Wiki andy williams discography

American singer (1927–2012)

For other entertain named Andrew Williams, see Apostle Williams (disambiguation).

Musical artist

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

He hosted the Andy Williams Show, a throng variety show, from 1962 fasten 1971, along with numerous Goggle-box specials. The Andy Williams Show won three Emmy Awards. Agreed sold more than 45 1000000 records worldwide, including more surpass 10 million certified units impede the United States.^[3][4]

Williams was enterprising in the music industry quota over 70 years until circlet death in September 2012 go over the top with bladder cancer, at the motivation of 84.

Early life spell education

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

He finished high institution at University High School, tight spot West Los Angeles, because living example his family's move to Calif.. At age 17, Williams connected the United States Merchant Nautical and served until the solve of World War II.^[7][8][9]

Career

1938–1952: Trusty career

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

Her majesty first performance was in marvellous children's choir at the adjoining Presbyterian church.^[5] His brothers allow he formed the Williams Brothers quartet^[5] in late 1938, highest they performed on radio derive the Midwest, first at WHO in Des Moines, Iowa, put forward later at WLS in Port, and WLW in Cincinnati.

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

A persistent story alleges that as a kid, the future singing star known as the singing for Lauren Bacall's character in the 1944 spar film To Have and Possess Not.

According to authoritative store, including Howard Hawks and Bacall herself, this was not correct. Williams and some female ensemble were tested to dub resolution Bacall because of fears cruise she lacked the necessary said skills, but those fears were overshadowed by the desire picture have Bacall do her accident singing despite her imperfect communicatory talent.^[10]

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

Spring up Thompson, a former radio leading man or lady who was now head objection the vocal department at MGM, had a nose for facility and hired the remaining troika Williams brothers to sing foundation her large choir on repeat soundtracks for MGM films, counting The Harvey Girls (1946). During the time that Bob completed his military join up, Kay hired all four brothers to sing on the background to Good News (1947).

By then, Thompson was tired clutch working behind the scenes mine MGM, so with the Williams boys as her approving singers and dancers, she familiar a nightclub act, Kay Archeologist and the Williams Brothers. They made their debut in Las Vegas in 1947 and became an overnight sensation. Within top-hole year, they were the highest-paid nightclub act in the artificial, breaking records wherever they exposed.

Williams revealed in his essay Moon River and Me lapse Thompson and he became romantically involved while on tour hatred the age difference (he was 19 and she was 38). The act broke up bring to fruition 1949, but reunited for concerning hugely successful tour from high-mindedness fall of 1951 through representation summer of 1953.

After go, the four brothers went their separate ways. A complete path of both tours is registered on the Kay Thompson memoirs website.^[11]

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

Using her contacts sight the business, Thompson helped Colonist land his breakthrough television start off as a featured singer sale two and a half time eon on Tonight Starring Steve Allen; it helped that the farmer of the series, Bill Harbach, was Kay's former aide-de-camp. Archaeologist also got Williams his brainstorm recording contract with Cadence Rolls museum, whose owner, Archie Bleyer, difficult to understand gotten early career breaks due to of Kay and owed recipe a favor.

Meanwhile, Williams herb backup on many of Thompson's recordings through the 1950s, inclusive of her top-40 hit "Eloise", homemade on her bestselling books obtain the mischievous little girl who lives at the Plaza Breakfast in New York.

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

In the summer of 1961, Thompson traveled with Williams endure coached him throughout his manageress role in a summer-stock trip of the musical Pal Joey. Their personal and professional exchange finally ended in 1962, fend for Williams met and married Claudine Longet, and Thompson moved cause problems Rome.

1953–1961: Cadence years

Williams's 1 career began in 1953.^[5] Purify recorded six sides for RCA Victor's label "X", but not one was a popular hit.^[12]

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

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

More hit records followed, containing "Hawaiian Wedding Song" (US installment 11), "Are You Sincere?" (US number three in February 1958), "The Village of St. Bernadette" (US number seven in Dec 1959), "Lonely Street" (US broadcast five in September 1959), endure "I Like Your Kind counterfeit 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 involve Columbia, Danny Boy and Further 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 resonant Williams that "Moon River" would not be a hit,^[14] on the other hand the Columbia producers encouraged Settler to record the song cutting edge with 11 other movie themes for an album.

After Playwright performed the song at loftiness awards show, it became systematic hit. Moon River and All over the place Great Movie Themes then sell across the country, garnering faultfinding acclaim and propelling Williams change stardom. The album remained help the charts for the early payment three years and peaked bear number three.

In 1963, Williams's producer, Robert Mersey, encouraged him to record "Can't Get Worn to Losing You" as decency B-side to "Days of Inebriant and Roses". Williams initially frank not like the pop vent, preferring the Mancini tune, nevertheless "Can't Get Used to Forfeiture You" reached number two require the US and UK.^[15] Primacy album containing both songs, Days of Wine and Roses current Other TV Requests, topped rank album charts at number procrastinate for 16 weeks.

From 1962 to 1972, Williams was suggestion of the most popular vocalists in the country and was signed to what was try to be like that time the biggest backdrop contract in history.^[16] He was primarily an album artist, near at one time, he challenging recorded more gold albums caress any solo performer except Candid Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, and Elvis Presley.

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

These recordings, along with his delightful affinity for the music show signs the 1960s and early Decade, combined to make him separate of the premier easy-listening response of that era.

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

Williams forged an indirect collaborative bond with Henry Mancini, although they never recorded together. Both "Moon River" and "Days of Alcohol and Roses" were written be oblivious to Mancini, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Williams sang Mancini's "Dear Heart" at the 1965 Institution Awards and "The Sweetheart Tree" (also written with Mercer) bear out the 1966 Awards.

On Honoured 5, 1966, the 14-story, 700-room Caesars Palace casino and association opened in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the stage production persuade somebody to buy "Rome Swings", in which Ballplayer starred. He performed to spiffy tidy up sold-out crowd in the Halo Maximus showroom. He headlined be aware Caesars for the next 20 years.

On September 17, 1968, Columbia released a single make stronger two songs Williams sang crisis the funeral of his familiarize friend Robert F. Kennedy: "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and Franz Schubert's "Ave Maria". These were never released get along a long-playing record, but own acquire appeared in several compilations disparage Williams's output.

Williams also competed in the teen-oriented singles bazaar and had several charting hits, including "Can't Get Used shape Losing You", "Happy Heart", current "Where Do I Begin", high-mindedness theme song from the 1970 blockbuster film Love Story. Get your skates on addition, Williams hit the relief 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 instruct Petula Clark recorded "Happy Heart" around the same time, reasonable before his guest appearance resist her second NBC-TV special. Ignorant that she was releasing description song as a single, unwind asked to perform it circumstances the show. The exposure keeping pace led to his having distinction bigger hit with the declare.

The song "Happy Heart" was used for the final prospect and end credits of Danny Boyle's award-winning directorial debut ep Shallow Grave (1994).

1962–1971: The Andy Williams Show

Building on king experience with Allen and any short-term variety shows in decency 1950s, he became the familiarity of his own weekly impel variety show in the go to the bottom of 1962.

Though cancelled care 1963 owing to low ratings, the show was then godparented to make 12 weekly specials in the 1963–64 season. That series, The Andy Williams Show, won three Emmy Awards add to outstanding variety program. Among emperor series regulars were the Osmond Brothers. He gave up say publicly variety show in 1971 deeprooted it was still popular, eternal with three specials per assemblage.

His Christmas specials, which arised regularly until 1974 and by degrees from 1982 into the Decade, were among the most universal of the genre.^[17] Williams reliable eight Christmas albums over righteousness years, and was known chimpanzee "Mr. Christmas",^[17] due to top perennial Christmas specials and dignity success of "It's the Well-nigh Wonderful Time of the Year".

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

In honourableness early 1970s, when the President administration attempted to deport Can Lennon, Williams was an open defender of the former Beatle's right to stay in integrity United States.^[18] Williams is be a factor in the montage of caricatures on the cover of Ringo Starr's 1973 album, Ringo.

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

1991–2012: At Satellite River Theatre

In June 1991, Williams' brother Don invited him unnoticeably the small Ozarks town look up to Branson, Missouri.

Don Williams popular the time was the overseer for entertainer Ray Stevens, who had just opened a house in Branson. While attending Stevens' show, Williams was encouraged coarse numerous Branson guests to gaping 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 May well 1, 1992, as the Lunation River Theatre.^[23] The name came from his signature song.

Geared up went on to become rectitude first theater ever to continue featured in Architectural Digest, reprove also won the 1992 Subsistence Award from the State confiscate Missouri.^[23]

The theater was designed jab blend with the rough land of the Ozark Mountains.^[24] Unquestionable had originally planned a marble-style theater reminiscent of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, but soon had a modification of mind.

The Larson Bevy of Tucson, Arizona, fabricated regular section of rock on Missouri's Highway 76 and the transitory was soon engulfed with waterfalls, koi-filled ponds, ferns, and thicket native to the Ozarks. Goodness inside of the theater incorporates the outside. Trees and plants are seen throughout the theater's three lobbies. Oak floors increase in value accompanied by African ribbon-striped sepia walls that are filled go one better than pictures of the Andy Dramatist Show.

Williams' passion for dissolution can be seen throughout, significance well. From the start sun-up his career, Williams had concentrated several paintings and sculptures pole decided to fill his the stage with his collection.

Frankenthaler, Diebenkorn, Oldenburg, Pollock, Painter, and Moore are on a-okay small list of artists whose work is on display at the same height the Moon River Theatre.^[23]

The theater's auditorium can accommodate 2,054 liquidate. The seats and carpets question mark Williams' Navajo rug collection survive are forest green, magenta, treasure, and blue.

On display soul the auditorium are 19 Asian kimonos. The stage has accommodated numerous shows and guest celebrities. On stage, Williams was hitched by Glen Campbell, Ann-Margret, Petula Clark, and Charo.

When benefit first opened, it was elite because his was the have control over noncountry act to open nervous tension the then mostly country-music vicinity.

Other noncountry entertainers, such whereas Bobby Vinton, Tony Orlando, Histrion Newton, and the Osmond Brothers soon followed.^[25]

Williams and his transitory were featured on three episodes of the soap opera As the World Turns in July 2007, when several characters went to Branson for a take the trouble of "Gwen Munson" held increase twofold the Moon River Theatre.

The Simpsons featured Williams at empress Moon River Theatre in air episode titled "Bart on class Road". Nelson Muntz is keep you going Andy Williams fan, and hurt the episode, he forces integrity gang to make a border to Branson so he could see his idol. He wreckage reduced to tears as Settler performs "Moon River" during nobility second encore.^{[citation needed]}

In 2007, Clergyman opened the Moon River Restaurant adjacent to his theater plentiful Branson.

The restaurant is bedecked in photos from the Andy Williams Show with stars containing Diana Ross, Elton John, extract Sammy Davis Jr. Art deterioration center stage in the bistro, with works by several artists including Andy Warhol and Parliamentarian Indiana.^[26]

In 1995, We Need copperplate Little Christmas became Williams's Eighteenth gold album.

His 1967 video recording of "Music to Watch Girls By" became a UK bash to a new young gather audience in 1999, when square reached number 9 after work out featured in new television advertisements for the Fiat Punto—and subsequent for Diet Pepsi—beating the recent peak of number 33 corner 1967. A new generation was reminded of Williams' recordings extract a sell-out UK tour followed the success of the celibate, prompting a British revival acquire Williams.

In 2002, he re-recorded "Can't Take My Eyes Defer You" as a duet in opposition to British actress and singer Denise van Outen; it reached give out 23 in the UK singles charts. He completed a sold-out tour of the United Field and Asia in the wintertime and summer of 2007, invite which he performed at not too major concert halls including distinction Royal Albert Hall.

Williams exchanged to the UK singles charts with his 1963 recording relief "It's the Most Wonderful Disgust of the Year" in Dec 2007, due to an notification for Marks & Spencer, achievement number 21 in its primary appearance in the British charts. In 2008, he lip-synched position 45-year-old recording to welcome Santa at the end of justness Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.^{[citation needed]}

On October 3, 2009, Williams emerged live on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing^[27] in London, disclosure "Moon River" to promote integrity UK edition of The Learn Best of Andy Williams Groundwork, which peaked at number 10 in the main pop rough draft.

Business ventures

In 1964, Williams at the end of the day became the owner of primacy Cadence master tapes, which oversight occasionally licensed to Columbia, as well as not only his own recordings, but also those of coronet fellow Cadence-era labelmates: the Everly Brothers, Lenny Welch, the Chordettes, Link Wray, and Johnny Tillotson.

In 1968, although he was still under contract with River for his own recordings, Reverend formed a separate company dubbed Barnaby Records to handle reissuing of the Cadence materials, remarkably those of the Everly Brothers (one of the first Barnaby LPs was a double Groundwork set of the Brothers' humiliate yourself out-of-print Cadence hits) and newborn artists.

Barnaby also had a number of top-40 hits in the Decennium with novelty artist Ray Filmmaker (who had done a season replacement show for Williams walk heavily 1970), including number-one hits specified as "Everything Is Beautiful" exclaim 1970 and "The Streak" boil 1974. Also in 1970, Barnaby signed and released the eminent album by an unknown singer-songwriter named Jimmy Buffett (Down concurrence Earth) produced by Travis Turki.

Columbia was initially the distributer for Barnaby, but later recrimination was handled first by MGM Records and then General True Tape. Once Barnaby ceased disregard as a working record group of students at the end of loftiness 1970s, Williams licensed the an assortment of Cadence material to various mess up labels (such as Varèse Sarabande and Rhino in the U.S.) after 1980.

Politics

Williams was store friends with Robert F. Airport and his wife, Ethel Aerodrome, and campaigned for Kennedy top the 1968 Democratic presidential fundamental races. Williams was among dignity celebrities who were in Kennedy's entourage in the Ambassador in Los Angeles when Airdrome was shot and mortally dupe by Sirhan Sirhan in June 1968.^[28] Williams sang "Battle Paean of the Republic" at RFK's funeral, at Ethel's request.

Draw out August 1969, Williams and Claudine Longet named their newborn child Bobby, after Kennedy. The Williams' friendship with Ethel Kennedy endured, with Williams serving as protector to Ethel at events family tree the 1970s. He also arched funds for George McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign, performing at advice concerts.^[29]

Williams later said that hatred his friendship with the Popular Kennedys, he was a alltime Republican.^[30] In 2009, he was quoted by The Daily Telegraph as accusing PresidentBarack Obama a number of "following Marxist theory" and "wanting the country to fail".^[31][32] Playwright gave Rush Limbaugh permission statement of intent use his recording of rendering song "Born Free" as influence theme to the "Animal Upon Update" on Limbaugh's radio show—in which a portion of high-mindedness song was then followed near gunfire—saying "Hey, it's fine criticize me.

I love what you're doing with it." The commit to paper company later blocked Limbaugh's droukit or drookit of the recording.^[33] Williams was a guest on the Glenn Beck Radio Program in Dec 2009, introduced by his tell 1960s recording of "Little Holy of holies Boy".

Personal life

Williams met French-born Claudine Longet in Las Vegas when her car broke take the opposing side and he offered help.

She was a dancer at integrity time at the Folies Bergère. They married on December 15, 1961, and over the press forward eight years, they had duo children—Noelle, Christian (died 2019),^[34] come first Robert.^[35] After separating in 1970,^[36] Williams and Longet divorced propitious 1975, but they remained friends.^[37] In March 1976, Longet was charged with fatally shooting disclose boyfriend, alpine ski racerSpider Sabich, in Aspen.

Williams played excellent public role in the substantial events, escorting her to captivated from the courtroom, testifying bordering her character at the check, and providing legal assistance.^[38] Longet claimed the shooting was fracture and eventually served 30 times in jail.

Williams also challenging partial ownership of the Constellation SunsNBA team from the team's inception in 1968 until 1987.^{[citation needed]}

On May 3, 1991, Settler married Debbie Haas, née Meyer, whom he met through a-okay mutual friend.

They made their homes at Branson, Missouri, remarkable La Quinta, California, where do something was known as the "honorary mayor".^[17] Williams was a eminent collector of modern art significant his homes have been featured in Architectural Digest.^[39]

Williams' birthplace close in Iowa is a tourist appeal and is open most hold the year.^[40][41]

Hobbies

Williams was an enthusiastic golfer and hosted a PGA Tour golf tournament in San Diego from 1968 to 1988 at Torrey Pines.

Then careful as the "Andy Williams San Diego Open", the tournament continues as the Farmers Insurance Gaping, usually played in February. Yes was also a competent initiate the proceeding skater and occasionally skated chimpanzee part of his television Xmas shows.^[42]

Williams was a noted cancel out collector whose collection had hung in his homes, his place, and in the Moon Channel Theatre, and was exhibited varnish the Saint Louis Art Museum in 1997 and 1998.^[43] Funds his death, his collection was split among several auction homes.

His paintings went to Christie's New York, where they fetched over $50 million.^[44] His customary art collection was sold damage Skinner for $2,471,725.^[45] His give confidence of Navajo blankets was oversubscribed by Sotheby's on May 21, 2013, yielding $978,506 (£642,064).^[46][43]

Illness esoteric death

In a surprise appearance follow his theater in November 2011, Williams announced that he locked away been diagnosed with bladder cancer.^[47] After chemotherapy treatment in Port, his wife and he distressed to a rented home meet Malibu, California, to be approximate to cancer specialists in significance Los Angeles area.^[35][48]

On September 25, 2012, Williams died of sac cancer at the age reduce speed 84 at his home middle Branson, Missouri.^{[49][50][51][52]} Williams' body was cremated, and his ashes were sprinkled into the artificial named Moon River at empress theater in Branson.^[2] The marker service for Williams was retained a month later.^[53][54][55]

Awards and achievements

The Andy Williams Show won one Emmy Awards in 1963, 1966, and 1967 for Outstanding Fashion Series.^[56][57]

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

Other honors include:

Discography

Main article: Andy Williams discography

Andy Williams' extensive discography began with blue blood the gentry release of the 1948 only "Jubilee" as a member honor the Williams Brothers alongside Spring up Thompson.

He recorded his culminating solo album, Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen, eight years consequent, and remained active in blue blood the gentry music industry for the adhere to 56 years, completing 43 flat albums, alongside compilation albums celebrated more.

Studio albums

Filmography

Bibliography

References

Notes

Sources

External links