Jon Anderson Biography and Timeline

Birth of John Roy Anderson

Birth of John Roy Anderson, later Yes vocalist, lyricist and founding member.

Role range: 1944-

Sweetness

Writes Sweetness with Chris Squire, an early song later included on the first Yes album.

Role range: 1968-1980

Yes

Founder Member of Yes

Yes

Co-founds Yes with Chris Squire after meeting him in the London music scene.

Role range: 1968-1980

Yes

Sings on the debut album Yes, introducing the band's harmony-rich progressive approach.

Role range: 1968-1980

Time and a Word

Sings on Time and a Word, the second Yes album.

Role range: 1968-1980

The Yes Album

Sings on The Yes Album as the group reaches a wider progressive rock audience.

Role range: 1968-1980

Close to the Edge

Sings on Close to the Edge, one of the band's central progressive rock works.

Role range: 1968-1980

Tales from Topographic Oceans

Leads the concept for Tales from Topographic Oceans, inspired by spiritual and philosophical ideas.

Role range: 1968-1980

Wonderous Stories

Sings Wonderous Stories, a successful single from Going for the One.

Role range: 1968-1980

Departure

Leaves Yes during the sessions that eventually lead to the Drama line-up.

Role range: 1968-1980

90125

Returns as vocalist for 90125, the album that gives Yes its biggest pop success.

Role range: 1983-1988

Big Generator

Sings on Big Generator during the final album of the 1980s Yes line-up.

Role range: 1983-1988

Departure

Leaves the 1980s Yes line-up and later forms Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe.

Role range: 1983-1988

Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe

Forms Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe with former Yes colleagues.

Role range: 1989-1990

Union

Appears on Union, bringing together the Yes and Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe camps.

Role range: 1991-1992

Talk

Sings on Talk before the Rabin-era line-up ends.

Role range: 1991-1995

Magnification

Sings on Magnification, recorded with orchestral arrangements and no regular keyboardist.

Role range: 1991-2004