Big Al's No Class Reunion Coming to Windsor Locks

Windsor native Al Anderson will be performing shows in the area this holiday weekend.

Big Al’s No Class Reunion, featuring Big Al Anderson & The Floor Models plus The Original Wildweeds, will be held on Saturday, Dec. 26 and Sunday, Dec. 27 at the Hills Point Hotel Ballroom in Windsor Locks.

Big Al Anderson’s innovative guitar work has long fortified his reputation as one of Nashville’s finest tunesmiths.

In 1993, Musician magazine recognized him as one of the century’s Top 100 guitarists and in 2000 Anderson earned the BMI Writer of the Year award.

“Big Al” entered consciousness with rock fans long before he popped up on country charts. The 67-year-old started with the The Wildweeds (1967’s “No Good to Cry”) and for nearly a quarter century fueled the beloved cult band NRBQ.

The Windsor native has penned endlessly catchy hits for The Mavericks (“All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down”), LeAnn Rimes (“Big Deal”), Diamond Rio (“Unbelievable”) and Carlene Carter (“Every Little Thing”). He wrote George Strait’s 2012 #1 hit “Love’s Gonna Make it Alright” (Strait’s 59th #1 hit), two songs on Bonnie Raitt’s 2012 Slipstream album, (“Ain’t Gonna Let You Go” and “Not Cause I Wanted To”), and Train’s new single(“Cadillac, Cadillac”).

Consider his broad scope: For every song covered by Charlie Daniels (“Gone For Real”) and Tim McGraw (“The Cowboy in Me”), Anderson has matched it with others by Jimmy Buffett (“License to Chill”) and The Allman Brothers (“Ain’t No Good to Cry”).

The shows will be held at the Hills Point Hotel Ballroom, 383 South Center Street, in Windsor Locks. Doors open at 5 p.m. each day with the show beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the door. Visit www.hillspointhotel.com for more information.

Contributed photos