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.
Mam
Andy Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was midnight Come to think of it
It was spring
There was music I was listening
Then in the room somewhere someone began to sing
This serenade made for remembering
A small cafe, Mam'selle
The violins were warm and sweet
And so were you, Mam'selle
And as the night danced by
A kiss became a sigh
Your lovely eyes seemed to sparkle
Just like wine does
No heart ever yearned the way mine does for you
And yet I know too well
Some day you'll say goodbye
Then violins will cry
And so will I, Mam'selle
A small cafe, Mam'selle
Our rendezvous, Mam'selle
The violins were warm and sweet
And so were you, Mam'selle
And as the night danced by
A kiss became a sigh
Your lovely eyes seemed to sparkle
Just like wine does
No heart ever yearned the way mine does for you
And yet I know too well
Some day you'll say goodbye
Then violins will cry
And so will I, Mam'selle
The song opens with a reference to Montmartre, which was a popular district of Paris known for its artistic nightlife. The singer sets the scene by describing a specific moment in time: midnight, during spring, when there is music playing. As he listens, someone starts singing what he calls a "serenade made for remembering." The rest of the song reflects back on this moment, describing the singer's meeting with Mam'selle at a small café, where they enjoyed warm and sweet violin music together. They kiss and the singer is completely taken with her, feeling as though his heart has never yearned for anyone the way it does for her.
However, the singer also knows that their time together is limited. He reveals that he anticipates the pain of saying goodbye and the sadness that will follow, where "violins will cry" along with him. The final line of the song underscores the singer's awareness of the fleeting nature of their love affair, even as he cherishes the memory of the night they spent together.
Overall, "Mam'selle" presents a bittersweet reflection on the memories that stay with us long after moments of joy have passed. The scene is set with precision, allowing the listener to vividly picture the moment, while the emotions of the singer are conveyed through his descriptions of the music, his love interest, and his own inner feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
It was Montmartre
The setting was in Montmartre, a hill in Paris known for its artistic culture.
It was midnight
The time of the night was midnight.
Come to think of it
The singer's reminiscence of the experience led them to ponder the memory more deeply.
It was spring
The season was spring, typically known for its rejuvenating and blooming qualities.
There was music I was listening
The artist was listening to music at the time.
Then in the room somewhere someone began to sing
An anonymous individual in the room began to sing a serenade that pervaded the singer's memory.
This serenade made for remembering
The serenade was so memorable that the singer still remembers it fondly.
A small cafe, Mam'selle
The rendezvous took place in a small café.
Our rendezvous, Mam'selle
The moment was a rendezvous between the artist and Mam'selle.
The violins were warm and sweet
The sound of violins permeated the atmosphere, conveying warmth and sweetness.
And so were you, Mam'selle
Mam'selle also exuded warmth and sweetness, making the moment all the more enchanting for the singer.
And as the night danced by
As the night progressed and passed, the music and moment embodied a lively and festive atmosphere.
A kiss became a sigh
The simple kiss between the singer and Mam'selle conveyed deeper emotions and sentiments, making the moment more poignant.
Your lovely eyes seemed to sparkle
Mam'selle's eyes were captivating and sparkled with a unique glow that drew the singer in.
Just like wine does
The sparkles in Mam'selle's eyes were reminiscent of the bubbles in wine, which create a similarly captivating and entrancing effect.
No heart ever yearned the way mine does for you
The artist's heart ached and yearned for Mam'selle more than any other heart before.
And yet I know too well
Despite their intense feelings, the artist is aware of the eventual outcome of their relationship.
Some day you'll say goodbye
Mam'selle will ultimately bid the singer farewell, signifying the end of their romance.
Then violins will cry
The melancholic melody of the violins will echo the sadness and regret felt by the pair at the time of their parting.
And so will I, Mam'selle
The artist will also cry sorrowfully at the anticipated goodbye, filled with regret and longing.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Edmund Goulding, Mack Gordon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind