From a Joyful Heart (The Life and Music of R. Alexander Anderson)

R. Alexander Anderson wrote more than two hundred songs during his lifetime, which spanned most of the twentieth century. Born in Honolulu in 1894, Anderson had a profound love for the Hawaiian Islands and its people and this love is reflected in his songs. Anderson's songs capture the spirit of a Hawai'i that is filled with the romance of gentle trade winds, fragrant lei, and beckoning seas. They tell of a Hawai'i that is filled with aloha. Scott C. S. Stone tells the story of Anderson's life with colorful detail, providing us with a rich portrait of a man who made a heroic escape from the Germans during World War I and went on to establish himself not only as a respected songwriter but also as a prominent figure in Hawai'i's community. Anderson gave much of himself to Hawai'i; most importantly, he gave his aloha. --- from back cover