Br. John

   "Love the Enthusiasm!" "How do you make all the cool sounds with your voice?"                              These are just some of the comments and questions John "Br. John" Anderson regularly recieves. He is a practicing, motivational storyteller, cultural historian, vocalist, recording artist as well as a celebrated, talkshow host/executive producer of the inspirational program, 'Legacy Alive Testify'.

   For over sixteen years, this 'Outstanding Young Man Of America-1988' and motivational entertainer has keynoted and championed at conferences, school assemblies, libraries, museums, churches and special events throughtout the United States and the Caribbean. Br. John believes.

"What's important, is not what people say about you. But, what are you saying to and about yourself?"

   Br. John's own call to story began as a child of a single parent in the urban core of Kansas City, MO. Frequent bouts of lonliness and boredum only fueled his creative imagination. Armed with his menagerie of toy soldiers  as characters and a large backyard, provided the setting of far off distant planets, hostile jungles and exciting landscapes for  daily action and adventure. When not engaged in creative play. Br. John immersed himself with lots of music and lots of lots of books. 

   His mother, and two favorite aunts who respectively were artists- educators (before the term was coined) planted the idea and encouraged him (modeling the possibilitiy) in combining education, storytelling, interactive gameplay as illustrative tools of learning. It was after 3 years serving as an associate children's pastor and 7 years a preschool educator that Br. John made the full time leap into what he is enthusiasticly known today as  the human "Living, Learning, Sharing" machine!

  Br. John has developed over 120 thematic stories and programs for preschools, elementary/secondary schools, senior groups, churches and professional development.

 Br. John's stock in trade are, African Folktales, Contemporary Tall Tales, Cultural Historical Personalities, Urban Folklore, Parody/Satire and Bible/Inspirational Stories.

   Skillfully crafted, interactive storytelling, music and song and dynamic, vocal impressions, illustrate and promote personal empowerment , literacy enrichment and critical thinking skills. All the while, you're having fun by simply discovering (or re-discovering) being uniquely, YOU!

   Reaching over 15,000 children, youth, parents and teachers per year, this motivational entertainer showcases lots of enthusiasm and humor. In addition, Br. John draws on his extensive, life experience of years in the restaurant industry, a floral delivery driver, camp counselor,  warehouse stock clerk, custodian, a recreational aide for the mentally challenged, a standup comedian as well as a big dose of those little, everyday,experiences and misadventures every human has come to face at one time or the other in this special, big show called, "Life"! That' why...

   "I Live To Learn To Share."

              John 'Br. John' Anderson

PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

*Kansas City Fringe Festival

*National Storytelling Network Fringe Fest

*Jiggle Jam Chlidren's Music Fest

*American Jazz Museum

*Rhythm & Ribs Jazz Fest

*Gospel Music Workshop of America

*Geo Washington Carver Natl' Mounument

*Storytelling Celebration Festival of KansasCity (Nationally Recognized Headlining Storyteller)

*St. Paul, MN. Winter Carnival

*Nelson Atkins Museum of Art

*Children's Peace Pavilion

*U.S. Sprint 

*H&R Bloch     

*J.P. Morgan   

*U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

*Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

*Shoal Creek Living History Museum

*Audrain County Saddle Horse Museum

*Jackson County Family Court System

*Ft. Leavenworth Frontier Army Museum

*Kansas City Young Audiences-arts educator roster member

*Compass/YA of Minnesota- arts educator roster member

*Springboard YA- arts educator roster member    

 Br. John Has Performed or Opened For:

*Comedians: Renaldo Rey, Louie

      Anderson, Akintunde, Dick

       Gregary

*Bloodstone (Legendary R&B  group)   

*Disciples Of Christ (Gospel Rap group)

*Myra Taylor (Swing Jazz legend)        

*Jane Goodall (of National Geographic Fame)                           

                 *Mattie Stephanik

              (Youth peace activist/poet)

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"Storytelling Celebration Festival-2008", Nationally Recognized, Featured Storytellers:

{From top Lf to Rt} Gerald Fierst, Br. John, Gayle Ross

{From bottom Lf to Rt} Nancy Wang/Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo (a.k.a. Eth-Noh-Tec), Joyce Slater (Artistic Director), Dr. Merna S. Saliman (Pres. MCC-Maplewoods

College)

Professional Highlights

*Co-founder/Artistic Director "Re-Acting Theater Co." (1985-1990)

*Boardmember-Citi Arts Youth Arts Program

 (2005-2007)

*Boardmember- River and Prairie Storyweavers (2006-2009)

*Missouri Professional Development

*Steering Committee-'Storytelling Celebration' Festival 

*Steering Committee- 'Jiggle Jam Children's Music Fest'

*Steering Committee- Raytown MO. 'Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Celebration' 

 *CEO/President-  'Rajpa Motivational Ministries' 

*Executive Producer-Co-Host

   'Legacy Alive Testify'

(Inspirational Internet Talk Show)

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Brother John with fellow 'Jazz Storyteller' vocalist/Skat Extraordinaire, Lisa Henry @ KC Jiggle Jam

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Br. John chatting with internationally, renown gospel violinist, Sam Murrell on Legacy Alive Testify.com

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 (Above) Br. John as dental hygiene superhero 'Flash 2012' from the interactive, show 'Flash 2012 N Yo Supergrill', produced by ARTS TECH.

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Br. John as famed black equestrian, inventor & creator of the world renown "American Royal Horseshow" 'TOM BASS'

(aka "The High-Hatted Horseman")

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    Br. John as "C.   

Moore Reading"