Anders Osborne

Biography

Anders Osborne was born on May 4, 1966, in Uddevalla, Sweden, and became a Swedish-born American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who has established himself as one of New Orleans' most respected and original musical artists. At age 16, he left Sweden with a passion for music and wanderlust, traveling throughout Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia before arriving in New Orleans in 1986 at age 19. Inspired by blues as a unifying thread connecting rock, R&B, jazz, and singer-songwriter traditions, he adopted open D tuning after hearing it on Joni Mitchell's Blue, which became his signature guitar sound. He settled permanently in New Orleans, where he released his debut album Doin' Fine in 1989 and has since written virtually all of his own material while becoming deeply embedded in the city's vibrant music community.

Osborne's career reached new heights with his 2010 Alligator Records debut and 2012 follow-up American Patchwork, which earned him widespread critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase. His songwriting prowess extended beyond his own recordings—Tim McGraw scored a number-one country hit with Osborne's composition "Watch The Wind Blow By," and two songs co-written with Keb Mo appeared on Mo's Grammy-winning 1999 album Slow Down. His compositions have been covered by diverse artists including Brad Paisley, Tab Benoit, Jonny Lang, Kim Carnes, and Aaron Neville. Over nearly four decades in New Orleans, Osborne has earned recognition as Guitar Player magazine's "poet laureate of Louisiana's fertile roots music scene" and received multiple accolades from local publications, including OffBeat magazine naming him Best Guitarist three times and Best Songwriter twice, while Gambit Weekly honored him as Entertainer of the Year.

Beyond performance and recording, Osborne has become a cultural ambassador for New Orleans music, appearing at Jazz Fest for 35 years, teaching a course on art and the music business at Tulane University, and collaborating with Steve Earle at the annual Camp Copperhead songwriting camp since 2019. He has also contributed to film and television, including writing and recording the title track for the 2010 Kate Hudson film Earthbound and appearing in HBO's New Orleans-based drama Treme. His commitment to community extends to work with the "Send Me A Friend" foundation, the New Orleans Children's Museum, and various charitable organizations including the Trombone Shorty Foundation.

Fun Facts

• Osborne arrived in New Orleans in 1985 with only five dollars in his pocket after hitchhiking from New York, and immediately knew he had found his home when he experienced the city's music and culture firsthand.
• He discovered his signature open D guitar tuning after hearing it on Joni Mitchell's album Blue, and his fingers naturally fit the tuning, becoming a defining characteristic of his musical style.
• At age 16, Osborne left Sweden alone to travel the world, journeying through Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia before eventually settling in New Orleans at age 19.
• Osborne has appeared at the New Orleans Jazz Fest for 35 consecutive years and continues to perform there, making him a fixture of the festival's musical legacy.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Joni Mitchell - Musical inspiration for guitar tuning technique (Album 'Blue' - inspired Osborne's adoption of open D tuning) [Late 1970s-1980s (formative years)]

Key Collaborators

• Keb Mo - Co-writer and frequent musical partner (Two songs co-written for Keb Mo's Grammy-winning album 'Slow Down' (1999)) [1999 onwards]
• Warren Haynes - Guest performance and touring collaborator (Various tours and performances) [2000s onwards]
• Derek Trucks - Guest performance and touring collaborator (Various tours and performances) [2000s onwards]
• Phil Lesh (The Grateful Dead) - Guest performance and touring collaborator (Various tours and performances) [2000s onwards]
• Steve Earle - Annual songwriting camp collaborator (Camp Copperhead songwriting camp) [2019 onwards]
• Ivan Neville - Co-writer for film soundtrack (Title track for 2010 film 'Earthbound')
• Warren Riker - Producer and collaborator (Album production) [2010s]

Artists Influenced

• Tim McGraw - Recorded Osborne's composition as a major hit ("Watch The Wind Blow By" (number-one country hit)) [1990s-2000s]
• Brad Paisley - Covered Osborne's compositions (Various Osborne compositions) [2000s onwards]
• Tab Benoit - Covered Osborne's compositions (Various Osborne compositions) [2000s onwards]
• Jonny Lang - Covered Osborne's compositions (Various Osborne compositions) [2000s onwards]
• Kim Carnes - Covered Osborne's compositions (Various Osborne compositions) [2000s onwards]
• Aaron Neville - Recorded Osborne's compositions (Various Osborne compositions) [2000s onwards]

External Links

• Spotify
• [Wikipedia](Not found in search results)
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #blues, #rhythm-and-blues, #rock