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.
Feelings
Andy Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Silver bells make merry noise
Yet you should remember from the start
Christmas is a feeling in your heart
Holly wreaths and mistletoe
Carols by the candle's glow
These are not the most important part
Faith and hope, goodwill to man
Love and peace, and faith again
Let the prayers that Christmas bring
Brush your heart like angel wings
Christmas Day will soon be gone
Yet the joy will linger on
If you only learn to do your part
Let Christmas be a feeling in your heart
Faith and hope, goodwill to man
Love and peace, and faith again
Let the prayers that Christmas bring
Brush your heart like angel wings
Christmas Day will soon be gone
Yet the joy will linger on
If you only learn to do your part
Let Christmas be a feeling in your heart
The lyrics to Andy Williams's song, "Feelings", convey the true meaning of Christmas. The song suggests that Christmas is not about material things such as toys, bells, wreaths, or candles, but about the feelings in our hearts. The lyrics emphasize the importance of faith, hope, love, and peace. The song reminds us that if we truly want to experience the joy of Christmas, we must allow the prayers of the season to touch our hearts like angel wings. The lyrics imply that our actions during the holiday season should reflect the true meaning of Christmas, and we should strive to make the holiday season more about giving than receiving.
The song takes on a rather reflective and contemplative tone, urging the listener to think about the true meaning of the holiday season. It suggests that if we focus too much on material things, we might miss out on what is truly important about the holiday season. The song encourages us to be mindful of the feelings within us and to let those feelings guide our actions, especially during the Christmas season.
Line by Line Meaning
There are toys for girls and boys
Christmas has become materialistic and commercialized with emphasis on gifts
Silver bells make merry noise
Amidst the hustle and bustle of Christmas, joy can still be heard
Yet you should remember from the start
Despite the materialistic inclination of Christmas, one should understand the true meaning
Christmas is a feeling in your heart
Christmas is more about the love and warmth that fills one's heart during the holiday season
Holly wreaths and mistletoe
Traditional symbols of Christmas celebrations
Carols by the candle's glow
Singing carols by candlelight brings a sense of togetherness and peace
These are not the most important part
The material decorations and festivities are not the essence of Christmas
Faith and hope, goodwill to man
Christmas is about faith and hope and treating others with kindness and goodwill
Love and peace, and faith again
The values of love and peace are closely linked to faith, which is an important aspect of the holiday
Let the prayers that Christmas bring
Prayers during the holiday season help ease one's troubles and bring comfort
Brush your heart like angel wings
Prayers help soothe one's heart, much like the gentle touch of angel wings
Christmas Day will soon be gone
The day of Christmas has a limited time, but its spirit should endure
Yet the joy will linger on
The happiness and warmth shared during Christmas will remain in one's heart
If you only learn to do your part
Everyone has a role to play in spreading love and cheer during the holiday season
Let Christmas be a feeling in your heart
The true essence of Christmas is to carry the feeling of love and warmth in one's heart throughout the year
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, MUSIC.INFO FINLAND OY, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOE DARIAN, GEORGE KLEINSINGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tangoterapi_7966
Feelings, nothing more than feelings,
Trying to forget my feelings of love.
Teardrops rolling down on my face,
Trying to forget my feelings of love.
Feelings, for all my life I'll feel it.
I wish I've never met you, girl;
You'll Never Come Again.
Feelings, wo-o-o feelings,
Wo-o-o, feel you again in my arms.
Feelings, feelings like I've never lost you
And feelings like i've never have you
Again in my heart.
Feelings, for all my life I'll feel it.
I wish I've never met you, girl;
You'll never come again.
Feelings, feelings like I've never lost you
And feelings like i've never have you
Again in my life.
Feelings, wo-o-o feelings,
Wo-o-o, feelings again in my arms.
@Super69stang
RIP Andy-no more pain and suffering from a terrible disease.Every Saturday night was spent with my parents watching your show in the 60`s.I have always loved your music and you will be missed.No artist today even comes close to your music,you were and always will be a national treasure.Thank you for uploading this video.David USAF RET...........
@FrankMoralee
RIP Andy Williams ... Thank you for those moments when I listened to your music alone in the middle of the night ...
@jeannemeredith8241
So beautiful Andy!
@HEMISUPERBEE426
AMEN !
@marianeeteson6159
❤❤❤
@user-iw6su3oc4g
Какой волшебный голос. Браво.Обвалакивает полностью -этот голос, Энди Ульимс-талантище.
@OLPE2016
Моя самая любимая песня со школьных лет, такой безмятежной и романтической юности, и вот мне 66, а она так и есть моя любимая и неповторимая, Энди Вильямс вечный прекрасно поющий романтик❤
@Persianempire01
I heart this lovely song from dear Andy from Iranian radio when i was i primary school before islamic riot in 1979.Andy is middle of heaven right now so Persian patriots.
@barrie803
One of the worlds GREATEST if not the GREATEST singer in the world. I was lucky to go back stage at Ceasars Palace and meet him after one of his concerts. You are missed. God bless. R.I.P
@HEMISUPERBEE426
AMEN !