Andy Williams was born on December 3, 1927, in Wall Lake, Iowa, and began singing with his three older brothers at a young age. They formed the Williams Brothers Quartet, which became a staple on local radio stations and eventually made its professional debut when Andy was just in the third grade. The quartet's harmonizing talents caught the attention of crooning king Bing Crosby, who included them on his 1944 hit single "Swinging on a Star".
Andy's career received a major boost when he co-starred with Chico Marx on the short-lived television show "The College Bowl" in 1950. He then joined singer/personality Kay Thompson in 1947 with her eclectic nightclub act and stayed with the popular show until they disbanded in 1951.
Andy's solo singing career took off when he co-starred with Chico Marx on the short-lived television show "The College Bowl" in 1950. He then joined singer/personality Kay Thompson in 1947 with her eclectic nightclub act and stayed with the popular show until they disbanded in 1951.
Andy's first recording contract with Cadence Records in 1956 led to his first album and a "Top 10" hit with the lovely ballad "Canadian Sunset". This was followed by "Butterfly" (#1),"Lonely Street", "I Like Your Kind of Love", "Are You Sincere" and "The Hawaiian Wedding Song", the last tune earning him five Grammy Award nominations.
In 1962, Andy made a lucrative label change to Columbia Records, which produced the "Top 10" pop hit "Can't Get Used to Losing You" and a collaboration with Henry Mancini, which inspired Andy's signature song, "Moon River", the Oscar-winning tune from the popular Audrey Hepburn film "Breakfast at Tiffany's".
Andy's signature song, "Moon River", was a huge hit and earned him five Grammy Award nominations. He also had major chartbusters with the movie theme songs "Days of Wine and Roses", "Dear Heart", and "Love Story".
Andy attempted to parlay his singing fame into a film career, co-starring in the light, screwy Ross Hunter comedies "I'd Rather Be Rich" (1964) and "Something in the Wind" (1947). He also co-starred with fellow singing suitor Robert Goulet in the picture, which was a tepid remake of "It Started with Eve" (1941) starring Deanna Durbin.
What truly put Andy over the top was the phenomenal success of his weekly variety show "The Andy Williams Show" (1962). Andy was a natural in front of the television camera and his dueting with such singing legends as Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, and Peggy Lee kept audiences enthralled week after week.
Andy married a stunning, whispery-voiced French chanteuse named Claudine Longet in 1961, who was 15 years younger. The couple had three children, and Claudine made a mild hit of the song "Love Is Blue" and enjoyed slight celebrity status. Like the Crosby family, Andy's clan became an integral part of his annual classic Christmas television specials.
Andy opened Caesar's Palace in 1966 and went on to headline there for 20 years. Following the demise of his television success, Andy continued to tour both here and abroad. He laid low for a time to protect his children through a tragic crisis when his ex-wife Claudine became enmeshed in a tabloid-styled shooting in March of 1976.
Andy remarried happily in 1991 to non-professional Debbie Haas. Inspired by singer/friend Ray Stevens, Andy had built a $12 million state-of-the-art theater, which opened in 1992 and was christened the Andy Williams Moon River Theater. Andy became the first non-country star to perform there and other theme shows have since been inspired to populate the small town--now considered the live music capital of the world.
At age 70+, Andy continued to perform in Branson, Missouri, where he and his wife reside, and in Europe. Andy Williams died at age 84 of bladder cancer in Branson, Missouri, on September 25, 2012.
