tenor saxophone);

(baritone saxophone); Glenn Drewes, Frank Fighera, Joe Mosello, John Marshall (trumpet);

, Wyn Walshe, Fred Simmons, Dale Turk (trombone);

Ray Kennedy Raymond Kennedy (28 July 1951 – 30 November 2021) was an English footballer who won every domestic honour in the game with Arsenal and Liverpool in the 1970s and early 1980s. Kennedy played as a forward for Arsenal, and then played as a le ...

(electric piano, synthesizer); Paul Adamy (bass); Tony Tedesco (drums) : Re-issued as a CD in 1996 : Produced by Ruby Fisher ''(né'' Reuben Fischer; 1923–2009) : * ''Fired Up'', Sovereign Records (1992) : Recorded at Crossroads Recording Studio, New York, 1992 : Personnel includes trumpeter

Greg Gisbert Gregory Lyle Gisbert (born February 2, 1966 in Mobile, Alabama) is an American jazz trumpeter and flugelhornist.Gary W. Kennedy, ''"Greg Gisbert''. '' Grove Jazz'' online Early years and school Gisbert played drums with his father as a chil ...

and trombonist

: * The New Four Freshmen, ''Voices in Standards'',

Hindsight Records Hindsight Records is an American record label that specializes in issuing previously unreleased radio broadcast recordings of Big Bands and Jazz artists. History Hindsight Records was founded by Big Band aficionado, recording engineer and stud ...

(1994) : Recorded October and November 1993 (no date given), Los Angeles : Final mix: January 1994 : Vocalists: Greg Stegeman (lead), Mike Beisner (2nd tenor), Kevin Stout (baritone), Bob Ferreira (bass) : Big band: Lew Anderson (leader, alto sax), Vinnie Riccitelli (alto sax, clarinet, flute), Gary Topper (bari sax), Tom Olin (flute, bari sax, bass clarinet), Brent Stanton (flute, clarinet, tenor sax), Rob Middleton (flute, clarinet, tenor sax), Bruce Eidem (trombone),

(trombone), Wyn Walshe (trombone), Dale Turk (bass trombone),

(trumpet, flugelhorn), Joe Mosello (trumpet, flugelhorn), Mike Ponella (trumpet, flugelhorn), Tony Kadleck (trumpet, flugelhorn), Tom Kirchmer (

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

), Tommy Igoe (pl) (

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

(keyboards) : Recording Engineer: Phil Bulla ''(né'' Philip A. Bulla; born 1954) : HCD 801 (

Hindsight Hindsight bias, also known as the knew-it-all-along phenomenon or creeping determinism, is the common tendency for people to perceive past events as having been more predictable than they actually were. People often believe that after an event ha ...

catalog number) : * ''At His Very Best'', featuring Steve Clayton, Sovereign Records (1995) : Recorded in various locations & dates, c. 1995 : Personnel includes pianist Derek Smith, bassist

Milt Hinton Milton John Hinton (June 23, 1910 – December 19, 2000) was an American double bassist and photographer. Regarded as the Dean of American jazz bass players, his nicknames included "Sporty" from his years in Chicago, "Fump" from his time on the ...

, and drummer

Bobby Rosengarden Robert Marshall Rosengarden (April 23, 1924 – February 27, 2007) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. A native of Elgin, Illinois, United States, he played on many recordings and in television orchestras and talk show bands. Rosenga ...

: * ''Live At The Blazer!'' Sovereign Records (1998) : Recorded at the Red Blazer, New York, 1998 : * ''"Something Makes Me Want To Dance With You"'' - Voice and Trumpet of Rob Zappulla : Arranged by Lew Anderson : Recorded at Carriage House Studios, 2000 : Recording engineer: Phil Bulla : Woodwinds: Jon Ball, John Mastroianni, Kris Jensen, Joe Meo, Lisa Ladone : Trumpets: Dave Trigg, Tony Kadleck, Dave Spier, John Ragan, Hank Zorn : Trombones: Steve Bleifuss, Leroy Loomer, Dave Sporny, Dan Innaimo : French Horns: Paul Riggio, Eric Davis : Piano/Keyboards: James Argiro : Guitar: Rich Goldstein : Bass: Tom Pietrycha : Drums: Paul Hannah : (c) Rob Zappulla Music

Death

Anderson died in

Hawthorne, New York Hawthorne is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) located in the town of Mount Pleasant in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 4,586 at the 2010 census. History The village was originally known as Hammond's Mill ...

, from complications of

prostate cancer Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancerous tumor worldwide and is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality among men. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system that sur ...

. On March 23, 2006,

The Birdland Big Band The Birdland Big Band is a 16-piece jazz orchestra that performs at the Birdland Jazz Club in New York City. The Birdland Big Band is led by saxophonist David DeJesus DeJesus joined as saxophonist and leader in October 2017 and brought with him a ...

— which at that time was composed entirely of his former band members (directed by Tommy Igoe) — performed and recorded a tribute to his life.

Former members of Anderson's big bands

* Vinnie Riccitelli ''(né'' Vincent S. Riccitelli; born 1926), also sax * Bob McCoy, trumpet * John Lanni, saxophone * Wyn Walshe, trombone * Ken Rizzo, bass

References

External links

* *
Obituary on CNN.comObituary on KNXObituary
on the

Star Gazette The ''Star-Gazette'' is the major newspaper for Elmira, New York. Based in Elmira, the publication is owned by Gannett. History The ''Star-Gazette'' was the first newspaper of the now massive Gannett conglomerate. It was founded as the weekly ' ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Lew 1922 births 2006 deaths American male television actors Male actors from Iowa Singers from Iowa People from Shelby County, Iowa Deaths from prostate cancer Deaths from cancer in New York (state) 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American male singers 20th-century American singers United States Navy personnel of World War II