Andy Williams

Artist Image: Andy Williams
Attribution
Image Credit: Sheldon Saltman, public relations (File:Andy Williams 1967.JPG), CC0

Biography

Howard Andrew "Andy" Williams (born December 3, 1927) is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri named after the song "Moon River", with which he is closely identified. Williams was born in Wall Lake, Iowa, the son of Jay Emerson and Florence (née Finley) Williams. He first performed in a children's choir at the local Presbyterian church. Williams and his three older brothers Bob, Don, and Dick formed the Williams Brothers quartet in late 1938, and they performed on radio in the Midwest, first at WHO in Des Moines, Iowa, and later at WLS in Chicago and WLW in Cincinnati. Williams graduated from Western Hills High School in Cincinnati and his brother was engaged to Gene Ingram's car-pool partner, Peggy. The Williams Brothers appeared with Bing Crosby on the hit record "Swinging on a Star" (1944). They appeared in 4 musical films: Janie (1944), Kansas City Kitty (1944), Something in the Wind (1947) and Ladies' Man (1947). This led to a nightclub act with entertainer Kay Thompson from 1947 to 1951.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1938
Number of Albums 51
Record Label
Website www.andywilliams.com
Wikipedia Andy Williams on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Genres

Swing Jazz

Trivia

How old was Andy Williams when he died?

84

...on show and his mellifluous tenor voice, Andy Williams, who has died aged 84 after suffering from bladder cancer, was one of the bestloved figures in ...
Who described Andy Williams's voice as a national treasure?

Ronald Reagan

...ancer, was one of the bestloved figures in American popular culture. Ronald Reagan described Williams's distinctive voice as a national treasure. Will...
What disease did Andy Williams suffer from?

bladder cancer

...nor voice, Andy Williams, who has died aged 84 after suffering from bladder cancer , was one of the bestloved figures in American popular culture. Rona...
In what year was Can't Take My Eyes Off You used in a commercial for Peugeot cars?

1998

...e voice as a national treasure. Williams's British career was revived in 1998 when his 30yearold hit Can't Take My Eyes Off You was used in a commerci...
In what year was The Most Wonderful Time of the Year chosen for a Marks & Spencer Christmas campaign?

2002

...Christmas albums) was chosen for a Marks & Spencer Christmas campaign in 2002 . He even appeared in an episode of Strictly Come Dancing in 2009 to sing...
What year did Williams appear in an episode of Strictly Come Dancing to sing Moon River?

2009

...aign in 2002. He even appeared in an episode of Strictly Come Dancing in 2009 to sing Moon River. Williams grew up in Wall Lake, Iowa, the second youn...
Where did Williams grow up?

Wall Lake, Iowa

...rictly Come Dancing in 2009 to sing Moon River. Williams grew up in Wall Lake, Iowa , the second youngest of six children, to Jay and Florence Williams...
What was Andy Williams' father's occupation?

railway worker

...ungest of six children, to Jay and Florence Williams. His father, a railway worker , arranged for Andy and his three elder brothers, Bob, Don and Dick,...
How many elder brothers did Andy and his brothers have?

three

...orence Williams. His father, a railway worker, arranged for Andy and his three elder brothers, Bob, Don and Dick, to be the choir at the town's Presby...
What was Reagan's job?

sports reporter

...lly awarded their own 15minute show on a station where Reagan was a sports reporter . There were further moves to Chicago and Cincinnati so that the Wi...
In what state was Andy Williams born?

Iowa

...the Williams Brothers Quartet as its youngest member. Born in Wall Lake, Iowa on December 3, 1927, Andy started singing with his three older brothers ...
What is the name of Andy Williams's three older brothers?

Bob Williams, Dick Williams and Don Williams

... Andy started singing with his three older brothers ( Bob Williams, Dick Williams and Don Williams ) in his hometown's Presbyterian church choir. The qu...
Where did Andy graduate from high school?

Cincinnati

... including Chicago and Cincinnati. Andy graduated from high school in Cincinnati . They eventually caught the attention of crooning king Bing Crosby, w...
When did the boys join singer Kay Thompson?

1947

...rtet of sons at home. They then joined singerpersonality Kay Thompson in 1947 with her eclectic nightclub act and stayed with the popular show until t...
When did Kay Thompson disband?

1951

...c nightclub act and stayed with the popular show until they disbanded in 1951 . Andy was the only Williams brother who ventured out to the East Coast t...
How many albums has he recorded?

43

...He recorded 43 albums in his career, of which 15 have been goldcertified and three platinumcertified. He was delighted television audiences as the han...
What show did he star on?

The Andy Williams Show

...ighted television audiences as the handsome crooner and star of The Andy Williams Show (196267 and 196971), a musicalvariety program that won three Em...
When did The Andy Williams Show air?

196267 and 196971

...iences as the handsome crooner and star of The Andy Williams Show ( 196267 and 196971 ), a musicalvariety program that won three Emmy Awards during a pe...
What is Andy Williams' real name?

Howard Andrew Williams

...certified units in the United States. Andy Williams, by name of Howard Andrew Williams , was born on December 3, 1927, in Wall Lake, Iowa, the U.S. to ...
What was Howard Andrew Williams' father's name?

Jay Emerson

...lliams, was born on December 3, 1927, in Wall Lake, Iowa, the U.S. to Jay Emerson and Florence (née Finley) Williams. He had three older brothers Bob,...
Who was the mother of Andy Williams?

Florence (née Finley) Williams

...er 3, 1927, in Wall Lake, Iowa, the U.S. to Jay Emerson and Florence (née Finley) Williams . He had three older brothers Bob, Don, and Dick Williams. P...
When did Williams and Longet marry?

December 15, 1961

...onget when he came to her aid on a Las Vegas road. They married on December 15, 1961 , and over the next eight years, they had three children Noelle, C...
What was the name of the woman who met Williams on a Las Vegas road?

Claudine Longet

... Don, and Dick Williams. Personal Life Andy Williams met Frenchborn Claudine Longet when he came to her aid on a Las Vegas road. They married on Decem...
When did the couple separate?

1970

...ars, they had three children Noelle, Christian, and Robert. After separating in 1970 , Williams and Longet divorced in 1975, but they remained friends....
In what year did Williams divorce?

1975

...ars, they had three children Noelle, Christian, and Robert. After separating in 1970, Williams and Longet divorced in 1975 , but they remained friends....
What was the name of Andy Williams' first studio album?

Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen

...iamss released his first studio album with Cadence Records, Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen . Throughout the rest of the 1950s, Williams continued work...
How many more albums did Andy Williams release with Cadence Records?

two

...You Sweetheart, Aloha; and Lonely Street. In 1960, Andy Williams released two more albums with Cadence Records (The Village of St. Bernadette and Unde...
How many more albums did Andy Williams release before the end of the decade?

four

...of the 1950s, Williams continued working with Cadence Records, releasing four more albums before the end of the decade: Andy Williams Sings Roger and ...
What was the name of the two more albums released by Andy Williams in 1960?

The Village of St. Bernadette and Under Paris Skies

...ms released two more albums with Cadence Records ( The Village of St. Bernadette and Under Paris Skies ). In 1962, he switched recording companies and b...
When did he start working with Columbia Records?

1962

...adence Records (The Village of St. Bernadette and Under Paris Skies). In 1962 , he switched recording companies and began working with Columbia Records...
What was the name of the first record he released with his new company?

Danny Boy and Other Songs I Love to Sing

... The first record he released with his new company was Danny Boy and Other Songs I Love to Sing . His next album, Moon River, and Other Great Movie The...
Which album was his next?

Moon River, and Other Great Movie Themes

...ny Boy and Other Songs I Love to Sing. His next album, Moon River, and Other Great Movie Themes was his first album to reach the RIAA Gold standard. T...
What label did Andy Williams continue to release hit albums with throughout the 1960s?

Columbia Records

...is first album to reach the RIAA Gold standard. Throughout the rest of the 1960s, Andy Williams continued to release hit albums with Columbia Records ....
In what city did Williams become a theater impresario?

Branson, Missouri

...t, eventually finding latterday success as a theater impresario in Branson, Missouri . Born in Wall Lake, Iowa, Williams sang in his church choir and l...
In what year did Williams make it to the Top Ten?

1956

... moved to Los Angeles to make it in show business. He hit the Top Ten in 1956 with his third single for the label, Canadian Sunset. One year later, hi...
What was his third single for the label?

Canadian Sunset

...ss. He hit the Top Ten in 1956 with his third single for the label, Canadian Sunset . One year later, his softtoned cover of the Charlie Gracie rockabi...
Whose rockabilly nugget Butterfly hit number one?

Charlie Gracie

... label, Canadian Sunset. One year later, his softtoned cover of the Charlie Gracie rockabilly nugget Butterfly hit number one (it's still his biggest ...
What year did Williams move to Columbia?

1961

... Village of St. Bernadette followed before Williams moved to Columbia in 1961 . Despite another big hit in 1963, Can't Get Used to Losing You, Williams...
What was the name of Williams' 1963 hit single?

Can't Get Used to Losing You

... moved to Columbia in 1961. Despite another big hit in 1963, Can't Get Used to Losing You , Williams failed to generate much action on the singles char...
How many more LPs were in the Top Ten for Andy Williams?

Nine

...following year's Days of Wine and Roses hit the top of the album charts. Nine more LPs hit the Top Ten for Andy Williams during the '60s, many organiz...
Andy Williams' Days of Wine and Roses hit the top of what?

album charts

..., and the following year's Days of Wine and Roses hit the top of the album charts . Nine more LPs hit the Top Ten for Andy Williams during the '60s, ma...
How many records did Andy Williams sell worldwide?

45 million

...from 1962 to 1971, along with numerous TV specials. He sold more than 45 million records worldwide, including more than 10 million certified units in ...
When did Williams join the U.S. military?

17

...hool, in West Los Angeles, because of his family's move to California. At 17 , Williams joined the United States Merchant Marine and served until the e...
In what year did Williams form the Williams Brothers quartet?

1938

...lliams. His brothers and he formed the Williams Brothers quartet in late 1938 , and they performed on radio in the Midwest, first at WHO in Des Moines,...
Who sang with Williams Brothers in 1943?

Bing Crosby

... Chicago, and WLW in Cincinnati. Moving to Los Angeles in 1943, the Williams Brothers sang with Bing Crosby on his 1944 hit record Swinging on a Star....
Andy Williams projects a relaxed, affable style, at once what?

soothing and romantic

...oach. Singer Williams projects a relaxed, affable style, at once soothing and romantic ; his popularity has endured while other more faddish singers ha...
What was the name of Williams' 1968 album?

Honey

...poll picked him as the top male vocalist of the year, and his 1968 album Honey remained on the charts for more than six months. A New York Herald Trib...
How long did Williams' Honey remain on the charts?

more than six months

...of the year, and his 1968 album Honey remained on the charts for more than six months . A New York Herald Tribune reviewer notes that Williams's appeal...
What job did Williams' father quit to manage his sons' engagements?

railway mail clerk

...at station WHO in Des Moines. Williams's father quit his job as a railway mail clerk in order to manage his sons' engagements, and soon the whole Will...
What was the name of the motion picture contract that Williams won in Los Angeles?

MetroGoldwynMayer

...es they travelled to Chicago and then to Cincinnati; eventually they wound up in Los Angeles with a coveted MetroGoldwynMayer motion picture contract....