Born in Glasgow, Scotland, James B. Anderson graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Jordanhill College of Education in 1974. Throughout his career, Bandmaster Anderson has built a reputation as an educator, composer and conductor. He worked as a school music teacher before being appointed Advisor in Music (Superintendent of Music) in the north east of Scotland, responsible for the oversight and development of music in 275 elementary schools and 38 high schools.

On 4 July 1992, Bandmaster Anderson moved to Texas with his wife and family to work full-time for The Salvation Army as the Divisional Music Director. In 1999, he became the Territorial Music Education Director for the USA Southern Territory. He moved to the USA Western Territory as the Territorial Music Secretary in 2001. Bandmaster Anderson relocated to Washington, DC as the Divisional Music Director for the National Capital and Virginia Division and assumed the baton as conductor of the National Capital Band in May 2004.

After nearly two years of struggle with an aggressive cancer, Bandmaster Anderson retired in May 2010. On 28 October 2010, he went home to the Lord from Dallas, Texas, as his family gathered around him and sang him into Heaven.