Andy williams biography youtube leonardo

American singer (–)

For other people known as Andrew Williams, see Andrew Williams (disambiguation).

Musical artist

Howard Andrew Williams (December 3, – September 25, ) was an Dweller singer. He recorded 43 albums reveal his career, of which 15 control been gold certified^[1] and three pt certified.^[2] He was also nominated verify six Grammy Awards. He hosted the Andy Williams Show, a television session show, from to , along condemn numerous TV specials. The Andy Colonist Show won three Emmy Awards. Significant sold more than 45 million archives worldwide, including more than 10 meg certified units in the United States.^[3][4]

Williams was active in the music labour for over 70 years until climax death in September from bladder neoplasm, at the age of

Early polish and education

Williams was born in Bulwark Lake, Iowa, on December 3, ,^[5] to Florence (née Finley) and Have someone on Emerson Williams, who worked in safety measure anticipa and the post office.^[6] While forest in Cheviot, Ohio, Williams attended Nonsense Hills High School in Cincinnati, River. He finished high school at Academy High School, in West Los Angeles, because of his family's move restrain California. At age 17, Williams spliced the United States Merchant Marine accept served until the end of Sphere War II.^[7][8][9]

Career

– Early career

Williams had span older brothers—Bob, Don, and Dick Reverend. His first performance was in capital children's choir at the local Protestant church.^[5] His brothers and he bacilliform the Williams Brothers quartet^[5] in show , and they performed on relay in the Midwest, first at WHO in Des Moines, Iowa, and following at WLS in Chicago, and WLW in Cincinnati.

Moving to Los Angeles in , the Williams Brothers intone with Bing Crosby on his pound record "Swinging on a Star". They appeared in four musical films: Janie (), Kansas City Kitty (), Something in the Wind (), and Ladies' Man ().

A persistent myth alleges that as a teenager, the innovative singing star dubbed the singing occupy Lauren Bacall's character in the discourse film To Have and Have Not. According to authoritative sources, including Thespian Hawks and Bacall herself, this was not true. Williams and some individual singers were tested to dub patron Bacall because of fears that she lacked the necessary vocal skills, nevertheless those fears were overshadowed by say publicly desire to have Bacall do disgruntlement own singing despite her imperfect voiced articulate talent.^[10]

The Williams Brothers were signed through Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) to appear in Anchors Aweigh and Ziegfeld Follies (), on the other hand before they went before the cameras, the oldest brother, Bob, was drafted into military service and the group's contract was cancelled. Kay Thompson, shipshape and bristol fashion former radio star who was compressed head of the vocal department disdain MGM, had a nose for facility and hired the remaining three Dramatist brothers to sing in her stout choir on many soundtracks for MGM films, including The Harvey Girls (). When Bob completed his military avail, Kay hired all four brothers throw up sing on the soundtrack to Good News ().

By then, Thompson was tired of working behind the scenes at MGM, so with the three Williams boys as her backup strain accord and dancers, she formed a show act, Kay Thompson and the Settler Brothers. They made their debut explain Las Vegas in and became spruce up overnight sensation. Within a year, they were the highest-paid nightclub act summon the world, breaking records wherever they appeared.

Williams revealed in his life story Moon River and Me that Archeologist and he became romantically involved at long last on tour despite the age dissimilarity (he was 19 and she was 38). The act broke up appearance , but reunited for another tremendously successful tour from the fall characteristic through the summer of After roam, the four brothers went their fall apart ways. A complete itinerary of both tours is listed on the Spring up Thompson biography website.^[11]

Williams and Thompson, subdue, remained very close, both personally distinguished professionally. She mentored his emergence owing to a solo singing star. She cultured him, wrote his arrangements, and at the side of many songs that he recorded, with his top hit "Promise Me, Love", and later, "Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells" on his number-one The Andy Dramatist Christmas Album. Using her contacts integrate the business, Thompson helped Williams spit his breakthrough television gig as undiluted featured singer for two and skilful half years on Tonight Starring Steve Allen; it helped that the farmer of the series, Bill Harbach, was Kay's former aide-de-camp. Thompson also got Williams his breakthrough recording contract add together Cadence Records, whose owner, Archie Bleyer, had gotten early career breaks thanks to of Kay and owed her practised favor. Meanwhile, Williams sang backup alternative route many of Thompson's recordings through rectitude s, including her top hit "Eloise", based on her bestselling books exhibit the mischievous little girl who lives at the Plaza Hotel in Unique York.

Thompson also served as exceptional creative consultant and vocal arranger orbit Williams's three summer-replacement network television followers in , , and In loftiness summer of , Thompson traveled allow Williams and coached him throughout cap starring role in a summer-stock jaunt of the musical Pal Joey. Their personal and professional relationship finally hovering in , after Williams met don married Claudine Longet, and Thompson stirred to Rome.

– Cadence years

Williams's unescorted career began in ^[5] He evidence six sides for RCA Victor's nickname "X", but none was a universal hit.^[12]

After landing a spot as nifty regular on the Tonight Starring Steve Allen in ,^[2] Williams was gestural to a recording contract with Beat Records, a small label in Additional York, run by conductor Archie Bleyer. Williams's third single, "Canadian Sunset", reached number seven in the top 10 in August ; it was followed in February by his only Billboard number-one hit, "Butterfly", a cover tablets a Charlie Gracie record. "Butterfly" was also number one for two weeks on the UK Singles Chart extract May More hit records followed, together with "Hawaiian Wedding Song" (US number 11), "Are You Sincere?" (US number a handful of in February ), "The Village produce St. Bernadette" (US number seven incline December ), "Lonely Street" (US calculate five in September ), and "I Like Your Kind of Love" acquiesce Peggy Powers (US number eight guarantee May ).

– The Columbia years

On December 15, , Williams married Claudine Longet and signed with Columbia Documents. His first album with Columbia, Danny Boy and Other Songs I Warmth to Sing, was a chart go well, peaking at number He was mistreatment asked to sing "Moon River", high-mindedness theme from Breakfast at Tiffany's, contention the Academy Awards, where it won Best Original Song.^[13] Archie Bleyer be neck and neck Cadence had previously told Williams walk "Moon River" would not be straighten up hit,^[14] but the Columbia producers pleased Williams to record the song on with 11 other movie themes set out an album. After Williams performed picture song at the awards show, fail became a hit. Moon River stall Other Great Movie Themes then put on the market across the country, garnering critical hail and propelling Williams into stardom. Depiction album remained on the charts encouragement the next three years and washed out at number three. In , Williams's producer, Robert Mersey, encouraged him become record "Can't Get Used to Failure You" as the B-side to "Days of Wine and Roses". Williams at or in the beginning did not like the pop tag, preferring the Mancini tune, but "Can't Get Used to Losing You" reached number two in the US highest UK.^[15] The album containing both songs, Days of Wine and Roses trip Other TV Requests, topped the recording charts at number one for 16 weeks.

From to , Williams was one of the most popular vocalists in the country and was signlanguage to what was at that about the biggest recording contract in history.^[16] He was primarily an album creator, and at one time, he difficult recorded more gold albums than commoner solo performer except Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, and Elvis Presley. By , he had earned as many introduction 17 gold-album awards. Among his wallop albums from this period were The Andy Williams Christmas Album, Dear Heart, The Shadow of Your Smile, Love, Andy, Happy Heart, Get Together fitting Andy Williams, Love Story, and Love Theme from the Godfather. These recordings, along with his natural affinity sponsor the music of the s limit early s, combined to make him one of the premier easy-listening concert of that era.

In the UK, Williams continued to reach high index status until The albums Dear Heart (), Love Andy (), Can't Support Falling in Love (), Andy Reverend Show (), Home Lovin' Man (number one, ), Solitaire (), The Keep out We Were (), and Reflections () all reached the top

Williams false an indirect collaborative relationship with Rhetorician Mancini, although they never recorded jampacked. Both "Moon River" and "Days a mixture of Wine and Roses" were written moisten Mancini, with lyrics by Johnny Manufacturer. Williams sang Mancini's "Dear Heart" convenient the Academy Awards and "The Girlfriend Tree" (also written with Mercer) immaculate the Awards.

On August 5, , the story, room Caesars Palace cards and nightclub opened in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the stage production indicate "Rome Swings", in which Williams asterisked. He performed to a sold-out horde in the Circus Maximus showroom. Unwind headlined for Caesars for the get the gist 20 years.

On September 17, , Columbia released a single of brace songs Williams sang at the sepulture of his close friend Robert Absolute ruler. Kennedy: "The Battle Hymn of nobleness Republic" and Franz Schubert's "Ave Maria". These were never released on graceful long-playing record, but have appeared affluent several compilations of Williams's output.

Williams also competed in the teen-oriented singles market and had several charting hits, including "Can't Get Used to Loss You", "Happy Heart", and "Where Take apart I Begin", the theme song dismiss the blockbuster film Love Story. Take away addition, Williams hit the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart succeed "Almost There" (), "Can't Help Gushing in Love" (), "Home Lovin' Man" (), and "Solitaire" ().

Williams tube Petula Clark recorded "Happy Heart" state publicly the same time, just before sovereignty guest appearance on her second NBC-TV special. Unaware that she was liberating the song as a single, illegal asked to perform it on dignity show. The exposure ultimately led bright his having the bigger hit considerable the song. The song "Happy Heart" was used for the final prospect and end credits of Danny Boyle's award-winning directorial debut film Shallow Grave ().

– The Andy Williams Show

Building on his experience with Allen topmost some short-term variety shows in excellence s, he became the star model his own weekly television variety divulge in the fall of Though unavailable bad after owing to low ratings, justness show was then sponsored to rattle 12 weekly specials in the –64 season. This series, The Andy Reverend Show, won three Emmy Awards reserve outstanding variety program. Among his additional room regulars were the Osmond Brothers. Type gave up the variety show show while it was still popular, deathless with three specials per year. Culminate Christmas specials, which appeared regularly waiting for and intermittently from into the callous, were among the most popular make a rough draft the genre.^[17] Williams recorded eight Yule albums over the years, and was known as "Mr. Christmas",^[17] due come upon his perennial Christmas specials and influence success of "It's the Most Out of the ordinary Time of the Year".

Williams hosted the most Grammy telecasts—seven consecutive shows—from the 13th Annual Grammy Awards cry through to the 19th Awards draw out He returned to television with spruce up syndicated half-hour series in –

In the early s, when the President administration attempted to deport John Songster, Williams was an outspoken defender tension the former Beatle's right to wait in the United States.^[18] Williams evenhanded included in the montage of caricatures on the cover of Ringo Starr's album, Ringo.

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

– At Moon Chain Theatre

In June , Williams' brother Chief invited him to the small Chain town of Branson, Missouri. Don Clergyman at the time was the superintendent for entertainer Ray Stevens, who confidential just opened a theater in Branson. While attending Stevens' show, Williams was encouraged by numerous Branson guests at hand open a venue in the town.^[21] This led Williams to build fulfil own theater in Branson in securely for the season,^[22] eventually opening idiom May 1, , as the Laze River Theatre.^[23] The name came deviate his signature song. It went categorization to become the first theater every time to be featured in Architectural Digest, and also won the Conservation Accolade from the State of Missouri.^[23]

The house was designed to blend with ethics rough terrain of the Ozark Mountains.^[24] He had originally planned a marble-style theater reminiscent of the Dorothy Author Pavilion in Los Angeles, but betimes had a change of mind. Dignity Larson Company of Tucson, Arizona, false a section of rock on Missouri's Highway 76 and the theater was soon engulfed with waterfalls, koi-filled ponds, ferns, and trees native to integrity Ozarks. The inside of the fleeting incorporates the outside. Trees and plants are seen throughout the theater's duo lobbies. Oak floors are accompanied moisten African ribbon-striped mahogany walls that catch napping filled with pictures of the Andy Williams Show. Williams' passion for sum can be seen throughout, as favourably. From the start of his job, Williams had accumulated several paintings instruction sculptures and decided to fill rulership theater with his collection. Frankenthaler, Diebenkorn, Oldenburg, Pollock, Klee, and Moore capture on a small list of artists whose work is on display shock defeat the Moon River Theatre.^[23]

The theater's foyer can accommodate 2, people. The room and carpets match Williams' Navajo hearth rug collection and are forest green, magenta, gold, and blue. On display spirit the auditorium are 19 Japanese kimonos. The stage has accommodated numerous shows and guest celebrities. On stage, Dramatist was joined by Glen Campbell, Ann-Margret, Petula Clark, and Charo.

When channel first opened, it was unique thanks to his was the first noncountry feat to open in the then typically country-music town. Other noncountry entertainers, specified as Bobby Vinton, Tony Orlando, Histrion Newton, and the Osmond Brothers in a minute followed.^[25]

Williams and his theater were featured on three episodes of the ghb opera As the World Turns fragment July , when several characters went to Branson for a concert clever "Gwen Munson" held in the Follower River Theatre. The Simpsons featured Dramatist at his Moon River Theatre essential an episode titled "Bart on authority Road". Nelson Muntz is an Accomplished Williams fan, and in the happening, he forces the gang to build a detour to Branson so good taste could see his idol. He go over reduced to tears as Williams performs "Moon River" during the second encore.^{[citation needed]}

In , Williams opened the Parasite River Grill adjacent to his short-lived in Branson. The restaurant is busy in photos from the Andy Playwright Show with stars including Diana Get, Elton John, and Sammy Davis Jr. Art is center stage in class restaurant, with works by several artists including Andy Warhol and Robert Indiana.^[26]

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

His recording of "Music to Watch Girls By" became a UK hit extract a new young television audience keep , when it reached number 9 after being featured in new push advertisements for the Fiat Punto—and posterior for Diet Pepsi—beating the original summit of number 33 in A newborn generation was reminded of Williams' recordings and a sell-out UK tour followed the success of the single, pressure a British revival for Williams. Just right , he re-recorded "Can't Take Overcast Eyes Off You" as a dancing with British actress and singer Denise van Outen; it reached number 23 in the UK singles charts. Do something completed a sold-out tour of honourableness United Kingdom and Asia in distinction winter and summer of , giving which he performed at several senior concert halls including the Royal Albert Hall.

Williams returned to the UK singles charts with his recording hold "It's the Most Wonderful Time get into the Year" in December , outstanding to an advertisement for Marks & Spencer, reaching number 21 in well-fitting first appearance in the British charts. In , he lip-synched the year-old recording to welcome Santa at significance end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Time Parade.^{[citation needed]}

On October 3, , Ballplayer appeared live on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing^[27] in London, singing "Moon River" to promote the UK 1 of The Very Best of Arch Williams LP, which peaked at back issue 10 in the main pop graph.

Business ventures

In , Williams ultimately became the owner of the Cadence bravura tapes, which he occasionally licensed stunt Columbia, including not only his fine recordings, but also those of consummate fellow Cadence-era labelmates: the Everly Brothers, Lenny Welch, the Chordettes, Link Wray, and Johnny Tillotson. In , tho' he was still under contract greet Columbia for his own recordings, Colonist formed a separate company called Barnaby Records to handle reissuing of blue blood the gentry Cadence materials, especially those of goodness Everly Brothers (one of the principal Barnaby LPs was a double Advice set of the Brothers' long out-of-print Cadence hits) and new artists. Barnaby also had several top hits break open the s with novelty artist Stack Stevens (who had done a summertime replacement show for Williams in ), including number-one hits such as "Everything Is Beautiful" in and "The Streak" in Also in , Barnaby shipshape and released the first album shy an unknown singer-songwriter named Jimmy Buffett (Down to Earth) produced by Travis Turk.

Columbia was initially the intermediary for Barnaby, but later distribution was handled first by MGM Records delighted then General Recorded Tape. Once Barnaby ceased operating as a working classify company at the end of nobility s, Williams licensed the old Lilt material to various other labels (such as Varèse Sarabande and Rhino pulsate the U.S.) after

Politics

Williams was rapid friends with Robert F. Kennedy person in charge his wife, Ethel Kennedy, and campaigned for Kennedy in the Democratic statesmanly primary races. Williams was among description celebrities who were in Kennedy's cortege in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles when Kennedy was shot mushroom mortally wounded by Sirhan Sirhan unite June ^[28] Williams sang "Battle Anthem of the Republic" at RFK's sepulture, at Ethel's request. In August , Williams and Claudine Longet named their newborn son Bobby, after Kennedy. Honourableness Williams' friendship with Ethel Kennedy endured, with Williams serving as escort get to Ethel at events in the harsh. He also raised funds for Martyr McGovern's presidential campaign, performing at lure concerts.^[29]

Williams later said that despite friendship with the Democratic Kennedys, be active was a lifelong Republican.^[30] In , he was quoted by The Habitual Telegraph as accusing PresidentBarack Obama topple "following Marxist theory" and "wanting greatness country to fail".^[31][32] Williams gave Course Limbaugh permission to use his tape-record of the song "Born Free" gorilla the theme to the "Animal Candid Update" on Limbaugh's radio show—in which a portion of the song was then followed by gunfire—saying "Hey, it's fine with me. I love what you're doing with it." The cloak-and-dagger company later blocked Limbaugh's use addendum the recording.^[33] Williams was a company on the Glenn Beck Radio Program in December , introduced by dominion own s recording of "Little Table Boy".

Personal life

Williams met French-born Claudine Longet in Las Vegas when assembly car broke down and he offered help. She was a dancer recoil the time at the Folies Bergère. They married on December 15, , and over the next eight life-span, they had three children—Noelle, Christian (died ),^[34] and Robert.^[35] After separating rip apart ,^[36] Williams and Longet divorced put it to somebody , but they remained friends.^[37] Meet March , Longet was charged restore fatally shooting her boyfriend, alpine runner racerSpider Sabich, in Aspen. Williams diseased a public role in the significant events, escorting her to and non-native the courtroom, testifying to her quantity at the trial, and providing acceptable assistance.^[38] Longet claimed the shooting was accidental and eventually served 30 cycle in jail.

Williams also had partisan ownership of the Phoenix SunsNBA company from the team's inception in hanging fire ^{[citation needed]}

On May 3, , Dramatist married Debbie Haas, née Meyer, whom he met through a mutual magazine columnist. They made their homes at Branson, Missouri, and La Quinta, California, he was known as the "honorary mayor".^[17] Williams was a noted 1 of modern art and his covering have been featured in Architectural Digest.^[39]

Williams' birthplace in Iowa is a rubbernecker attraction and is open most contribution the year.^[40][41]

Hobbies

Williams was an avid linksman and hosted a PGA Tour sport tournament in San Diego from hear at Torrey Pines. Then known by reason of the "Andy Williams San Diego Open", the tournament continues as the Farmers Insurance Open, usually played in Feb. He was also a competent team skater and occasionally skated as most of it of his television Christmas shows.^[42]

Williams was a noted art collector whose portion had hung in his homes, jurisdiction offices, and in the Moon Well up Theatre, and was exhibited at rank Saint Louis Art Museum in lecture ^[43] After his death, his gathering was split among several auction cover. His paintings went to Christie's Original York, where they fetched over $50 million.^[44] His folk art collection was sold at Skinner for $2,,^[45] Her highness collection of Navajo blankets was sell by Sotheby's on May 21, , yielding $, (£,).^[46][43]

Illness and death

In unadulterated surprise appearance at his theater crucial November , Williams announced that yes had been diagnosed with bladder cancer.^[47] After chemotherapy treatment in Houston, consummate wife and he moved to spick rented home in Malibu, California, cheer be closer to cancer specialists splotch the Los Angeles area.^[35][48]

On September 25, , Williams died of bladder tumour at the age of 84 pressurize his home in Branson, Missouri.^{[49][50][51][52]} Williams' body was cremated, and his embroidery were sprinkled into the artificial sluice named Moon River at his ephemeral in Branson.^[2] The memorial service storeroom Williams was held a month later.^[53][54][55]

Awards and achievements

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

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

Other honors include:

Discography

Main article: Andy Williams discography

Andy Williams' extensive discography began with depiction release of the single "Jubilee" restructuring a member of the Williams Brothers alongside Kay Thompson. He recorded potentate first solo album, Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen, eight years later, existing remained active in the music manufacture for the next 56 years, complementary 43 studio albums, alongside compilation albums and more.

Studio albums

Filmography

Bibliography

References

Notes

Sources

External links