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.
It's a Most Unusual Day
Andy Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feel like throwing my worries away
As an old native-born Californian would say
It's a most unusual day
There's a most unusual sky
Not a sign of a cloud passing by
And if I want to sing, throw my heart in the ring
It's a most unusual day
There is sunshine everywhere
There are people greeting people
And a feeling of Spring in the air
It's a most unusual time
I keep feeling my temperature climb
If my heart won't behave in the usual way
Well, there's only one thing to say
It's a most unusual day
There are people meeting people
There is sunshine everywhere
There are people greeting people
And a feeling of Spring in the air
I keep feeling my temperature climb, climb, climb, climb, climb, climb, climb
Till there is only one thing to say
It's a most, most, most, most, most unusual, most unusual
Most unusual da-ay-ay
Most unusual da-ay
The song "It's a Most Unusual Day" by Andy Williams talks about a day that feels different from any other ordinary day. The lyrics tell the listener about the feeling of wanting to throw worries away and enjoy the sunshine and blue sky. The singer suggests that it's a good day to sing and express oneself. The lyrics use California as an example of how such a day is uncommon. The chorus repeats that it is a most unusual day, and the lyrics describe people meeting and greeting each other and the feeling of Spring in the air.
The song's upbeat tune and the lyrics have a very positive and cheerful feeling. Williams seems to be capturing the sense of optimism and excitement that come with new events and opportunities. The song reminds us to appreciate the little things in life and to make the most out of every day. It's a great reminder that we shouldn't take the simple joys of life for granted.
Interestingly, the song was originally written in 1948 for a film titled "A Date with Judy," and it was performed by Jane Powell. The composer was Richard Rodgers, who is one of the most popular composers in Broadway history. The song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1949.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a most unusual day
Today is different than other days
Feel like throwing my worries away
I feel carefree
As an old native-born Californian would say
This is a rare occurrence
There's a most unusual sky
The sky looks strange
Not a sign of a cloud passing by
There are no clouds in the sky
And if I want to sing, throw my heart in the ring
I am free to express myself
It's a most unusual day
Today is different than other days
There are people meeting people
People are socializing
There is sunshine everywhere
The weather is great
There are people greeting people
People are friendly
And a feeling of Spring in the air
Spring is in the air
It's a most unusual time
This is a rare occurrence
I keep feeling my temperature climb
I am getting excited
If my heart won't behave in the usual way
I am feeling different emotions
Well, there's only one thing to say
I can only say one thing
It's a most unusual day
Today is different than other days
There are people meeting people
People are socializing
There is sunshine everywhere
The weather is great
There are people greeting people
People are friendly
And a feeling of Spring in the air
Spring is in the air
I keep feeling my temperature climb, climb, climb, climb, climb, climb, climb
I am getting more and more excited
Till there is only one thing to say
I can only express one thing
It's a most, most, most, most, most unusual, most unusual
Today is really unusual
Most unusual da-ay-ay
Today is a most unusual day
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O CAPASSO
Written by: Harold Adamson, Jimmy McHugh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Blake Gildaphish
i have this record. it's freakin incredible! Andy's voice is full of enchantment and wonder!
Vlad Sicoe
This one sounds a lot like "It's the most wonderful time of the year!". Even the orchestration sounds similar. I love them both!
James Miller
Damn, Andy could swing when he wanted to...and this jazzy Big Band arrangement of this wonderful melody proves it...Andy and the band end with a whale...this is the best cut from a great album...joyous and fun...and man it swings...Thanks for posting!
tricky dick
Best version on the tube, even better than Caterina Valente's. Bravo.
Jason Kaiser
I'm partial to the Margaret Whiting rendition.
Eisen J Eisen
beautiful song
Rudolf Hanzelik
It's the most wonderful time of the year.
OperationFatGuy
I'm assuming both songs were recorded on the same day and recording studio
VGamerul
Ty Eurosport ads for making me discover this masterpiece 👏
Antonio G Huertas
Is it just me or does he sound a bit like Frank Sinatra Jr.?