Editing Jon Anderson (section)

==Early life==
John Roy Anderson was born on 25 October 1944 in [[Accrington]], [[Lancashire]], England.{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=16}} His father Albert was from [[Glasgow]], Scotland, and served in the army in the entertainment division{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=17}} and later worked as a salesman; his mother Kathleen was of [[Irish people|Irish]] and [[French people|French]] ancestry{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=16}} and worked in a cotton mill, cotton being the biggest export from Lancashire at the time.{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=16}} Together they became county champions in [[ballroom dance|ballroom dancing]], winning several awards.{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=17}} Anderson said they named him after an English singer who toured as "John Roy the Melody Boy" and the Scottish name Royston.{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=16}} Anderson grew up on Norfolk Street with brothers Tony and Stuart, and sister Joy. He is the third youngest.{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=16}} As a youngster, Anderson became a fan of several musicians, including [[Elvis Presley]], [[Eddie Cochran]], [[the Everly Brothers]], and [[Jon Hendricks]].{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=18}}

Anderson attended St. John's School where he organised daily football matches during lunch break. He was not a strong academic, and remembered he "was always getting into trouble for messing around and singing too loud".<ref name=loudersep2016/> There, he made a tentative start to a musical career, playing the [[washboard (musical instrument)|washboard]] in Little John's [[Skiffle]] Group{{sfn|Morse|1996|p=2}} who performed songs by [[Lonnie Donegan]], among others. At fifteen, Anderson left school after his father became ill and took up work on a farm, as a lorry driver transporting bricks, and as a milkman to help support the family.{{sfn|Welch|2008|p=17}} A keen football fan, he tried to pursue a career at [[Accrington Stanley F.C.]], but at {{convert|5|ft|5|in}} tall,<ref>{{cite web |last=Snyder |first=Ryan |url=http://www.yesweekly.com/triad/article-5345-yes-the-carolina-theatre-is-ready-for-big-rock-shows_.html |title=Yes: The Carolina Theatre is ready for big rock shows! |website=Yesweekly.com |date=10 December 2008 |access-date=26 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822151337/http://www.yesweekly.com/triad/article-5345-yes-the-carolina-theatre-is-ready-for-big-rock-shows_.html |archive-date=22 August 2011 }}</ref> he was turned down because of his frail constitution. He remained a fan of the club,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/9768968.Rock_star_Jon_Anderson_to_be_ambassador_for_home_club_Accrington_Stanley/|title=Rock star Jon Anderson to be ambassador for home club Accrington Stanley|newspaper=[[Lancashire Telegraph]]}}</ref> and was a ball boy and mascot for the team for one year.<ref name=loudersep2016>{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/jon-anderson-there-s-no-point-pretending-that-i-m-mates-with-yes|title=Jon Anderson: There's No Point Pretending That I'm Mates With Yes|first=Mark|last=Blake|date=1 September 2016|website=loudersound.com|access-date=2 September 2016}}</ref>