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.
Pieces Of April
Andy Williams Lyrics
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And the feeling that we both shared and the love that we called ours
We had no time for sadness, that's a road we each had crossed
We were living a time meant for us, and even when it would rain
we would laugh it off.
I've got pieces of April, I keep them in a memory bouquet
I've got pieces of April, but it's a morning in May
We stood on the crest of summer, beneath an oak that blossemed green
Feeling as I did in April, not really knowing what it means
But it must be then that you stand beside me now to make me feel this way
Just as I did in April, but it's a morning in May.
I've got pieces of April, I keep them in a memory bouquet
I've got pieces of April, but it's a morning in May
In Andy Williams's song "Pieces Of April," the lyrics describe how the month of April held significant meaning for the two lovers. The month was symbolic to them because it gave them the promise of springtime and the feeling of the flowers blooming. They shared a special love that made them happy, and they had no time for sadness. Even when it would rain, they laughed it off. However, as time passed by, the lovers' relationship changed and came to an end. The singer now has only memories of their love, and he cherishes these pieces of April that he keeps in a memory bouquet. While it's now the month of May, he still feels the same way he did in April when he was with his lover.
The song "Pieces Of April" is a bittersweet reflection of a failed relationship. The lyrics employ the use of symbolism to paint a nostalgic picture of what once was. April stands for the promise of a new beginning, while May represents the reality of things. The lyrics also showcase the theme of holding on to memories, which is evident in the line, "I've got pieces of April, I keep them in a memory bouquet." The song's composition is soft and gentle, perfectly matching the melancholic mood of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
April gave us springtime and the promise of the flowers
April brought us a season of rebirth and new beginnings, with the assurance of colorful blooms to come.
And the feeling that we both shared and the love that we called ours
We both experienced the same emotions and shared a love that belonged exclusively to us.
We had no time for sadness, that's a road we each had crossed
We had overcome past sadness and chose to live in the present without dwelling in sorrow.
We were living a time meant for us, and even when it would rain we would laugh it off.
We were enjoying a period of our lives that was meant for us, and even when obstacles arose, we faced them with a lighthearted attitude.
I've got pieces of April, I keep them in a memory bouquet
I still carry some of the memories from that April with me, like flowers in a bouquet.
I've got pieces of April, but it's a morning in May
Although it's now May, I still have some fragments of the April memories that linger.
We stood on the crest of summer, beneath an oak that bloomed green
We were at the high point of summertime, standing under a fully-blossomed green oak tree.
Feeling as I did in April, not really knowing what it means
I experienced similar emotions during this summer moment as I did in April, without completely comprehending their significance.
But it must be then that you stand beside me now to make me feel this way
It's possible that you were by my side during that summer moment and your presence is what makes me feel this way now.
Just as I did in April, but it's a morning in May.
I feel the same way now as I did in April, but time has moved on and we find ourselves in May.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID LOGGINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind