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.
Baby Doll
Andy Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Look out for her) baby doll
(Especially) hmm
(The amateur)
There's many a guy who'll sing you these blues
His dream was a lie, his heart's in his shoes
He wasn't so green, in ways he was smart
He'll tell you as plain as day
Keep away from baby doll
(That baby doll)
(Look out for her)
You'll see in her eyes the warning you should
You oughta be ooh-eyed, she'll lose you but good
As long as she's warm, the livin' is sweet
Then she'll raise a storm, you're back on the street
You might as well know, my friend, that's the end
You're cooked, you're through
(My friend, you're through)
(You're cooked, you're through)
She was my baby doll and she'll do the same to you
(That baby doll)
(Look out for her)
The lyrics of Andy Williams’ Baby Doll warn a young man about a girl who goes by the name of “baby doll”. The opening lines, “That baby doll, look out for her”, emphasize the need for caution. The song warns that she is an amateur - a girl that many guys have fallen for and lost themselves over. The lyrics describe how the girl will take him apart and sing him the blues. The singer warns that she may seem warm but will raise a storm, throwing him back onto the street.
Throughout the song, the lyrics emphasize the need to be cautious of “baby doll”. Her eyes give off a warning that should not be ignored because she will undoubtedly make him fall in love with her, only to break his heart later. In the final few lines, the singer remarks that she was his baby doll and she will do the same to the young man.
The song is a warning to young men to be wary of this “baby doll” and avoid her at all costs.
Line by Line Meaning
(That baby doll) ooh
Watch out for that woman known as baby doll
(Look out for her) baby doll
Be cautious of the person known as baby doll
(Especially) hmm
In particular and specifically
(The amateur)
Someone inexperienced or lacking expertise
There's many a guy who'll sing you these blues
A lot of men can relate to the situation described in this song
His dream was a lie, his heart's in his shoes
The man was deceived and his heart is broken over it
He wasn't so green, in ways he was smart
He wasn't entirely naive, he had some intelligence
Till she hit the scene and she took him apart
Until she arrived and emotionally destroyed him
He'll tell you as plain as day
He'll give you a very clear warning
Keep away from baby doll
Stay far away from this woman known as baby doll
You'll see in her eyes the warning you should
You can tell by the look in her eyes that you should be wary
You oughta be ooh-eyed, she'll lose you but good
You should be very cautious because she will break your heart
As long as she's warm, the livin' is sweet
As long as she's happy, life is good
Then she'll raise a storm, you're back on the street
When she becomes angry or upset, you'll be left alone
You might as well know, my friend, that's the end
It's important to realize that this relationship will not end well
You're cooked, you're through
You're finished, it's over
(My friend, you're through)
My friend, it's the end for you
(You're cooked, you're through)
You're done, it's over
She was my baby doll and she'll do the same to you
She was my lover and she'll hurt you just like she hurt me
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BERNARD D. HANIGHEN, KENYON HOPKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sunburst
This is just so wonderful 💕💕💕💕I like how his range is so amazing
Imani M
Oh my God, I had no idea this movie theme had words!! 😮😮 I love Andy Williams, this is GREAT! 🎶
John Brodowski
I just wonder how Cathy would react after listening to this!?