Singer Andy Williams died this week of bladder cancer at his home in Branson, Missouri. He was 84.
Williams started his career in the late ‘30s when he sang with his brothers as part of the Williams Brothers quartet. At the time, Williams was just 11, which may have been the reason he promoted the Osmond Brothers later in his career.
By 1952, the quartet broke up, although they would reunite every year to appear on Williams’ show. Williams’s solo career took off when he began appearing as a regular on “Tonight Starring Steve Allen.” He had many successful singles, including “Canadian Sunset,” Butterfly,” “The Hawaiian Wedding Song,” and “Lonely Street.” But, he is probably most famously known for 1961’s “Moon River.” Most remember it fondly from Breakfast with Tiffany’s (it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song), but I always remember it as Carrie and Big’s song when he was moving to California from the “Sex and the City” series.
In 1966, Williams began his run in Vegas at Caesars Palace casino, starring in the stage production of “Rome Swings.” He would spend the next twenty years headlining at Caesars.
Williams performed well into his 80s, but he also had a second career as a variety show host. “The Andy Williams Show” began in 1962 and ran until 1971. Among those that regular performed on the show were The Osmonds (where they got their start), Bobby Darin, Dick Van Dyke, Jonathan Winters, Ray Stevens, and The Lennon Sisters. Even after the show ended, Williams continued his beloved Christmas specials.
In 1991, Williams moved his show to Branson, Missouri and opened the Moon River Theater. He was the first non-country performer to open a theater there.
Williams was married twice – once to actress Claudine Longet and to Debbie Meyer until his death. He leaves behind three children.