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.
Music From Across The Way
Andy Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In days that are no more.
I used to love to run with her
Along the sandy shore.
She had a special prayer for me
To help my world go right.
Her hand was always there for me
The coldest winter night.
[Chorus]
I hear the music from across the way,
Across the bridges of my mind.
I lift the misty shades of yesterday
To catch the dreams I left behind.
It was a joy to be with her,
To watch the way she smiled.
I guess I just felt free with her,
So free and young and wild.
I really came to love that girl;
How much she'll never know.
I need the nearness of that girl;
I really miss her so.
[Chorus]
(Repeat)
I hear the music from across the way,
Across the bridges of my mind.
I lift the misty shades of yesterday
To catch the dreams I left behind.
In the song "Music From Across The Way" by Andy Williams, he sings about a woman that he used to spend time with and share beautiful moments while enjoying the golden sun, running along the sandy shore, and lifting misty shades of yesterday to catch the dreams he left behind. Andy remembers how special she was and how she would pray for him to help his world go right. To him, being with her was a joy, and being around her made him feel young and free. He came to really love her, but he knows that she'll never truly know the extent of his feelings for her. Even after all this time, he still misses her dearly and hears the music from across the way, a reminder of the beautiful memories he shared with her.
The lyrics of "Music From Across The Way" clearly evoke memories of a past love that still lingers in the mind of the singer. The song's wistful theme resonates with many people who have loved and lost, but still cherish the memories of their past relationship. The imagery of the golden sun and sandy shore is a classic reminder of warm, carefree days, and the mention of misty shades perfectly sums up the way memories can often be foggy, unclear, and difficult to see through. The chorus paints a picture of the music of the past wafting across the bridges of the mind, evoking dreams of a time that has passed but can be relived through our memories.
Line by Line Meaning
I shared the golden sun with her,
I used to spend sunny days with her.
In days that are no more.
Those days are gone now.
I used to love to run with her
I enjoyed running with her.
Along the sandy shore.
On the beach.
She had a special prayer for me
She wished for my well-being.
To help my world go right.
To make everything in my life go smoothly.
Her hand was always there for me
She was always there to support me.
The coldest winter night.
On even the coldest nights.
Chorus
The chorus repeats throughout the song.
I hear the music from across the way,
I hear music in the distance.
Across the bridges of my mind.
In my memories.
I lift the misty shades of yesterday
I recall events from the past.
To catch the dreams I left behind.
To remember my old aspirations.
It was a joy to be with her,
I was happy when I was around her.
To watch the way she smiled.
I loved seeing her smile.
I guess I just felt free with her,
I felt liberated when I was with her.
So free and young and wild.
I felt carefree, youthful, and adventurous.
I really came to love that girl;
I developed strong feelings for her.
How much she'll never know.
She is unaware of the depth of my feelings.
I need the nearness of that girl;
I long to be close to her.
I really miss her so.
I feel sad and nostalgic without her.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CARL SIGMAN, HANS BRADTKE, JAMES LAST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pacito Dangazo
What a beautiful song by a great singer, Andy Williams !
patrick ryan
I imagine this is not an easy song to deliver, but boy does Andy deliver it. Great recording and a wonder it wasn't one of his major hits.
Rene Sedonio
The song of my boyhood at 9 !!! Really heard this from across the way of our school, so so hauntingly sweet that drowning isn't appropriate than engulfing my being always flirting with eternity !!! Whew !!! Love this so so so MUCH !!!🙏❤️❤️❤️😇🙏😍🥰👏☺️😂🤣😂😮🎼😯🎶😀🎵👍
Sharon Law
I will never forget Andy Williams what a beautiful voice, love you Andy rest easy beautiful talented gentleman❤
IRENEO GALDONES
I am now 72 and I loved this song since I was in my teens. The melody and the song delivery is fantastic that carries my emotions everytime I listen to it.
d.e.r
Same with my gramps hes now 73
Lem Medina
Beautiful song
Nove Ribo
I heard this song when I was a child,Now Im senior citizen the second time l hear the song.Thanks so much the uploader.very nice to hear,l play this 100 times everyday.
Rene Sedonio
Hauntingly sweet, suspends time with every beat, my childhood flash back, for time back then and now is here! Hmm...eternity!!!
Dane Embile
Good God ! One of the sweetest voice I ever heard and it comes from Andy Williams with it's awesome son g,."Music Across the Way".