James “Deacon” Anderson was a singer, songwriter, and steel guitarist who lived in Groves, Texas. Raised in a deeply musical household in nearby Port Arthur, he grew up surrounded by Texas Gulf Coast dancehall culture. His father, James Anderson Sr., was a respected hillbilly pianist who often performed with Moon Mullican, one of the major architects of honky-tonk and an early influence on rock and roll. Deacon later made his own mark as a performer, even appearing on The Johnny Cash Show. Producer Huey Meaux brought him to Atlantic Records, and Anderson eventually operated his own recording studio in Port Neches, contributing to the regional music scene for decades.

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Anderson co-wrote the hit “Ragg-Mopp” with western swing bandleader Johnnie Lee Wills. Written while Anderson was serving as a sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II, the song was first recorded by Johnny Lee Wills and His Boys in December 1949. It quickly became a novelty smash. The Ames Brothers’ version achieved national success, selling more than a million copies, and The Treniers added their own exuberant interpretation. “Ragg-Mopp” became embedded in American pop culture—used in animation by Beanie and Cecil, Disney productions, and even performed by The Muppets during a skit on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The song has been recorded by more than thirty-five artists and became a charting hit for seven of them.

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Beyond “Ragg-Mopp,” Anderson wrote additional western swing and country tunes, including “Red Hot Flame” and “I Hate to See You Cry.” A versatile steel guitarist, he played with numerous musicians such as Cotton Thompson, J.L. Jenkins, Darrell Jones, Richard Prine, Mutt Collins, Mancel Tierney, and the Johnnie Lee Wills Band. Later in his career, he released the single “Mama Mama” on Atlantic Records’ Cotillion label, further cementing his place in the rich musical history of Southeast Texas.