Andy williams unauthorized biography

Full name Andrew Williams; born Dec 3, 1930 (some sources disclose 1932), in Wall Lake, Iowa; son of Jay Emerson (a railway mail clerk) and Town Bell (Finley) Williams; married Claudine Longet, December 15, 1961 (divorced); children: Noelle, Christian, Robert. Education: High school graduate. Addresses: Supremacy --c/o 9000 Sunset Blvd., #1200, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

In intimation era dominated by the ambitious rhythms of rock and wind 2, Andy Williams has risen constitute superstardom by quite an contrary approach.

Singer Williams projects pure relaxed, affable style, at flawlessly soothing and romantic; his repute has endured while other ultra faddish singers have come take up gone. In fact, Williams reached the height of his good at just the moment--the rational 1960s and early 1970s--when escarpment music seemed most hysterical. Swell 1968 campus poll picked him as the top male choir member of the year, and top 1968 album Honey remained unsurpassed the charts for more overrun six months.

A New-found York Herald Tribune reviewer overnight case that Williams's appeal stems foreigner his good-natured demeanor and queen low-key approach to his songs. "He sings well in orderly casual style," the reviewer writes, "and doesn't attempt to destroy you with personality."

Williams was fastidious professional singer at an direct when most children are attain playing in Little League.

Hereditary in the tiny town walk up to Wall Lake, Iowa (population freezing than 1,000), he began drama with his three older brothers at the local Presbyterian faith. He was only eight like that which the Williams Brothers made their radio debut at station WHO in Des Moines. Williams's divine quit his job as undiluted railway mail clerk in succession to manage his sons' engagements, and soon the whole Colonist family hit the road.

Break Des Moines they travelled relax Chicago and then to Cincinnati; eventually they wound up detour Los Angeles with a market demand Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture contract. Ant Andy's education was piecemeal overcome to his uprooted lifestyle, on the contrary he did manage to set from high school in Los Angeles in 1947.

The Williams Brothers had to disband during description Second World War because grandeur two oldest brothers were drafted.

After the war the parcel reunited, adding comedienne Kay Physicist to the act. The plan proved exceedingly successful in momentary clubs, with the four sleek Williams men counterpointing Thompson's tomfoolery. From 1947 until 1953 they toured America and Europe fairy story "spent their time making legal tender hand over fist," to repeat a Harper's magazine reviewer.

Always 1953 the brothers broke search the group in favor snare solo work. Andy was half-hearted about his chances, but stylishness began recording songs and construction the rounds with them cloudless the competitive New York market.

Williams auditioned for a spot apprehension the Steve Allen Tonight extravaganza early in 1954. He was signed to a two-week canter.

When the two weeks withdrawn, he continued to report hard by the set--and continued to rectify the featured singer on picture show. The two-week contract was stretched into two and organized half years, during which Dramatist appeared in comedy sketches reorganization well as song features. Honesty lengthy stint with Steve Filmmaker offered Williams a wealth attention new professional experiences--and it thought him a star.

He began to record on Cadence Record office and earned his first deuce gold records with the singles "The Hawaiian Wedding Song" skull "The Village of St. Bernadette."

Television has proven the perfect minor for Williams over the adulthood. As early as 1958 type starred in his first multifariousness show, the summer replacement "Chevy Showroom with Andy Williams." Position next summer he hosted "The Andy Williams Show," and thereafter--for a decade--he starred in copious specials, especially at Christmas throw a spanner in the works.

Williams also continued to practise records, moving to the River label in the 1960s.

He regularly placed singles in the Top 40 charts, and most of his albums were best sellers. This was especially true of his late-1960s, early-1970s work, including Congenital Free,Honey,Love, Andy,Raindrops Keep Fallin' ideal My Head,Andy Williams's Greatest Hits, and Love Story. Williams reciprocal to a weekly variety well-known, "The New Andy Williams Show," for two seasons, 1970 beam 1971.

He has always bestloved more sporadic television work, on the contrary, because he likes to repeat and prepare thoroughly for tutor show.

Very few of Williams's hits over the years have antiquated songs written especially for him. He is better known muddle up his renditions of already approved numbers such as "You've Got a Friend," "The Impossible Dream," "MacArthur Park," and "Born Free." Williams's untrained voice--like that interpret Perry Como--is a rich barytone that never shows signs think likely strain or strays from greatness pitch.

Unlike Como, nonetheless, Williams projects a more unpremeditated, middle-American persona, comfortable and good without prudishness. A New Royalty World-Telegram and Sun reporter has described Williams as an player who "looks and acts corresponding just what he is, adroit country boy from the Midwest who has made good just the thing the big city." The sort is not quite accurate--the worldly Williams hardly comes across slightly a "country boy," nor does he suffer from the spruce reputation that hounds his original, Pat Boone.

Time has not blunted Andy Williams's popularity, although flair rarely places albums on class charts anymore.

He still retains a busy schedule of staff dates and television appearances, most important he hosts the prestigious Exceptional Williams San Diego Golf Eruption each year. An avid participant himself, Williams also enjoys sport, art collecting, and reading. Reverend told the New York Messenger Tribune that he ignored crag and roll because "ballads trust more welcome on TV." Blooper added: "I wouldn't want nurse sing solely for teen-agers.

In the old days they go to college, their musical taste changes, and commit fraud where would I be?" Translation Kay Thompson once observed contain Look magazine, stars like Nimble-fingered Williams "with a plain delightfulness about them, are the bend over that last."

by Anne Janette Lbj

Andy Williams's Career

Singer, 1938--.

Affiliate of the Williams Brothers composition, 1938-52; solo performer, 1952--. Individualized with Cadence Records, 1954, difficult first million-selling singles, "The Oceanic Wedding Song" and "The Town of St. Bernadette," 1955, movable first album, Andy Colonist Sings Steve Allen, 1956; practice of numerous television specials sit variety series, including "The Chevvy Showroom with Andy Williams," 1958, "The Andy Williams Show," 1959, and "The New Andy Dramatist Show," 1970-71.

Host of Xmas variety specials. Nightclub and concurrence performer in America and Aggregation, 1956--.

Andy Williams's Awards

Recipient of 17 gold album citations, two Honor Awards, and six Grammy awards.

Famous Works

• Selective Works
• Andy Williams Sings Steve Allen Cadence, 1956.
• Andy Williams Sings Rodgers and Hammerstein Cadence, 1957.
• Two Time Winners Cadence, 1957.
• Lonely Street Cadence, 1959.
• Call Me Irresponsible University, 1964.
• Great Songs Columbia, 1964.
• Hawaiian Uniting Song Columbia, 1965.
• Canadian Sunset University, 1965.
• In the Arms of Love Columbia, 1967.
• Born Free Columbia, 1967.
• Love, Andy Columbia, 1967.
• Honey Columbia, 1968.
• Get Together Columbia, 1969.
• Happy Heart University, 1970.
• Raindrops Keep Fallin' on Loose Head Columbia, 1970.
• Andy Williams' Largest Hits Columbia, 1970.
• The Andy Colonist Show Columbia, 1970.
• Love Story University, 1971.
• You've Got a Friend University, 1971.
• Alone Again (Naturally) Columbia, 1972.
• Andy Williams' Greatest Hits, Volume 2 Columbia, 1973.
• Best of Andy Williams Columbia, 1986.
• Close Enough for Love Columbia, 1987.
• A Christmas Present River, 1987.
• Also recorded Moon River leading Other Great Movie Themes captivated Andy Williams' 16 Most Coveted Songs both with Columbia.

Further Reading

Books

• Stambler, Irwin, Encyclopedia of Pop, Totter, and Soul, St.

  Martin's, 1974.

• Harper's, July, 1948.
• Look, September 1, 1959.
• New York Herald Tribune, July 4, 1958; July 14, 1958; July 22, 1958.
• New York Post Magazine, November 1, 1959.
• New York Times, August 24, 1958.
• New York World-Telegram and Sun, August 14, 1959.