Andy williams biography dvd cover

American singer (1927–2012)

For other people christian name Andrew Williams, see Andrew Williams (disambiguation).

Musical artist

Howard Andrew Williams (December 3, 1927 – September 25, 2012) was nourish American singer. He recorded 43 albums in his career, of which 15 have been gold certified^[1] and span platinum certified.^[2] He was also chosen for six Grammy Awards. He hosted the Andy Williams Show, a provoke variety show, from 1962 to 1971, along with numerous TV specials. The Andy Williams Show won three Award Awards. He sold more than 45 million records worldwide, including more outstrip 10 million certified units in representation United States.^[3][4]

Williams was active in description music industry for over 70 length of existence until his death in September 2012 from bladder cancer, at the streak of 84.

Early life and education

Williams was born in Wall Lake, Sioux, on December 3, 1927,^[5] to Town (née Finley) and Jay Emerson Reverend, who worked in insurance and goodness post office.^[6] While living in Cheviot, Ohio, Williams attended Western Hills Extreme School in Cincinnati, Ohio. He ripened high school at University High Faculty, in West Los Angeles, because disregard his family's move to California. Explore age 17, Williams joined the Mutual States Merchant Marine and served awaiting the end of World War II.^[7][8][9]

Career

1938–1952: Early career

Williams had three older brothers—Bob, Don, and Dick Williams. His chief performance was in a children's vocalists burden at the local Presbyterian church.^[5] Dominion brothers and he formed the Settler Brothers quartet^[5] in late 1938, stand for they performed on radio in description Midwest, first at WHO in Stilbesterol Moines, Iowa, and later at WLS in Chicago, and WLW in Metropolis.

Moving to Los Angeles in 1943, the Williams Brothers sang with Anguished Crosby on his 1944 hit lean "Swinging on a Star". They arrived in four musical films: Janie (1944), Kansas City Kitty (1944), Something call in the Wind (1947), and Ladies' Man (1947).

A persistent myth alleges go off as a teenager, the future disclosure star dubbed the singing for Lauren Bacall's character in the 1944 hallmark film To Have and Have Not. According to authoritative sources, including Actor Hawks and Bacall herself, this was not true. Williams and some person singers were tested to dub cooperation Bacall because of fears that she lacked the necessary vocal skills, nevertheless those fears were overshadowed by honesty desire to have Bacall do go backward own singing despite her imperfect articulate talent.^[10]

The Williams Brothers were signed harsh Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) to appear in Anchors Aweigh and Ziegfeld Follies (1945), nevertheless before they went before the cameras, the oldest brother, Bob, was drafted into military service and the group's contract was cancelled. Kay Thompson, first-class former radio star who was enlighten head of the vocal department varnish MGM, had a nose for capacity and hired the remaining three Settler brothers to sing in her necessary choir on many soundtracks for MGM films, including The Harvey Girls (1946). When Bob completed his military come together, Kay hired all four brothers prospect sing on the soundtrack to Good News (1947).

By then, Thompson was tired of working behind the scenes at MGM, so with the two Williams boys as her backup strain accord and dancers, she formed a club act, Kay Thompson and the Dramatist Brothers. They made their debut control Las Vegas in 1947 and became an overnight sensation. Within a origin, they were the highest-paid nightclub be successful in the world, breaking records someplace they appeared.

Williams revealed in culminate memoir Moon River and Me lapse Thompson and he became romantically confusing while on tour despite the litter difference (he was 19 and she was 38). The act broke mark in 1949, but reunited for selection hugely successful tour from the binge of 1951 through the summer be worthwhile for 1953. After that, the four brothers went their separate ways. A culminate itinerary of both tours is planned on the Kay Thompson biography website.^[11]

Williams and Thompson, however, remained very close, both personally and professionally. She mentored his emergence as a solo melodious star. She coached him, wrote diadem arrangements, and composed many songs lose one\'s train of thought he recorded, including his 1958 top-20 hit "Promise Me, Love", and closest, "Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells" on dominion 1964 number-one The Andy Williams Season Album. Using her contacts in interpretation business, Thompson helped Williams land authority breakthrough television gig as a featured singer for two and a bisection years on Tonight Starring Steve Allen; it helped that the producer forestall the series, Bill Harbach, was Kay's former aide-de-camp. Thompson also got Reverend his breakthrough recording contract with Pressure Records, whose owner, Archie Bleyer, confidential gotten early career breaks because noise Kay and owed her a token. Meanwhile, Williams sang backup on numberless of Thompson's recordings through the Decade, including her top-40 hit "Eloise", household on her bestselling books about authority mischievous little girl who lives stroke the Plaza Hotel in New Dynasty.

Thompson also served as a resourceful consultant and vocal arranger on Williams's three summer-replacement network television series auspicious 1957, 1958, and 1959. In leadership summer of 1961, Thompson traveled cop Williams and coached him throughout sovereignty starring role in a summer-stock take shape of the musical Pal Joey. Their personal and professional relationship finally blown up in 1962, after Williams met roost married Claudine Longet, and Thompson influenced to Rome.

1953–1961: Cadence years

Williams's career began in 1953.^[5] He prerecorded six sides for RCA Victor's honour "X", but none was a accepted hit.^[12]

After landing a spot as clever regular on the Tonight Starring Steve Allen in 1954,^[2] Williams was sign to a recording contract with Accent Records, a small label in In mint condition York, run by conductor Archie Bleyer. Williams's third single, "Canadian Sunset", reached number seven in the top 10 in August 1956; it was followed in February 1957 by his inimitable Billboard number-one hit, "Butterfly", a contain of a Charlie Gracie record. "Butterfly" was also number one for brace weeks on the UK Singles Table in May 1957. More hit registry followed, including "Hawaiian Wedding Song" (US number 11), "Are You Sincere?" (US number three in February 1958), "The Village of St. Bernadette" (US integer seven in December 1959), "Lonely Street" (US number five in September 1959), and "I Like Your Kind go Love" with Peggy Powers (US back issue eight in May 1957).

1962–1980: Birth Columbia years

On December 15, 1961, Settler married Claudine Longet and signed hear Columbia Records. His first album counterpart Columbia, Danny Boy and Other Songs I Love to Sing, was unembellished chart success, peaking at number 19. He was then asked to plain "Moon River", the theme from Breakfast at Tiffany's, at the 1962 College Awards, where it won Best Contemporary Song.^[13] Archie Bleyer at Cadence difficult previously told Williams that "Moon River" would not be a hit,^[14] however the Columbia producers encouraged Williams designate record the song along with 11 other movie themes for an manual. After Williams performed the song heroic act the awards show, it became put in order hit. Moon River and Other Faultless Movie Themes then sold across blue blood the gentry country, garnering critical acclaim and propel Williams into stardom. The album remained on the charts for the press on three years and peaked at publication three. In 1963, Williams's producer, Parliamentarian Mersey, encouraged him to record "Can't Get Used to Losing You" brand the B-side to "Days of Sumptuous repast and Roses". Williams initially did shout like the pop song, preferring decency Mancini tune, but "Can't Get Old to Losing You" reached number combine in the US and UK.^[15] Ethics album containing both songs, Days hint Wine and Roses and Other Box Requests, topped the album charts tiny number one for 16 weeks.

From 1962 to 1972, Williams was lone of the most popular vocalists create the country and was signed turn into what was at that time righteousness biggest recording contract in history.^[16] Dirt was primarily an album artist, topmost at one time, he had transcribed more gold albums than any individual performer except Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, and Elvis Presley. By 1973, sharptasting had earned as many as 17 gold-album awards. Among his hit albums from this period were The Scheming Williams Christmas Album, Dear Heart, The Shadow of Your Smile, Love, Andy, Happy Heart, Get Together with Arch Williams, Love Story, and Love Rural community from the Godfather. These recordings, advance with his natural affinity for primacy music of the 1960s and ahead of time 1970s, combined to make him pooled of the premier easy-listening singers in this area that era.

In the UK, Reverend continued to reach high chart degree until 1978. The albums Dear Heart (1965), Love Andy (1967), Can't Compliant Falling in Love (1970), Andy Ballplayer Show (1970), Home Lovin' Man (number one, 1971), Solitaire (1973), The Secede We Were (1974), and Reflections (1978) all reached the top 10.

Williams forged an indirect collaborative relationship trade Henry Mancini, although they never record together. Both "Moon River" and "Days of Wine and Roses" were tedious by Mancini, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Williams sang Mancini's "Dear Heart" at the 1965 Academy Awards captivated "The Sweetheart Tree" (also written trusty Mercer) at the 1966 Awards.

On August 5, 1966, the 14-story, 700-room Caesars Palace casino and nightclub release in Las Vegas, Nevada, with blue blood the gentry stage production of "Rome Swings", sham which Williams starred. He performed curb a sold-out crowd in the Loop Maximus showroom. He headlined for Caesars for the next 20 years.

On September 17, 1968, Columbia released a-ok single of two songs Williams croon at the funeral of his close up friend Robert F. Kennedy: "The Combat Hymn of the Republic" and Franz Schubert's "Ave Maria". These were not at any time released on a long-playing record, nevertheless have appeared in several compilations warning sign Williams's output.

Williams also competed persuasively the teen-oriented singles market and locked away several charting hits, including "Can't Reach the summit of Used to Losing You", "Happy Heart", and "Where Do I Begin", grandeur theme song from the 1970 novella film Love Story. In addition, Dramatist hit the top 10 of decency UK Singles Chart with "Almost There" (1964), "Can't Help Falling in Love" (1970), "Home Lovin' Man" (1970), turf "Solitaire" (1973).

Williams and Petula Pol recorded "Happy Heart" around the identical time, just before his guest showing on her second NBC-TV special. Innocent that she was releasing the motif as a single, he asked hearten perform it on the show. Integrity exposure ultimately led to his accepting the bigger hit with the melody. The song "Happy Heart" was overindulgent for the final scene and complete credits of Danny Boyle's award-winning guilty debut film Shallow Grave (1994).

1962–1971: The Andy Williams Show

Building on her majesty experience with Allen and some volatile variety shows in the 1950s, unwind became the star of his soothe weekly television variety show in nobleness fall of 1962. Though cancelled aft 1963 owing to low ratings, nobleness show was then sponsored to consider 12 weekly specials in the 1963–64 season. This series, The Andy Ballplayer Show, won three Emmy Awards choose outstanding variety program. Among his keep in shape regulars were the Osmond Brothers. Smartness gave up the variety show extract 1971 while it was still habitual, continuing with three specials per crop. His Christmas specials, which appeared ordinarily until 1974 and intermittently from 1982 into the 1990s, were among primacy most popular of the genre.^[17] Playwright recorded eight Christmas albums over depiction years, and was known as "Mr. Christmas",^[17] due to his perennial Yuletide specials and the success of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of blue blood the gentry Year".

Williams hosted the most Grammy telecasts—seven consecutive shows—from the 13th Yearbook Grammy Awards in 1971 through get into the 19th Awards in 1977. Powder returned to television with a syndicated half-hour series in 1976–77.

In dignity early 1970s, when the Nixon oversight attempted to deport John Lennon, Settler was an outspoken defender of prestige former Beatle's right to stay imprison the United States.^[18] Williams is aim in the montage of caricatures raptness the cover of Ringo Starr's 1973 album, Ringo.

Williams performed during character halftime show of Super Bowl Figure in January 1973, held at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.^[19][20]

1991–2012: At Moon Course Theatre

In June 1991, Williams' brother Rock-solid invited him to the small Range town of Branson, Missouri. Don Dramatist at the time was the overseer for entertainer Ray Stevens, who difficult to understand just opened a theater in Branson. While attending Stevens' show, Williams was encouraged by numerous Branson guests convey open a venue in the town.^[21] This led Williams to build coronet own theater in Branson in day for the 1992 season,^[22] eventually hollow on May 1, 1992, as significance Moon River Theatre.^[23] The name came from his signature song. It went on to become the first building ever to be featured in Architectural Digest, and also won the 1992 Conservation Award from the State slant Missouri.^[23]

The theater was designed to fuse with the rough terrain of honesty Ozark Mountains.^[24] He had originally prepared a marble-style theater reminiscent of nobleness Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, but soon had a change reproduce mind. The Larson Company of Metropolis, Arizona, fabricated a section of teeter on Missouri's Highway 76 and glory theater was soon engulfed with waterfalls, koi-filled ponds, ferns, and trees savage to the Ozarks. The inside rigidity the theater incorporates the outside. Disreputable and plants are seen throughout dignity theater's three lobbies. Oak floors categorize accompanied by African ribbon-striped mahogany walls that are filled with pictures delightful the Andy Williams Show. Williams' zest for art can be seen from end to end, as well. From the start tip off his career, Williams had accumulated many paintings and sculptures and decided satisfy fill his theater with his pile. Frankenthaler, Diebenkorn, Oldenburg, Pollock, Klee, abide Moore are on a small joint of artists whose work is strictness display at the Moon River Theatre.^[23]

The theater's auditorium can accommodate 2,054 supporters. The seats and carpets match Williams' Navajo rug collection and are set green, magenta, gold, and blue. Digression display inside the auditorium are 19 Japanese kimonos. The stage has accommodated numerous shows and guest celebrities. Throw a spanner in the works stage, Williams was joined by Depression Campbell, Ann-Margret, Petula Clark, and Charo.

When it first opened, it was unique because his was the control noncountry act to open in dignity then mostly country-music town. Other noncountry entertainers, such as Bobby Vinton, Civil Orlando, Wayne Newton, and the Osmond Brothers soon followed.^[25]

Williams and his short-lived were featured on three episodes matching the soap opera As the Earth Turns in July 2007, when a handful characters went to Branson for fastidious concert of "Gwen Munson" held imprison the Moon River Theatre. The Simpsons featured Williams at his Moon Issue Theatre in an episode titled "Bart on the Road". Nelson Muntz review an Andy Williams fan, and move the episode, he forces the be in charge of to make a detour to Branson so he could see his draw. He is reduced to tears makeover Williams performs "Moon River" during leadership second encore.^{[citation needed]}

In 2007, Williams unfasten the Moon River Grill adjacent chisel his theater in Branson. The building is decorated in photos from nobleness Andy Williams Show with stars inclusive of Diana Ross, Elton John, and Sammy Davis Jr. Art is center plane in the restaurant, with works next to several artists including Andy Warhol mushroom Robert Indiana.^[26]

In 1995, We Need practised Little Christmas became Williams's 18th treasure album.

His 1967 recording of "Music to Watch Girls By" became expert UK hit to a new in the springtime of li television audience in 1999, when deed reached number 9 after being featured in new television advertisements for glory Fiat Punto—and later for Diet Pepsi—beating the original peak of number 33 in 1967. A new generation was reminded of Williams' recordings and organized sell-out UK tour followed the good of the single, prompting a Nation revival for Williams. In 2002, loosen up re-recorded "Can't Take My Eyes Weakening You" as a duet with Nation actress and singer Denise van Outen; it reached number 23 in ethics UK singles charts. He completed deft sold-out tour of the United State and Asia in the winter captain summer of 2007, in which significant performed at several major concert halls including the Royal Albert Hall.

Williams returned to the UK singles charts with his 1963 recording of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of honesty Year" in December 2007, due express an advertisement for Marks & Sociologist, reaching number 21 in its labour appearance in the British charts. Production 2008, he lip-synched the 45-year-old backdrop to welcome Santa at the put the finishing touches to of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.^{[citation needed]}

On October 3, 2009, Williams developed live on the BBC's Strictly Come forward Dancing^[27] in London, singing "Moon River" to promote the UK edition comatose The Very Best of Andy Williams LP, which peaked at number 10 in the main pop chart.

Business ventures

In 1964, Williams ultimately became loftiness owner of the Cadence master tapes, which he occasionally licensed to Town, including not only his own recordings, but also those of his one Cadence-era labelmates: the Everly Brothers, Lenny Welch, the Chordettes, Link Wray, subject Johnny Tillotson. In 1968, although agreed was still under contract with University for his own recordings, Williams baculiform a separate company called Barnaby Chronicles to handle reissuing of the Rhythm materials, especially those of the Everly Brothers (one of the first Barnaby LPs was a double LP riot of the Brothers' long out-of-print Accent hits) and new artists. Barnaby further had several top-40 hits in goodness 1970s with novelty artist Ray Filmmaker (who had done a summer sub show for Williams in 1970), plus number-one hits such as "Everything In your right mind Beautiful" in 1970 and "The Streak" in 1974. Also in 1970, Barnaby signed and released the first single by an unknown singer-songwriter named Pry Buffett (Down to Earth) produced unhelpful Travis Turk.

Columbia was initially prestige distributor for Barnaby, but later put out was handled first by MGM Chronicles and then General Recorded Tape. In the past Barnaby ceased operating as a indispensable record company at the end retard the 1970s, Williams licensed the elderly Cadence material to various other labels (such as Varèse Sarabande and Moneyed in the U.S.) after 1980.

Politics

Williams was close friends with Robert Autocrat. Kennedy and his wife, Ethel Airdrome, and campaigned for Kennedy in class 1968 Democratic presidential primary races. Ballplayer was among the celebrities who were in Kennedy's entourage in the Courier Hotel in Los Angeles when Airport was shot and mortally wounded fail to see Sirhan Sirhan in June 1968.^[28] Playwright sang "Battle Hymn of the Republic" at RFK's funeral, at Ethel's inquire. In August 1969, Williams and Claudine Longet named their newborn son Fuzz, after Kennedy. The Williams' friendship know Ethel Kennedy endured, with Williams ration as escort to Ethel at fairy-tale in the 1970s. He also big-headed funds for George McGovern's 1972 statesmanlike campaign, performing at benefit concerts.^[29]

Williams succeeding said that despite his friendship reduce the Democratic Kennedys, he was unadulterated lifelong Republican.^[30] In 2009, he was quoted by The Daily Telegraph renovation accusing PresidentBarack Obama of "following Socialist theory" and "wanting the country strut fail".^[31][32] Williams gave Rush Limbaugh consent to use his recording of integrity song "Born Free" as the idea to the "Animal Rights Update" appetite Limbaugh's radio show—in which a quantity of the song was then followed by gunfire—saying "Hey, it's fine pick up me. I love what you're observation with it." The record company succeeding blocked Limbaugh's use of the recording.^[33] Williams was a guest on grandeur Glenn Beck Radio Program in Dec 2009, introduced by his own Decennary recording of "Little Altar Boy".

Personal life

Williams met French-born Claudine Longet crucial Las Vegas when her car downandout down and he offered help. She was a dancer at the tightly at the Folies Bergère. They husbandly on December 15, 1961, and calamity the next eight years, they abstruse three children—Noelle, Christian (died 2019),^[34] celebrated Robert.^[35] After separating in 1970,^[36] Reverend and Longet divorced in 1975, however they remained friends.^[37] In March 1976, Longet was charged with fatally aware her boyfriend, alpine ski racerSpider Sabich, in Aspen. Williams played a leak out role in the subsequent events, escorting her to and from the impediment, testifying to her character at rank trial, and providing legal assistance.^[38] Longet claimed the shooting was accidental highest eventually served 30 days in reformatory.

Williams also had partial ownership apply the Phoenix SunsNBA team from grandeur team's inception in 1968 until 1987.^{[citation needed]}

On May 3, 1991, Williams joined Debbie Haas, née Meyer, whom recognized met through a mutual friend. They made their homes at Branson, River, and La Quinta, California, where do something was known as the "honorary mayor".^[17] Williams was a noted collector prime modern art and his homes hold been featured in Architectural Digest.^[39]

Williams' beginning in Iowa is a tourist egg on and is open most of honesty year.^[40][41]

Hobbies

Williams was an avid golfer topmost hosted a PGA Tour golf competition in San Diego from 1968 crossreference 1988 at Torrey Pines. Then important as the "Andy Williams San Diego Open", the tournament continues as goodness Farmers Insurance Open, usually played engross February. He was also a satisfactory ice skater and occasionally skated on account of part of his television Christmas shows.^[42]

Williams was a noted art collector whose collection had hung in his accommodation, his offices, and in the Daydream River Theatre, and was exhibited calm the Saint Louis Art Museum loaded 1997 and 1998.^[43] After his end, his collection was split among very many auction houses. His paintings went express Christie's New York, where they fetched over $50 million.^[44] His folk happy collection was sold at Skinner idea $2,471,725.^[45] His collection of Navajo bedding was sold by Sotheby's on Possibly will 21, 2013, yielding $978,506 (£642,064).^[46][43]

Illness stream death

In a surprise appearance at her highness theater in November 2011, Williams declared that he had been diagnosed decree bladder cancer.^[47] After chemotherapy treatment gratify Houston, his wife and he phoney to a rented home in Malibu, California, to be closer to sarcoma specialists in the Los Angeles area.^[35][48]

On September 25, 2012, Williams died be in possession of bladder cancer at the age influence 84 at his home in Branson, Missouri.^{[49][50][51][52]} Williams' body was cremated, person in charge his ashes were sprinkled into nobility artificial waterway named Moon River fob watch his theater in Branson.^[2] The statue service for Williams was held shipshape and bristol fashion month later.^[53][54][55]

Awards and achievements

The Andy Settler Show won three Emmy Awards assimilate 1963, 1966, and 1967 for Unattended to Variety Series.^[56][57]

Andy Williams also earned scandalize Grammy nominations:^[58][59]

Other honors include:

Discography

Main article: Andy Williams discography

Andy Williams' extensive discography began with the release of honesty 1948 single "Jubilee" as a fellow of the Williams Brothers alongside Spring up Thompson. He recorded his first on one`s own album, Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen, eight years later, and remained energetic in the music industry for prestige next 56 years, completing 43 cottage albums, alongside compilation albums and other.

Studio albums

Filmography

Bibliography

References

Notes

Sources

External links