He first performed in a children's choir at his local Presbyterian church. Williams and his three older brothers Bob, Dick, and Don, formed a quartet, the Williams Brothers, in the late 1930s. The brothers 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. They appeared with Bing Crosby on the hit record "Swinging on a Star" (1944). This led to a nightclub act with entertainer Kay Thompson from 1947 to 1951.
Williams's solo career began in 1952 after his brothers left the act. He recorded six sides for RCA's label "X," but none of them were popular hits. After landing a spot as a regular on Steve Allen's Tonight Show in 1955, he was signed to a recording contract with Cadence Records, a small label in New York run by conductor Archie Bleyer. His third single, "Canadian Sunset" (1956) hit the Top Ten, and was soon followed his only Billboard #1 hit, "Butterfly" (a cover of a Charlie Gracie record on which Williams imitated Elvis Presley). More hits followed, including "The Hawaiian Wedding Song," "Are You Sincere," "The Village of St. Bernadette," and "Lonely Street," before Williams moved to Columbia Records in 1961, having moved from New York to Los Angeles. In terms of chart popularity, the Cadence era was Williams's peak although songs he introduced on Columbia became much bigger standards. Two top ten hits from the Cadence era, "Butterfly" and "I Like Your Kind of Love" were apparently believed to not suit Williams's later style; they were not included on a Columbia reissue of his Cadence greatest hits in the 1960s.
During the 1960s, Williams became one of the most popular vocalists in the country and signed what was to that time the biggest recording contract in history. He was primarily an album artist, and at one time he had earned more gold albums than any solo performer except Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. By 1973 he had earned as many as 17 gold album awards. Among his hit albums from this period were Moon River, Days of Wine and Roses (number one for 16 weeks in mid-1963), The Andy Williams Christmas Album, Dear Heart, The Shadow of Your Smile, Love, Andy, Get Together with Andy Williams, and Love Story. In these recordings Williams displays an incredible vocal technique along with an uncanny ability to make each song his very own, often rivaling or surpassing the version by the original artist. These attributes, along with his natural affinity for the music of the 1960s and early 1970s, combined to make him one of the premier easy listening singers of that era.
Williams forged an indirect collaborative relationship with Henry Mancini, although they never recorded together. Williams was asked to sing Mancini and Johnny Mercer's song "Moon River" at the 1962 Oscar Awards (where it won), and it quickly became Williams's theme song. This was repeated the next year with the pair's "Days of Wine and Roses" (which also won), Mancini's "Dear Heart" at the 1965 awards and "The Sweetheart Tree" (also written with Mercer) at the 1966 awards.
Williams also competed in the teenage-oriented singles market as well and had several charting hits including "Can't Get Used to Losing You," "Happy Heart," and "Where Do I Begin", the theme song from the 1970 blockbuster film, Love Story. Building on his experience with Allen and some short-term variety shows in the 1950s, he became the star of his own weekly television variety show in 1962. This series, The Andy Williams Show, won three Emmy Awards for outstanding variety program. Among his series regulars were the Osmond Brothers. He gave up the variety show in 1971 while it was still popular and retrenched to three specials per year. His Christmas specials, which appeared regularly until 1974 and intermittently from 1982 into the 1990s, were among the most popular of the genre. Williams has recorded eight Christmas albums over the years. He hosted the Grammy Awards for three consecutive years in the 1970s. He returned to television to do a syndicated half-hour series in 1976-77.
In the early 1990s, Williams gave up most of his touring schedule in order to open his own theatre in Branson, Missouri, the Andy Williams Moon River Theater. He continues to do 8 to 12 shows a week from September to December and occasionally makes tours of Europe earlier in the year.
His 1967 recording of "Music to Watch Girls By" was a surprise UK hit in 1999, when it reached number 9 after featuring in an advert (beating the original peak of number 33 in 1967). In 2002 he took part in a new duet of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" with British actress and singer Denise van Outen. Nearly everything Williams ever recorded has now been made available on CD through a series of compilations from 1997 to 2004.
Williams met Claudine Longet when he pulled over to aid her on a Las Vegas road. She was a dancer at the time at the Folies Bergere. They married on Christmas Day, 1961, and had three children, Noelle, Christian, and Robert. They separated in 1969 and finally divorced 6 years later. In 1976 Longet was charged with fatally shooting her boyfriend, skier Vladimir "Spider" Sabich and Williams supported her. He married a second time in May 1991 to the former Debbie Haas. They make their homes at Branson, Missouri and La Quinta, California. Williams' homes have been featured in Architectural Digest, and he is a noted collector of modern art. Williams is an avid golfer. He hosted a major golf tournament in San Diego for many years, which was known as the Andy Williams San Diego Open during that time.
Williams' birthplace is a tourist attraction open most of the year.
A Song For You
Andy Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've sung a lot of songs, I've made some bad rhyme
I've acted out my love in stages
With ten thousand people watching
But we're alone now and I'm singin' this song for you
I know your image of me is what I hope to be
I've treated you unkindly but baby can't you see (baby can't you see now)
Baby can't you please see through me
'cause we're alone now and I'm singin' this song for you
You taught me precious secrets of the truth, withholding' nothin'
You came out in front and I was hiding
But now I'm so much better and if my words don't come together
Listen to the melody (listen to the melody) cause my love's in there hiding
I love you in a place where there's no space or time
I love you for my life, you are a friend of mine (you are a friend of mine)
And when my life is over, remember when we were together
We were alone and I was singin' this song for you
We were alone and I was singin' this song for you
We were alone and I was singin' this song, singin' this song for you
In these lyrics, Andy Williams reflects on his career as a singer, acknowledging that his performances have been witnessed by thousands but that his primary focus is on the person he's singing to in that moment. He admits that he hasn't always been the best version of himself, but he hopes the listener will see through that and still see how important they are to him. He expresses gratitude to this person, who has taught him "precious secrets of the truth" and helped him become a better person. He ends the song with a declaration of an almost transcendental love, one that exists outside of space and time.
Overall, the song is a beautiful tribute to the power of music to connect people across all barriers. It's also a reminder that even the most famous and successful people have moments of vulnerability and insecurity, and that love and connection are what really matter in the end.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been so many places in my life and time
Throughout my lifetime, I've had the opportunity to travel and visit many different places.
I've sung a lot of songs, I've made some bad rhyme
As a musician, I've created many pieces of music, some of which might not have been successful.
I've acted out my love in stages
I've expressed my affection to others by performing on stage.
With ten thousand people watching
Many individuals have witnessed my public displays of affection.
But we're alone now and I'm singin' this song for you
Despite the crowds I've performed in front of, right now it's just you and me, and I'm singing this song directly to you.
I know your image of me is what I hope to be
I believe that you see me in the idealized way that I've always wanted to be seen.
I've treated you unkindly but baby can't you see (baby can't you see now)
I've mistreated you in the past, but I'm hoping that you can see that I've changed and that I'm ready to treat you with the respect and kindness you deserve.
There's no one more important to me (baby)
Out of everyone in my life, you are the most important person to me.
Baby can't you please see through me
I'm hoping that you can see the real me, beyond any facades or pretenses.
'cause we're alone now and I'm singin' this song for you
Since it's just the two of us right now, I'm using this opportunity to confess my feelings and sing this song for you.
You taught me precious secrets of the truth, withholding' nothin'
You've shared valuable insights and truths with me, not leaving out anything important.
You came out in front and I was hiding
You were willing to put yourself out there, while I was holding back.
But now I'm so much better and if my words don't come together
Thanks to you, I've grown and improved as a person. Even if I struggle to express myself properly, know that I'm doing my best.
Listen to the melody (listen to the melody) cause my love's in there hiding
If you pay attention to the music itself, you'll hear the love that I'm trying to convey.
I love you in a place where there's no space or time
My love for you transcends physical limitations like space and time.
I love you for my life, you are a friend of mine (you are a friend of mine)
You're not just a romantic partner, you're also one of my closest friends and confidants.
And when my life is over, remember when we were together
Even after I'm gone, I hope you'll cherish the memories of our time spent together.
We were alone and I was singin' this song for you
In that moment, it was just the two of us, and I was pouring my heart out to you through this song.
We were alone and I was singin' this song for you
This line is a repeat of the previous one, signifying the importance of that intimate moment between the two of them.
We were alone and I was singin' this song, singin' this song for you
Once again, emphasizing the significance of that moment and the connection between the two individuals.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Leon Russell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christine Watts
Definitely the best version I've ever heard.......by a long, long way.........fabulous!....xxx
generationll
This song has been in my my mind for over 40 years.From 1970,71 I guess.The line with 10,000 people still stand out from over 40 years ago.Heard on 810 WGY in early 70s.Unforgettable tune in my life
NigelHyphenJones
What a great singer Andy was.....not just a guy in a Xmas sweater on a tv show....superb 🙏
john edwards
What an incredible range... never knew he recorded this Leon Russell song and of course it's now become Michael Buble's closing piece in his live stage show!
grooverunner
RIP, thank you for so many years of wonderful music, the soundtrack to so many growing up. Christmas 2012 will seem a little sadder for my family as we listen to your Christmas cd's.
NigelHyphenJones
Just love this version.... Andy was superb....RIP Mr Easy Listening 🙏
Janice Fitzy
stunning. my favourite version.
Tim Covert
Love this song!
Steve Hollander
Where has the time gone. Thanks for all the memories of wonderful music. Rest in Peace Andy
Arthur Fleischman, J.Art.
I love this man. He is not dead, he will never die.