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 Could Happen to You
Andy Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lock your dreams at night
It could happen to you
Don't count stars
Or you might stumble
Someone dropped a sigh
And down you tumble
Keep an eye on spring
Run when church bells ring
It could happen to you
All I did was wonder
How your arms would be
And it happened to me
It could happen to you
All I did was wonder
How your arms would be
And it happened to me
The lyrics of Andy Williams's song "It Could Happen to You" reflect a sense of caution and vulnerability in matters of the heart. The opening lines, "Hide your heart from sight, lock your dreams at night," suggest that one should guard their emotions and be cautious in revealing their true desires. This can be seen as a way of protecting oneself from potential heartbreak or disappointment.
The line "Don't count stars or you might stumble" advises against getting too caught up in unrealistic fantasies or expectations. By fixating on unattainable ideals, one risks stumbling and losing touch with reality. The mention of someone dropping a sigh symbolizes a moment of longing or yearning, which can unexpectedly lead to a fall or emotional turmoil.
The lyrics continue with the advice to "keep an eye on spring" and to "run when church bells ring." These lines imply the need to be alert to the signs and signals of romance. Spring is traditionally associated with new beginnings and blossoming love, while the ringing of church bells often signifies weddings or the start of a committed relationship. These lines caution the listener to be ready to seize opportunities for love when they come along.
The final lines of the song emphasize the unexpected nature of love. The phrase "All I did was wonder, how your arms would be" expresses curiosity and longing, while the repetition of "And it happened to me" conveys the surprise and wonder of falling in love. The lyrics suggest that despite all precautions taken, love can still find its way into our lives unexpectedly.
Overall, "It Could Happen to You" serves as a reminder that love is unpredictable and can happen to anyone. It encourages the listener to be cautious yet open to the possibility of love, highlighting the importance of staying attuned to the signs and opportunities that may arise in unexpected moments.
Line by Line Meaning
Hide your heart from sight
Conceal your emotions and vulnerabilities from others
Lock your dreams at night
Protect your aspirations and ambitions from potential threats
It could happen to you
Adversity or unexpected circumstances can affect anyone
Don't count stars
Avoid getting overly preoccupied with trivial matters or distractions
Or you might stumble
Otherwise, you may encounter obstacles or setbacks
Someone dropped a sigh
A person expressed their disappointment or sadness
And down you tumble
Consequently, you may experience a downward spiral or downfall
Keep an eye on spring
Stay attentive and aware of new beginnings or opportunities
Run when church bells ring
Seize the chance for positive changes or fortunate events
All I did was wonder
I simply pondered or imagined
How your arms would be
What it would feel like to be embraced by your affectionate presence
And it happened to me
Surprisingly, my longing became a reality
It could happen to you
Just as it occurred for me, it could also transpire for you
All I did was wonder
Again, I merely contemplated or daydreamed
How your arms would be
The sensation of your loving embrace occupied my thoughts
And it happened to me
In an unexpected turn of events, my desires were fulfilled
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES VAN HEUSEN, JOHNNY BURKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Barbara Sheridan
A brilliant entertainer