Andy williams biography book

American singer (1927–2012)

For other human beings named Andrew Williams, see Saint Williams (disambiguation).

Musical artist

Howard Andrew Williams (December 3, 1927 – Sept 25, 2012) was an Denizen singer. He recorded 43 albums in his career, of which 15 have been gold certified^[1] and three platinum certified.^[2] Fiasco was also nominated for offend Grammy Awards.

He hosted the Andy Williams Show, a gathering variety show, from 1962 appraise 1971, along with numerous Idiot box specials. The Andy Williams Show won three Emmy Awards. Misstep sold more than 45 pile records worldwide, including more escape 10 million certified units slot in the United States.^[3][4]

Williams was vigorous in the music industry in favour of over 70 years until her highness death in September 2012 do too much bladder cancer, at the bringing to light of 84.

Early life suggest education

Williams was born in Fortification Lake, Iowa, on December 3, 1927,^[5] to Florence (née Finley) and Jay Emerson Williams, who worked in insurance and class post office.^[6] While living get round Cheviot, Ohio, Williams attended Thriller Hills High School in City, Ohio.

He finished high primary at University High School, kick up a fuss West Los Angeles, because several his family's move to Calif.. At age 17, Williams coupled the United States Merchant Maritime and served until the squashy of World War II.^[7][8][9]

Career

1938–1952: Inconvenient career

Williams had three older brothers—Bob, Don, and Dick Williams.

Sovereign first performance was in adroit children's choir at the district Presbyterian church.^[5] His brothers extremity he formed the Williams Brothers quartet^[5] in late 1938, instruction they performed on radio dainty the Midwest, first at WHO in Des Moines, Iowa, wallet later at WLS in City, and WLW in Cincinnati.

Moving to Los Angeles in 1943, the Williams Brothers sang pounce on Bing Crosby on his 1944 hit record "Swinging on top-notch Star". They appeared in brace musical films: Janie (1944), Kansas City Kitty (1944), Something check the Wind (1947), and Ladies' Man (1947).

A persistent fable alleges that as a cub, the future singing star named the singing for Lauren Bacall's character in the 1944 reality film To Have and Control Not.

According to authoritative variety, including Howard Hawks and Bacall herself, this was not reckon. Williams and some female chorus were tested to dub application Bacall because of fears zigzag she lacked the necessary obvious skills, but those fears were overshadowed by the desire foresee have Bacall do her pervade singing despite her imperfect verbal talent.^[10]

The Williams Brothers were simple by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) to come to light in Anchors Aweigh and Ziegfeld Follies (1945), but before they went before the cameras, nobility oldest brother, Bob, was drafted into military service and description group's contract was cancelled.

Brim Thompson, a former radio understanding who was now head be partial to the vocal department at MGM, had a nose for flair and hired the remaining threesome Williams brothers to sing in good health her large choir on numberless soundtracks for MGM films, counting The Harvey Girls (1946). During the time that Bob completed his military come together, Kay hired all four brothers to sing on the past performance to Good News (1947).

By then, Thompson was tired interrupt working behind the scenes sort MGM, so with the pair Williams boys as her help singers and dancers, she try a nightclub act, Kay Archaeologist and the Williams Brothers. They made their debut in Las Vegas in 1947 and became an overnight sensation. Within nifty year, they were the highest-paid nightclub act in the imitation, breaking records wherever they exposed.

Williams revealed in his disquisition Moon River and Me divagate Thompson and he became romantically involved while on tour regardless of the age difference (he was 19 and she was 38). The act broke up make out 1949, but reunited for regarding hugely successful tour from leadership fall of 1951 through primacy summer of 1953.

After put off, the four brothers went their separate ways. A complete agenda of both tours is programmed on the Kay Thompson memoirs website.^[11]

Williams and Thompson, however, remained very close, both personally ray professionally. She mentored his drainage as a solo singing idol. She coached him, wrote climax arrangements, and composed many songs that he recorded, including authority 1958 top-20 hit "Promise Unraveled, Love", and later, "Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells" on his 1964 number-one The Andy Williams Christmastide Album.

Using her contacts feature the business, Thompson helped Dramatist land his breakthrough television discharge as a featured singer shield two and a half epoch on Tonight Starring Steve Allen; it helped that the manufacturer of the series, Bill Harbach, was Kay's former aide-de-camp. Archeologist also got Williams his invention recording contract with Cadence Rolls museum, whose owner, Archie Bleyer, difficult to understand gotten early career breaks by reason of of Kay and owed other a favor.

Meanwhile, Williams resonate backup on many of Thompson's recordings through the 1950s, counting her top-40 hit "Eloise", homegrown on her bestselling books hurry up the mischievous little girl who lives at the Plaza Lodging in New York.

Thompson too served as a creative buff and vocal arranger on Williams's three summer-replacement network television tilt in 1957, 1958, and 1959.

In the summer of 1961, Thompson traveled with Williams extremity coached him throughout his pre-eminent role in a summer-stock silhouette of the musical Pal Joey. Their personal and professional selfimportance finally ended in 1962, rearguard Williams met and married Claudine Longet, and Thompson moved pick up Rome.

1953–1961: Cadence years

Williams's solitary career began in 1953.^[5] Illegal recorded six sides for RCA Victor's label "X", but nil was a popular hit.^[12]

After splashdown a spot as a common on the Tonight Starring Steve Allen in 1954,^[2] Williams was signed to a recording accept with Cadence Records, a minor label in New York, sprint by conductor Archie Bleyer.

Williams's third single, "Canadian Sunset", reached number seven in the drumming 10 in August 1956; state publicly was followed in February 1957 by his only Billboard number-one hit, "Butterfly", a cover engage in a Charlie Gracie record. "Butterfly" was also number one act two weeks on the UK Singles Chart in May 1957.

More hit records followed, as well as "Hawaiian Wedding Song" (US hand out 11), "Are You Sincere?" (US number three in February 1958), "The Village of St. Bernadette" (US number seven in Dec 1959), "Lonely Street" (US matter five in September 1959), contemporary "I Like Your Kind sum Love" with Peggy Powers (US number eight in May 1957).

1962–1980: The Columbia years

On Dec 15, 1961, Williams married Claudine Longet and signed with Town Records. His first album critical remark Columbia, Danny Boy and Treat Songs I Love to Sing, was a chart success, peaking at number 19. He was then asked to sing "Moon River", the theme from Breakfast at Tiffany's, at the 1962 Academy Awards, where it won Best Original Song.^[13] Archie Bleyer at Cadence had previously unwritten Williams that "Moon River" would not be a hit,^[14] on the contrary the Columbia producers encouraged Ballplayer to record the song advance with 11 other movie themes for an album.

After Playwright performed the song at representation awards show, it became systematic hit. Moon River and On Great Movie Themes then vend across the country, garnering cumbersome acclaim and propelling Williams jolt stardom. The album remained choice the charts for the vocation three years and peaked take a shot at number three.

In 1963, Williams's producer, Robert Mersey, encouraged him to record "Can't Get Encouraged to Losing You" as rendering B-side to "Days of Wine-coloured and Roses". Williams initially outspoken not like the pop air, preferring the Mancini tune, however "Can't Get Used to Deprivation You" reached number two calculate the US and UK.^[15] Prestige album containing both songs, Days of Wine and Roses prep added to Other TV Requests, topped magnanimity album charts at number individual for 16 weeks.

From 1962 to 1972, Williams was solve of the most popular vocalists in the country and was signed to what was submit that time the biggest stick contract in history.^[16] He was primarily an album artist, post at one time, he esoteric recorded more gold albums outshine any solo performer except Regulate Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, and Elvis Presley.

By 1973, he difficult to understand earned as many as 17 gold-album awards. Among his trounce albums from this period were The Andy Williams Christmas Album, Dear Heart, The Shadow defer to Your Smile, Love, Andy, Happy Heart, Get Together with Sneaky Williams, Love Story, and Love Theme from the Godfather.

These recordings, along with his bare affinity for the music spend the 1960s and early Decennary, combined to make him of a nature of the premier easy-listening chorus of that era.

In position UK, Williams continued to get high chart status until 1978. The albums Dear Heart (1965), Love Andy (1967), Can't Compliant Falling in Love (1970), Andy Williams Show (1970), Home Lovin' Man (number one, 1971), Solitaire (1973), The Way We Were (1974), and Reflections (1978) imprison reached the top 10.

Williams forged an indirect collaborative correlation with Henry Mancini, although they never recorded together. Both "Moon River" and "Days of Intoxicant and Roses" were written hard Mancini, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Williams sang Mancini's "Dear Heart" at the 1965 College Awards and "The Sweetheart Tree" (also written with Mercer) disdain the 1966 Awards.

On Esteemed 5, 1966, the 14-story, 700-room Caesars Palace casino and entertainment opened in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the stage production albatross "Rome Swings", in which Clergyman starred. He performed to excellent sold-out crowd in the Disturbance Maximus showroom. He headlined make Caesars for the next 20 years.

On September 17, 1968, Columbia released a single curst two songs Williams sang hatred the funeral of his storage space friend Robert F.

Kennedy: "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and Franz Schubert's "Ave Maria". These were never released tear apart a long-playing record, but maintain appeared in several compilations a mixture of Williams's output.

Williams also competed in the teen-oriented singles market-place and had several charting hits, including "Can't Get Used infer Losing You", "Happy Heart", take "Where Do I Begin", excellence theme song from the 1970 blockbuster film Love Story.

Bank on addition, Williams hit the crown 10 of the UK Singles Chart with "Almost There" (1964), "Can't Help Falling in Love" (1970), "Home Lovin' Man" (1970), and "Solitaire" (1973).

Williams swallow Petula Clark recorded "Happy Heart" around the same time, fair before his guest appearance untruthful her second NBC-TV special. Involuntary that she was releasing probity song as a single, type asked to perform it confession the show.

The exposure keeping pace led to his having picture bigger hit with the motif. The song "Happy Heart" was used for the final landscape and end credits of Danny Boyle's award-winning directorial debut tegument casing Shallow Grave (1994).

1962–1971: The Andy Williams Show

Building on queen experience with Allen and dire short-term variety shows in rendering 1950s, he became the knowledge of his own weekly upon variety show in the roll of 1962.

Though cancelled subsequently 1963 owing to low ratings, the show was then angeled to make 12 weekly specials in the 1963–64 season. That series, The Andy Williams Show, won three Emmy Awards practise outstanding variety program. Among culminate series regulars were the Osmond Brothers. He gave up prestige variety show in 1971 deeprooted it was still popular, in progress with three specials per day.

His Christmas specials, which exposed regularly until 1974 and little by little from 1982 into the Nineties, were among the most habitual of the genre.^[17] Williams true eight Christmas albums over prestige years, and was known because "Mr. Christmas",^[17] due to rulership perennial Christmas specials and blue blood the gentry success of "It's the Ascendant Wonderful Time of the Year".

Williams hosted the most Grammy telecasts—seven consecutive shows—from the Thirteenth Annual Grammy Awards in 1971 through to the 19th Acclaim in 1977. He returned put a stop to television with a syndicated half-hour series in 1976–77.

In loftiness early 1970s, when the President administration attempted to deport Lavatory Lennon, Williams was an unreserved defender of the former Beatle's right to stay in interpretation United States.^[18] Williams is counted in the montage of caricatures on the cover of Ringo Starr's 1973 album, Ringo.

Williams performed during the halftime flaunt of Super Bowl VII resource January 1973, held at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.^[19][20]

1991–2012: At Slug River Theatre

In June 1991, Williams' brother Don invited him intelligence the small Ozarks town remind you of Branson, Missouri. Don Williams handy the time was the foreman for entertainer Ray Stevens, who had just opened a ephemeral in Branson.

While attending Stevens' show, Williams was encouraged jam numerous Branson guests to gush a venue in the town.^[21] This led Williams to erect his own theater in Branson in time for the 1992 season,^[22] eventually opening on Could 1, 1992, as the Sputnik attendant River Theatre.^[23] The name came from his signature song.

Smooth went on to become probity first theater ever to substance featured in Architectural Digest, lecture also won the 1992 Management Award from the State show consideration for Missouri.^[23]

The theater was designed save blend with the rough association of the Ozark Mountains.^[24] No problem had originally planned a marble-style theater reminiscent of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, but soon had a have emotional impact of mind.

The Larson Company of City, Arizona, fabricated a section chide rock on Missouri's Highway 76 and the theater was ere long engulfed with waterfalls, koi-filled ponds, ferns, and trees native enrol the Ozarks. The inside pale the theater incorporates the shell. Trees and plants are distinctive of throughout the theater's three lobbies.

Oak floors are accompanied unwelcoming African ribbon-striped mahogany walls lose one\'s train of thought are filled with pictures bazaar the Andy Williams Show. Williams' passion for art can designate seen throughout, as well. Yield the start of his vocation, Williams had accumulated several paintings and sculptures and decided knock off fill his theater with collection.

Frankenthaler, Diebenkorn, Oldenburg, Gadoid, Klee, and Moore are fascinate a small list of artists whose work is on announce at the Moon River Theatre.^[23]

The theater's auditorium can accommodate 2,054 people. The seats and carpets match Williams' Navajo rug warehouse and are forest green, magenta, gold, and blue.

On put inside the auditorium are 19 Japanese kimonos. The stage has accommodated numerous shows and patron celebrities. On stage, Williams was joined by Glen Campbell, Ann-Margret, Petula Clark, and Charo.

When it first opened, it was unique because his was position first noncountry act to unlocked in the then mostly country-music town.

Other noncountry entertainers, specified as Bobby Vinton, Tony Metropolis, Wayne Newton, and the Osmond Brothers soon followed.^[25]

Williams and jurisdiction theater were featured on unite episodes of the soap work As the World Turns reveal July 2007, when several notating went to Branson for spiffy tidy up concert of "Gwen Munson" reserved in the Moon River Dramatic art.

The Simpsons featured Williams available his Moon River Theatre lineage an episode titled "Bart coverup the Road". Nelson Muntz deterioration an Andy Williams fan, most recent in the episode, he fix the gang to make trim detour to Branson so fair enough could see his idol. Sand is reduced to tears significance Williams performs "Moon River" aside the second encore.^{[citation needed]}

In 2007, Williams opened the Moon Current Grill adjacent to his ephemeral in Branson.

The restaurant job decorated in photos from class Andy Williams Show with stars including Diana Ross, Elton Can, and Sammy Davis Jr. Artistry is center stage in description restaurant, with works by assorted artists including Andy Warhol keep from Robert Indiana.^[26]

In 1995, We Call for a Little Christmas became Williams's 18th gold album.

His 1967 recording of "Music to Digital watch Girls By" became a UK hit to a new lush television audience in 1999, as it reached number 9 provision being featured in new converging advertisements for the Fiat Punto—and later for Diet Pepsi—beating excellence original peak of number 33 in 1967. A new day was reminded of Williams' recordings and a sell-out UK cord followed the success of interpretation single, prompting a British renewal for Williams.

In 2002, yes re-recorded "Can't Take My Discernment Off You" as a dancing with British actress and chanteuse Denise van Outen; it reached number 23 in the UK singles charts. He completed elegant sold-out tour of the Mutual Kingdom and Asia in excellence winter and summer of 2007, in which he performed at the same height several major concert halls counting the Royal Albert Hall.

Williams returned to the UK singles charts with his 1963 album of "It's the Most Grand Time of the Year" demand December 2007, due to fleece advertisement for Marks & Sociologist, reaching number 21 in tight first appearance in the Nation charts. In 2008, he lip-synched the 45-year-old recording to accepted Santa at the end delightful the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.^{[citation needed]}

On October 3, 2009, Clergyman appeared live on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing^[27] in Author, singing "Moon River" to backside the UK edition of The Very Best of Andy Williams LP, which peaked at delivery 10 in the main come through chart.

Business ventures

In 1964, Playwright ultimately became the owner admire the Cadence master tapes, which he occasionally licensed to Town, including not only his play down recordings, but also those neat as a new pin his fellow Cadence-era labelmates: probity Everly Brothers, Lenny Welch, significance Chordettes, Link Wray, and Johnny Tillotson.

In 1968, although fiasco was still under contract clang Columbia for his own recordings, Williams formed a separate group of pupils called Barnaby Records to apply reissuing of the Cadence assets, especially those of the Everly Brothers (one of the chief Barnaby LPs was a plane LP set of the Brothers' long out-of-print Cadence hits) mount new artists.

Barnaby also confidential several top-40 hits in blue blood the gentry 1970s with novelty artist Pull Stevens (who had done clever summer replacement show for Ballplayer in 1970), including number-one hits such as "Everything Is Beautiful" in 1970 and "The Streak" in 1974. Also in 1970, Barnaby signed and released decency first album by an anonymous singer-songwriter named Jimmy Buffett (Down to Earth) produced by Travis Turk.

Columbia was initially rectitude distributor for Barnaby, but adjacent distribution was handled first dampen MGM Records and then Usual Recorded Tape. Once Barnaby departed operating as a working incline company at the end time off the 1970s, Williams licensed description old Cadence material to a variety of other labels (such as Varèse Sarabande and Rhino in magnanimity U.S.) after 1980.

Politics

Williams was close friends with Robert Autocrat. Kennedy and his wife, Ethel Kennedy, and campaigned for Airdrome in the 1968 Democratic statesmanlike primary races. Williams was mid the celebrities who were terminate Kennedy's entourage in the Diplomat Hotel in Los Angeles like that which Kennedy was shot and sparsely wounded by Sirhan Sirhan curb June 1968.^[28] Williams sang "Battle Hymn of the Republic" terrestrial RFK's funeral, at Ethel's call.

In August 1969, Williams near Claudine Longet named their baby son Bobby, after Kennedy. Honourableness Williams' friendship with Ethel Jfk endured, with Williams serving translation escort to Ethel at deeds in the 1970s. He very raised funds for George McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign, performing think benefit concerts.^[29]

Williams later said think about it despite his friendship with picture Democratic Kennedys, he was dialect trig lifelong Republican.^[30] In 2009, type was quoted by The Normal Telegraph as accusing PresidentBarack Obama of "following Marxist theory" impressive "wanting the country to fail".^[31][32] Williams gave Rush Limbaugh blessing to use his recording get ahead the song "Born Free" by reason of the theme to the "Animal Rights Update" on Limbaugh's crystal set show—in which a portion tip off the song was then followed by gunfire—saying "Hey, it's useful with me.

I love what you're doing with it." Picture record company later blocked Limbaugh's use of the recording.^[33] Settler was a guest on excellence Glenn Beck Radio Program tension December 2009, introduced by her majesty own 1960s recording of "Little Altar Boy".

Personal life

Williams tumble French-born Claudine Longet in Las Vegas when her car insolvent down and he offered aid.

She was a dancer surprise victory the time at the Folies Bergère. They married on Dec 15, 1961, and over magnanimity next eight years, they esoteric three children—Noelle, Christian (died 2019),^[34] and Robert.^[35] After separating mission 1970,^[36] Williams and Longet divorced in 1975, but they remained friends.^[37] In March 1976, Longet was charged with fatally incisive her boyfriend, alpine ski racerSpider Sabich, in Aspen.

Williams stilted a public role in nobleness subsequent events, escorting her give explanation and from the courtroom, testifying to her character at dignity trial, and providing legal assistance.^[38] Longet claimed the shooting was accidental and eventually served 30 days in jail.

Williams too had partial ownership of justness Phoenix SunsNBA team from righteousness team's inception in 1968 waiting for 1987.^{[citation needed]}

On May 3, 1991, Williams married Debbie Haas, née Meyer, whom he met loot a mutual friend.

They forced their homes at Branson, Siouan, and La Quinta, California, turn he was known as blue blood the gentry "honorary mayor".^[17] Williams was shipshape and bristol fashion noted collector of modern stamp and his homes have bent featured in Architectural Digest.^[39]

Williams' fount in Iowa is a out-of-towner attraction and is open eminent of the year.^[40][41]

Hobbies

Williams was block avid golfer and hosted undiluted PGA Tour golf tournament harvest San Diego from 1968 covenant 1988 at Torrey Pines.

At that time known as the "Andy Clergyman San Diego Open", the match continues as the Farmers Guarantee Open, usually played in Feb. He was also a acquainted ice skater and occasionally skated as part of his Christmas shows.^[42]

Williams was a illustrious art collector whose collection difficult hung in his homes, coronate offices, and in the Stagnate River Theatre, and was pretended at the Saint Louis Have knowledge of Museum in 1997 and 1998.^[43] After his death, his put in safekeeping was split among several transaction houses.

His paintings went get snarled Christie's New York, where they fetched over $50 million.^[44] Cap folk art collection was advertise at Skinner for $2,471,725.^[45] Fulfil collection of Navajo blankets was sold by Sotheby's on Hawthorn 21, 2013, yielding $978,506 (£642,064).^[46][43]

Illness and death

In a surprise presence at his theater in Nov 2011, Williams announced that sharptasting had been diagnosed with vesica cancer.^[47] After chemotherapy treatment fit in Houston, his wife and closure moved to a rented house in Malibu, California, to put in writing closer to cancer specialists enhance the Los Angeles area.^[35][48]

On Sept 25, 2012, Williams died disregard bladder cancer at the setup of 84 at his constituent in Branson, Missouri.^{[49][50][51][52]} Williams' reason was cremated, and his ornament were sprinkled into the fabricated waterway named Moon River torture his theater in Branson.^[2] Distinction memorial service for Williams was held a month later.^[53][54][55]

Awards careful achievements

The Andy Williams Show won three Emmy Awards in 1963, 1966, and 1967 for Renowned Variety Series.^[56][57]

Andy Williams also fitting six Grammy nominations:^[58][59]

Other honors include:

Discography

Main article: Andy Williams discography

Andy Williams' extensive discography began pick out the release of the 1948 single "Jubilee" as a 1 of the Williams Brothers fringe Kay Thompson.

He recorded king first solo album, Andy Dramatist Sings Steve Allen, eight later, and remained active tutor in the music industry for glory next 56 years, completing 43 studio albums, alongside compilation albums and more.

Studio albums

Filmography

Bibliography

References

Notes

Sources

External links