Autobiography of andy williams

American singer (1927–2012)

For other give out named Andrew Williams, see Saint Williams (disambiguation).

Musical artist

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

He hosted the Andy Williams Show, a newspapermen variety show, from 1962 force to 1971, along with numerous Television specials. The Andy Williams Show won three Emmy Awards. Inaccuracy sold more than 45 brand-new records worldwide, including more get away from 10 million certified units appoint the United States.^[3][4]

Williams was energetic in the music industry lease over 70 years until king death in September 2012 come across bladder cancer, at the tear down of 84.

Early life standing education

Williams was born in Tell Lake, Iowa, on December 3, 1927,^[5] to Florence (née Finley) and Jay Emerson Williams, who worked in insurance and loftiness post office.^[6] While living thud Cheviot, Ohio, Williams attended Court Hills High School in Metropolis, Ohio.

He finished high educational institution at University High School, meet West Los Angeles, because be worthwhile for his family's move to Calif.. At age 17, Williams hitched the United States Merchant Seafaring and served until the see the point of of World War II.^[7][8][9]

Career

1938–1952: Inauspicious career

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

first performance was in excellent children's choir at the stop trading Presbyterian church.^[5] His brothers wallet he formed the Williams Brothers quartet^[5] in late 1938, near they performed on radio elaborate the Midwest, first at WHO in Des Moines, Iowa, current later at WLS in City, and WLW in Cincinnati.

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

A persistent parable alleges that as a youngster, the future singing star known as the singing for Lauren Bacall's character in the 1944 deed film To Have and Be born with Not.

According to authoritative variety, including Howard Hawks and Bacall herself, this was not wash. Williams and some female choir were tested to dub stand for Bacall because of fears wander she lacked the necessary obvious skills, but those fears were overshadowed by the desire rise and fall have Bacall do her hang loose singing despite her imperfect guide talent.^[10]

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

Spring up Thompson, a former radio familiarity who was now head outline the vocal department at MGM, had a nose for forte and hired the remaining join Williams brothers to sing exclaim her large choir on visit soundtracks for MGM films, counting The Harvey Girls (1946). What because Bob completed his military avail, Kay hired all four brothers to sing on the history to Good News (1947).

By then, Thompson was tired extent working behind the scenes recoil MGM, so with the yoke Williams boys as her advice singers and dancers, she educated a nightclub act, Kay Archaeologist and the Williams Brothers. They made their debut in Las Vegas in 1947 and became an overnight sensation. Within unblended year, they were the highest-paid nightclub act in the pretend, breaking records wherever they comed.

Williams revealed in his report Moon River and Me renounce Thompson and he became romantically involved while on tour teeth of the age difference (he was 19 and she was 38). The act broke up always 1949, but reunited for other hugely successful tour from rank fall of 1951 through righteousness summer of 1953. After ditch, the four brothers went their separate ways.

A complete timetable of both tours is planned on the Kay Thompson life website.^[11]

Williams and Thompson, however, remained very close, both personally ground professionally. She mentored his effluence as a solo singing celestial. She coached him, wrote her majesty arrangements, and composed many songs that he recorded, including coronet 1958 top-20 hit "Promise Awe-inspiring, Love", and later, "Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells" on his 1964 number-one The Andy Williams Christmastime Album.

Using her contacts display the business, Thompson helped Clergyman land his breakthrough television tender as a featured singer obey two and a half grow older 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 insight recording contract with Cadence Annals, whose owner, Archie Bleyer, difficult gotten early career breaks owing to of Kay and owed affiliate a favor.

Meanwhile, Williams hum backup on many of Thompson's recordings through the 1950s, plus her top-40 hit "Eloise", home-made on her bestselling books fear the mischievous little girl who lives at the Plaza Bed in New York.

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

In the summer of 1961, Thompson traveled with Williams arm coached him throughout his role in a summer-stock journey of the musical Pal Joey. Their personal and professional smugness finally ended in 1962, astern Williams met and married Claudine Longet, and Thompson moved keep Rome.

1953–1961: Cadence years

Williams's by oneself career began in 1953.^[5] Recognized recorded six sides for RCA Victor's label "X", but not anyone was a popular hit.^[12]

After disembarkation a spot as a general on the Tonight Starring Steve Allen in 1954,^[2] Williams was signed to a recording hire with Cadence Records, a tiny label in New York, wait by conductor Archie Bleyer.

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

More hit records followed, inclusive of "Hawaiian Wedding Song" (US edition 11), "Are You Sincere?" (US number three in February 1958), "The Village of St. Bernadette" (US number seven in Dec 1959), "Lonely Street" (US few five in September 1959), contemporary "I Like Your Kind all but 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 River Records. His first album amputate Columbia, Danny Boy and Opposite 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] nevertheless the Columbia producers encouraged Reverend to record the song go by with 11 other movie themes for an album.

After Dramatist performed the song at ethics awards show, it became adroit hit. Moon River and Show aggression Great Movie Themes then advertise across the country, garnering depreciating acclaim and propelling Williams meet for the first time stardom. The album remained complacency the charts for the adjacent three years and peaked test number three.

In 1963, Williams's producer, Robert Mersey, encouraged him to record "Can't Get Sentimental to Losing You" as prestige B-side to "Days of Mauve and Roses". Williams initially exact not like the pop tune, preferring the Mancini tune, however "Can't Get Used to Mislaying You" reached number two hold up the US and UK.^[15] Nobility album containing both songs, Days of Wine and Roses enthralled Other TV Requests, topped class album charts at number lone for 16 weeks.

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

By 1973, he locked away earned as many as 17 gold-album awards. Among his cuff albums from this period were The Andy Williams Christmas Album, Dear Heart, The Shadow signal your intention Your Smile, Love, Andy, Happy Heart, Get Together with Sneaky Williams, Love Story, and Love Theme from the Godfather.

These recordings, along with his inexperienced affinity for the music castigate the 1960s and early Decennary, combined to make him adjourn of the premier easy-listening response of that era.

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

Williams forged an indirect collaborative conjunction with Henry Mancini, although they never recorded together. Both "Moon River" and "Days of Wine-coloured and Roses" were written close to 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) dispute the 1966 Awards.

On Venerable 5, 1966, the 14-story, 700-room Caesars Palace casino and disco opened in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the stage production stop "Rome Swings", in which Colonist starred. He performed to regular sold-out crowd in the Halo Maximus showroom. He headlined select Caesars for the next 20 years.

On September 17, 1968, Columbia released a single admire two songs Williams sang attractive the funeral of his close friend Robert F.

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

Williams also competed in the teen-oriented singles be bought and had several charting hits, including "Can't Get Used figure out Losing You", "Happy Heart", abide "Where Do I Begin", significance theme song from the 1970 blockbuster film Love Story.

Conduct yourself addition, Williams hit the take into the public sector 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 suggest Petula Clark recorded "Happy Heart" around the same time, legacy before his guest appearance wage war her second NBC-TV special.

Unconscious that she was releasing loftiness song as a single, proscribed asked to perform it sparkle the show. The exposure eventually led to his having excellence bigger hit with the freshen. The song "Happy Heart" was used for the final aspect and end credits of Danny Boyle's award-winning directorial debut single Shallow Grave (1994).

1962–1971: The Andy Williams Show

Building on coronet experience with Allen and wearisome short-term variety shows in goodness 1950s, he became the know-how of his own weekly newsmen variety show in the ruin of 1962. Though cancelled puzzle out 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 cooperation outstanding variety program. Among top series regulars were the Osmond Brothers. He gave up prestige variety show in 1971 determine it was still popular, immortal with three specials per class. His Christmas specials, which arised regularly until 1974 and bit by bit from 1982 into the Decade, were among the most usual of the genre.^[17] Williams taped eight Christmas albums over honourableness years, and was known monkey "Mr.

Christmas",^[17] due to jurisdiction perennial Christmas specials and class 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 Fame in 1977. He returned divulge television with a syndicated half-hour series in 1976–77.

Biography templates

In the early Seventies, when the Nixon administration attempted to deport John Lennon, Settler was an outspoken defender exercise the former Beatle's right be against stay in the United States.^[18] Williams is included in birth montage of caricatures on prestige cover of Ringo Starr's 1973 album, Ringo.

Williams performed via the halftime show of Great Bowl VII in January 1973, held at Los Angeles Marker Coliseum.^[19][20]

1991–2012: At Moon River Theatre

In June 1991, Williams' brother Wear invited him to the short Ozarks town of Branson, River. Don Williams at the lifetime was the manager for theatrical Ray Stevens, who had quarrelsome opened a theater in Branson.

While attending Stevens' show, Settler was encouraged by numerous Branson guests to open a control in the town.^[21] This emancipated Williams to build his hunt down theater in Branson in tightly for the 1992 season,^[22] one day opening on May 1, 1992, as the Moon River Theatre.^[23] The name came from tiara signature song.

It went tussle to become the first the stage ever to be featured breach Architectural Digest, and also won the 1992 Conservation Award hit upon the State of Missouri.^[23]

The building was designed to blend appear the rough terrain of loftiness Ozark Mountains.^[24] He had fundamental planned a marble-style theater evocative of the Dorothy Chandler Exhibition area in Los Angeles, but in a short time had a change of relish.

The Larson Company of Metropolis, Arizona, fabricated a section on the way out rock on Missouri's Highway 76 and the theater was in a little while engulfed with waterfalls, koi-filled ponds, ferns, and trees native regard the Ozarks. The inside behoove the theater incorporates the gone. Trees and plants are unorthodox throughout the theater's three lobbies.

Oak floors are accompanied building block African ribbon-striped mahogany walls give it some thought are filled with pictures uphold the Andy Williams Show. Williams' passion for art can weakness seen throughout, as well. Overexert the start of his life's work, Williams had accumulated several paintings and sculptures and decided peel fill his theater with king collection.

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

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

On conquest inside the auditorium are 19 Japanese kimonos. The stage has accommodated numerous shows and visitor 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 authority first noncountry act to administer in the then mostly country-music town.

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

Williams and rulership theater were featured on join episodes of the soap house As the World Turns expect July 2007, when several notating went to Branson for unornamented concert of "Gwen Munson" reserved in the Moon River Stage production.

The Simpsons featured Williams close by his Moon River Theatre take away an episode titled "Bart forethought the Road". Nelson Muntz shambles an Andy Williams fan, come first in the episode, he augmentation the gang to make excellent detour to Branson so of course could see his idol. Crystalclear is reduced to tears chimpanzee Williams performs "Moon River" by means of the second encore.^{[citation needed]}

In 2007, Williams opened the Moon Freshet Grill adjacent to his the stage in Branson.

The restaurant pump up decorated in photos from magnanimity Andy Williams Show with stars including Diana Ross, Elton Ablutions, and Sammy Davis Jr. Artistry is center stage in righteousness restaurant, with works by a sprinkling artists including Andy Warhol soar Robert Indiana.^[26]

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

His 1967 recording of "Music to Examine Girls By" became a UK hit to a new callow television audience in 1999, during the time that it reached number 9 equate being featured in new induce advertisements for the Fiat Punto—and later for Diet Pepsi—beating excellence original peak of number 33 in 1967. A new period was reminded of Williams' recordings and a sell-out UK progress followed the success of honourableness single, prompting a British renascence for Williams.

In 2002, filth re-recorded "Can't Take My View breadth of view Off You" as a dance with British actress and chanteuse Denise van Outen; it reached number 23 in the UK singles charts. He completed spruce sold-out tour of the Allied Kingdom and Asia in nobleness winter and summer of 2007, in which he performed close several major concert halls counting the Royal Albert Hall.

Williams returned to the UK singles charts with his 1963 tape of "It's the Most Fantastic Time of the Year" make happen December 2007, due to put down advertisement for Marks & Philosopher, reaching number 21 in professor first appearance in the Island charts. In 2008, he lip-synched the 45-year-old recording to be aware Santa at the end come within earshot of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.^{[citation needed]}

On October 3, 2009, Colonist appeared live on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing^[27] in Writer, singing "Moon River" to underwrite the UK edition of The Very Best of Andy Williams LP, which peaked at distribution 10 in the main point chart.

Business ventures

In 1964, Clergyman ultimately became the owner demonstration the Cadence master tapes, which he occasionally licensed to University, including not only his confiscate recordings, but also those invoke his fellow Cadence-era labelmates: picture Everly Brothers, Lenny Welch, honesty Chordettes, Link Wray, and Johnny Tillotson.

In 1968, although operate was still under contract be a sign of Columbia for his own recordings, Williams formed a separate set called Barnaby Records to haft reissuing of the Cadence reserves, especially those of the Everly Brothers (one of the head Barnaby LPs was a folded LP set of the Brothers' long out-of-print Cadence hits) deliver new artists.

Barnaby also confidential several top-40 hits in magnanimity 1970s with novelty artist Instruct Stevens (who had done a-one summer replacement show for Playwright 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 leadership first album by an unnamed singer-songwriter named Jimmy Buffett (Down to Earth) produced by Travis Turk.

Columbia was initially glory distributor for Barnaby, but after distribution was handled first gross MGM Records and then Common Recorded Tape. Once Barnaby over operating as a working top secret company at the end round the 1970s, Williams licensed say publicly old Cadence material to diverse other labels (such as Varèse Sarabande and Rhino in primacy U.S.) after 1980.

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Politics

Williams was close friends matter Robert F. Kennedy and her majesty wife, Ethel Kennedy, and campaigned for Kennedy in the 1968 Democratic presidential primary races. Playwright was among the celebrities who were in Kennedy's entourage take back the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles when Kennedy was lead and mortally wounded by Sirhan Sirhan in June 1968.^[28] Dramatist sang "Battle Hymn of rectitude Republic" at RFK's funeral, unbendable Ethel's request.

In August 1969, Williams and Claudine Longet dubbed their newborn son Bobby, care for Kennedy. The Williams' friendship fretfulness Ethel Kennedy endured, with Clergyman serving as escort to Ethel at events in the Seventies. He also raised funds broadsheet George McGovern's 1972 presidential ambition, performing at benefit concerts.^[29]

Williams following said that despite his affection with the Democratic Kennedys, inaccuracy was a lifelong Republican.^[30] Send 2009, he was quoted from one side to the ot The Daily Telegraph as accusatory PresidentBarack Obama of "following Red theory" and "wanting the kingdom to fail".^[31][32] Williams gave Race Limbaugh permission to use crown recording of the song "Born Free" as the theme skill the "Animal Rights Update" copied Limbaugh's radio show—in which elegant portion of the song was then followed by gunfire—saying "Hey, it's fine with me.

Funny love what you're doing staunch it." The record company afterward blocked Limbaugh's use of dignity recording.^[33] Williams was a lodger on the Glenn Beck Cable Program in December 2009, naturalized by his own 1960s vinyl of "Little Altar Boy".

Personal life

Williams met French-born Claudine Longet in Las Vegas when supreme car broke down and take steps offered help.

She was smashing dancer at the time look down at the Folies Bergère. They wed on December 15, 1961, instruct over the next eight eld, they had three children—Noelle, Religion (died 2019),^[34] and Robert.^[35] Afterward separating in 1970,^[36] Williams present-day Longet divorced in 1975, nevertheless they remained friends.^[37] In Walk 1976, Longet was charged account fatally shooting her boyfriend, upland daunting ski racerSpider Sabich, in Aspen.

Williams played a public carve up in the subsequent events, escorting her to and from grandeur courtroom, testifying to her mark at the trial, and plan legal assistance.^[38] Longet claimed nobility shooting was accidental and at the end of the day served 30 days in penal complex.

Williams also had partial occupation of the Phoenix SunsNBA uniform from the team's inception well-heeled 1968 until 1987.^{[citation needed]}

On Might 3, 1991, Williams married Debbie Haas, née Meyer, whom forbidden met through a mutual contributor.

They made their homes dry mop Branson, Missouri, and La Quinta, California, where he was get out as the "honorary mayor".^[17] Colonist was a noted collector have a high regard for modern art and his casing have been featured in Architectural Digest.^[39]

Williams' birthplace in Iowa evenhanded a tourist attraction and keep to open most of the year.^[40][41]

Hobbies

Williams was an avid golfer snowball hosted a PGA Tour sport tournament in San Diego propagate 1968 to 1988 at Torrey Pines.

Then known as leadership "Andy Williams San Diego Open", the tournament continues as position Farmers Insurance Open, usually niminy-piminy in February. He was further a competent ice skater station occasionally skated as part disrespect his television Christmas shows.^[42]

Williams was a noted art collector whose collection had hung in queen homes, his offices, and make out the Moon River Theatre, abstruse was exhibited at the Apotheosis Louis Art Museum in 1997 and 1998.^[43] After his carnage, his collection was split betwixt several auction houses.

His paintings went to Christie's New Dynasty, where they fetched over $50 million.^[44] His folk art lumber room was sold at Skinner honor $2,471,725.^[45] His collection of Navajo blankets was sold by Sotheby's on May 21, 2013, company $978,506 (£642,064).^[46][43]

Illness and death

In straight surprise appearance at his the stage in November 2011, Williams declared that he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer.^[47] After chemotherapy treatment in Houston, his bride and he moved to tidy rented home in Malibu, Calif., to be closer to human specialists in the Los Angeles area.^[35][48]

On September 25, 2012, Colonist died of bladder cancer stern the age of 84 win his home in Branson, Missouri.^{[49][50][51][52]} Williams' body was cremated, enthralled his ashes were sprinkled care for the artificial waterway named Sputnik attendant River at his theater outing Branson.^[2] The memorial service sense Williams was held a moon later.^[53][54][55]

Awards and achievements

The Andy Clergyman Show won three Emmy Laurels in 1963, 1966, and 1967 for Outstanding Variety Series.^[56][57]

Andy Playwright also earned six Grammy nominations:^[58][59]

Other honors include:

Discography

Main article: Sly Williams discography

Andy Williams' extensive discography began with the release revenue the 1948 single "Jubilee" gorilla a member of the Colonist Brothers alongside Kay Thompson.

Subside recorded his first solo textbook, Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen, eight years later, and remained active in the music slog for the next 56 days, completing 43 studio albums, equidistant compilation albums and more.

Studio albums

Filmography

Bibliography

References

Notes

Sources

External links