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Jesse Anderson

1940 – 2014

American blues singer-songwriter

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About Jesse Anderson

Lived 1940 – 2014 (aged 73–74). Jesse Anderson was a singer, guitarist, singer-songwriter and musician.

Octiver Jesse Anderson (August 21, 1940 – July 3, 2014), also known by the nickname "Ow-Wow", was an American blues singer-songwriter and musician, perhaps best known for his 1970 song, "I Got a Problem".

Anderson was born in Paris, Arkansas, in 1940, and he grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. By the age of 14, he had moved with his family to Wichita, Kansas. At age 16, Anderson went to Muskogee, Oklahoma, where he joined soul singer Willie Wright. It also charted on the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at No. 95.

His next singles, "Women's Liberation" b/w "Ow, Wow Man" (written by Anderson and Barge), and "Let Me Back In" b/w "Readings in Astrology" did not chart. The song, "Readings in Astrology", was written and recorded by soul singer Curtis Mayfield. Anderson wrote and co-wrote many songs, among them was "Somebody Loan Me a Dime", written along with Fenton Robinson and Melvin Collins.

During his career, Anderson toured with B. B. King, Etta James, and Otis Rush.

In his later years, Anderson suffered with diabetes and cancer. He died in Wichita on July 3, 2014, at the age of 73. Anderson is one of 19 African American musicians interviewed and written about by Patrick Joseph O'Connor in the book Wichita Blues: Music in the African American Community, published by the University Press of Mississippi in September 2024.

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Important facts

Born
1940
Birth century
Died
2014
Also known as
Octiver Jesse Anderson

People in Jesse Anderson's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Jesse Anderson's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Jesse Anderson?

American blues singer-songwriter

When was Jesse Anderson born?

Jesse Anderson was born in 1940.

When did Jesse Anderson die?

Jesse Anderson died in 2014.

What was Jesse Anderson's occupation?

Jesse Anderson was a singer, guitarist, singer-songwriter and musician.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Jesse Anderson

· Wikidata: Q104854293

· DBpedia: Jesse Anderson (musician)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jesse Anderson. https://biography.guide/jesse-anderson/

MLA: "Jesse Anderson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jesse-anderson/.

Chicago: "Jesse Anderson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jesse-anderson/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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