Kip Anderson
Encyclopedia
Kip Anderson was an American
soul blues
and R&B
singer and songwriter
. He is best known for his 1967 single
, "A Knife and a Fork." He recorded for a plethora of record label
s, worked as a radio
DJ
, and maintained a career lasting from the late 1950s to the 1990s, despite undertaking a decade long custodial sentence. At various times Anderson worked with Sam Cooke
, The Drifters
, Jerry Butler
and Jackie Wilson
.
, Anderson County
, South Carolina
.
Anderson had his first musical exposure in church, where he both sang and played the piano
. After featuring in his high school band, Anderson met his future business partner, Charles Derrick, at Columbia
's radio station, WOIC
. In 1959, Anderson's debut single "I Wanna Be the Only One", was eventually released by Vee-Jay Records
. His follow-up release "Oh My Linda," featured guitar work from Mickey Baker
. Lack of commercial gains led to Anderson working as a disc jockey.
Everlast Records released Anderson's third single "I Will Cry" (1962), and "Here I Am, Try Me," and "That's When the Crying Begins" (1964) followed; the latter reaching #79 on the Billboard Hot 100
. His stock rose further with "I'll Get Along," "Woman How Do You Make Me Love You Like I Do," and "Without a Woman" (1966).
In 1967, Anderson released "A Knife and a Fork" on Checker
, which had been recorded
at the Fame Studios in Alabama
. "A Knife and a Fork" was a mid-tempo warning concerning his girlfriend's food consumption – "girl, you gonna let a knife and a fork dig your grave". The single entered the US
Billboard
R&B
chart
. A follow-up release, "You'll Lose a Good Thing", issued on Excello
, also made the Top 40 in the same chart. "I Went Off and Cried" (1968) remains alongside "A Knife and a Fork" as his most fondly remembered output. " A Knife and a Fork" was covered
by Rockpile
on their 1980 album, Seconds of Pleasure
.
A dependency on heroin started to affect his work by 1970, and Excello cancelled his recording contract
. Despite continuing to both record and perform in the 1970s, a ten year jail sentence in 1974 for possession of heroin, halted his activities. Later, Anderson opined about that time, "It probably saved my life." While inside he formed a gospel group with other inmates, who performed under surveillance at local churches and community events.
On release Anderson recorded a gospel
album
, before issuing more soul based material via Ichiban
. His career as a DJ was also revived when he moved back to Anderson County. He also hosted a gospel show on WRIX-FM
, and served as vice president of Electric City Record's gospel division. In 1996, Anderson duetted with Nappy Brown
on the Best of Both Worlds joint album.
Kip Anderson died in Anderson, South Carolina
, in August 2007, at the age of 69.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soul blues
Soul blues
Soul blues is a style of blues music developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s that combines elements of soul music and urban contemporary music...
and R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
singer and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. He is best known for his 1967 single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "A Knife and a Fork." He recorded for a plethora of record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
s, worked as a radio
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
, and maintained a career lasting from the late 1950s to the 1990s, despite undertaking a decade long custodial sentence. At various times Anderson worked with Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke
Samuel Cook, , better known under the stage name Sam Cooke, was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. He is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and...
, The Drifters
The Drifters
The Drifters are a long-lived American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group with a peak in popularity from 1953 to 1963, though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today. They were originally formed to serve as Clyde McPhatter's backing group in 1953...
, Jerry Butler
Jerry Butler (singer)
Jerry Butler is an American soul singer and songwriter. He is also noted as being the original lead singer of the R&B vocal group, The Impressions, as well as a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.Butler is also an American politician...
and Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson
Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. was an American singer and performer. Known as "Mr. Excitement", Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He was known as a master showman, and as one of the most dynamic singers and performers in R&B and rock history...
.
Biography
He was born Kipling Taquana Anderson in StarrStarr, South Carolina
Starr is a town in Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 173 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Starr is located at ....
, Anderson County
Anderson County, South Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 187,126 people and 70,597 households residing in the county. The population density was 260.6 people per square mile . There were 84,092 housing units...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
Anderson had his first musical exposure in church, where he both sang and played the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. After featuring in his high school band, Anderson met his future business partner, Charles Derrick, at Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
's radio station, WOIC
WOIC
WOIC is a News/Talk radio station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina. It serves the Columbia market. The Inner City Broadcasting outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 1230 kHz with an effective radiated power of 1 kW full time...
. In 1959, Anderson's debut single "I Wanna Be the Only One", was eventually released by Vee-Jay Records
Vee-Jay Records
Vee-Jay Records is a record label founded in the 1950s, specializing in blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. It was owned and operated by African Americans.-History:...
. His follow-up release "Oh My Linda," featured guitar work from Mickey Baker
Mickey Baker
Mickey Baker, also known as Mickey "Guitar" Baker is an American guitarist...
. Lack of commercial gains led to Anderson working as a disc jockey.
Everlast Records released Anderson's third single "I Will Cry" (1962), and "Here I Am, Try Me," and "That's When the Crying Begins" (1964) followed; the latter reaching #79 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. His stock rose further with "I'll Get Along," "Woman How Do You Make Me Love You Like I Do," and "Without a Woman" (1966).
In 1967, Anderson released "A Knife and a Fork" on Checker
Checker Records
Checker Records is an inactive record label that was started in 1952 as a subsidiary to Chess Records in Chicago, Illinois. The label was founded by the Chess brothers, Leonard and Phil, who ran the label until they sold it to General Recorded Tape in 1969, shortly before Leonard's death.The label...
, which had been recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
at the Fame Studios in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. "A Knife and a Fork" was a mid-tempo warning concerning his girlfriend's food consumption – "girl, you gonna let a knife and a fork dig your grave". The single entered the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
R&B
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
. A follow-up release, "You'll Lose a Good Thing", issued on Excello
Excello Records
Excello Records was an American blues record label, started by Ernie Young in Nashville, Tennessee in 1953 as a subsidiary of Nashboro, a gospel label...
, also made the Top 40 in the same chart. "I Went Off and Cried" (1968) remains alongside "A Knife and a Fork" as his most fondly remembered output. " A Knife and a Fork" was covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by Rockpile
Rockpile
Rockpile were a British rock and roll group of the late 1970s and early 1980s, noted for their strong rockabilly and power pop influences, and as a foundational influence on new wave...
on their 1980 album, Seconds of Pleasure
Seconds of Pleasure
Seconds of Pleasure was a 1980 album by Rockpile, a band consisting of guitarists/vocalists Dave Edmunds and Billy Bremner, bassist/vocalist Nick Lowe, and drummer Terry Williams...
.
A dependency on heroin started to affect his work by 1970, and Excello cancelled his recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
. Despite continuing to both record and perform in the 1970s, a ten year jail sentence in 1974 for possession of heroin, halted his activities. Later, Anderson opined about that time, "It probably saved my life." While inside he formed a gospel group with other inmates, who performed under surveillance at local churches and community events.
On release Anderson recorded a gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, before issuing more soul based material via Ichiban
Ichiban Records
Ichiban Records was a hip hop record label founded in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1985. Wrap Records and Nastymix Records were some of its subsidiary labels. Urgent! Records was distributed by Ichiban. Most of its discography is now out of print. Besides hip hop groups, Ichiban also released albums by...
. His career as a DJ was also revived when he moved back to Anderson County. He also hosted a gospel show on WRIX-FM
WRIX-FM
WRIX-FM is a talk radio station located in the Upstate region of South Carolina under the name "103.1 WRIX". The station is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to the town of Honea Path and broadcasts on 103.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 6 kW...
, and served as vice president of Electric City Record's gospel division. In 1996, Anderson duetted with Nappy Brown
Nappy Brown
Napoleon Brown Goodson Culp better known by his stage name Nappy Brown, was an American R&B singer. His hits include the 1955 Billboard chart #2, "Don't Be Angry" and "Night Time Is the Right Time"...
on the Best of Both Worlds joint album.
Kip Anderson died in Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was estimated at 26,242 in 2006, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530...
, in August 2007, at the age of 69.
Albums
- A Dog Don't Wear No Shoes (1992) - IchibanIchiban RecordsIchiban Records was a hip hop record label founded in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1985. Wrap Records and Nastymix Records were some of its subsidiary labels. Urgent! Records was distributed by Ichiban. Most of its discography is now out of print. Besides hip hop groups, Ichiban also released albums by...
- A Knife and a Fork (1993) - Ichiban
Singles
- "I Wanna Be the Only One" / "The Home Fires are Brighter After All" (1959) - Derrick Records / Vee Jay
- "Oh My Linda" / "'Til Your Love is Mine (1960) - Sharp Records
- "I Feel Good" / "I Will Cry" (1961) - Everlast Records
- "That's When the Crying Begins" / "I Done You Wrong" (1964) - ABC RecordsABC RecordsABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
- "I Can't" / "I'll Get Along" (1965) - Tomorrow Records
- "Tell Her I Love Her" / "Woman How Do You Make Me Love You Like I Do" (1965) - CheckerChecker RecordsChecker Records is an inactive record label that was started in 1952 as a subsidiary to Chess Records in Chicago, Illinois. The label was founded by the Chess brothers, Leonard and Phil, who ran the label until they sold it to General Recorded Tape in 1969, shortly before Leonard's death.The label...
- "I Get Carried Away" / "Here I Am, Try Me" (1965) - Tomorrow Records
- "If That Don't Make You Cry" / "Without a Woman" (1966) - Checker
- "Take It Like a Man" / "A Knife and a Fork" (1967) - Checker
- "Blue MoonBlue Moon (song)"Blue Moon"'s first crossover recording to rock and roll came from Elvis Presley in 1956. His cover version of the song was included on his self-titled debut album Elvis Presley....
" / "Unchained MelodyUnchained Melody"Unchained Melody" is a 1955 song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. It has become one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, by some counts having spawned over 500 versions in hundreds of different languages....
" (1967) - Concord - "You'll Lose a Good Thing" / "I'm Out of Love" (1967) - ExcelloExcello RecordsExcello Records was an American blues record label, started by Ernie Young in Nashville, Tennessee in 1953 as a subsidiary of Nashboro, a gospel label...
- "Letter From my Darling" / "Watch You Work it Out" (1968) - Excello
- "That's All I Can Do" / "I Went Off and Cried" (1968) - Excello
- "Frozen Heart" / "Abide in Me" (1969) - Eydie
- "Jesus Sings with Me (Part 1)" / "Jesus Sings with Me (Part 2)" - (1988) - Lorna
- "I Could'a Been Sleepin'" / "He Never Left Me Alone" (1989) - Lorna
- "Your Sweetness is my Weakness" / "A Dog Don't Wear No Shoes" (1992) - IchibanIchiban RecordsIchiban Records was a hip hop record label founded in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1985. Wrap Records and Nastymix Records were some of its subsidiary labels. Urgent! Records was distributed by Ichiban. Most of its discography is now out of print. Besides hip hop groups, Ichiban also released albums by...