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Andy Williams

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Andy Williams · Howard Andrew Williams (3 December 1927 to 25 September 2012) was an American singer, born in Wall Lake, Iowa. With his three older brothers he formed the vocal quartet the Williams Brothers in 1938, which performed on radio in the Midwest. In 1943 they moved to Los Angeles. In 1944 they sang on Bing Crosby's hit Swinging on a Star and they appeared in four musical films. Later he toured nightclubs as an accompanist to the singer Kay Thompson, where the group broke through in Las Vegas in 1947. Thompson also guided his first steps as a solo singer.

Music and breakthrough

His solo career began in 1953. At the label Cadence, Canadian Sunset reached the top ten in 1956, and Butterfly became his only number 1 on the Billboard chart in 1957. In 1961 he signed with Columbia Records. In 1962 he sang Moon River, the title song of Breakfast at Tiffany's, at the Academy Awards ceremony, where the song won the prize for Best Original Song. From 1962 to 1971 he hosted The Andy Williams Show and made 43 albums, including The Andy Williams Christmas Album from 1964. His soft, warm voice suited the easy listening repertoire well.

Influence

Williams was above all an album artist. He sang Henry Mancini's Dear Heart and The Sweetheart Tree at the Academy Awards ceremonies of 1965 and 1966, and for twenty years performed at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. He brought the relaxed pop sound of the 1960s into the living room.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Moon River and notice the calm tempo and the smooth, soft singing. Can you hear how he does not force the words but lets them flow?

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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See also

Categories: Artists