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.
Sunshine On My Shoulders
Andy Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
If I had a day that I could give you
I'd give to you a day just like today
If I had a song that I could sing for you
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
If I had a tale that I could tell you
I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I'd make a wish for sunshine all the while
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
Sunshine almost all the time makes me high
Sunshine almost always
makes me high
The lyrics to Andy Williams's "Sunshine On My Shoulders" is all about the effect of sunshine on the human soul. It makes the artist feel happy, and he sings that if he could, he would give that same feeling to someone else. However, he also acknowledges that sunshine can make him cry, possibly due to the memories it evokes or the emotions it stirs up. He then goes on to describe the beauty of sunshine reflecting off water, an image that is both tranquil and stunning. The song ends by reiterating how sunshine has the power to make us all feel elevated and high.
The lyrics are an ode to the uplifting power of sunshine. The song reminds us that the sun, despite being a life-sustaining force, has the power to affect our emotions in profound ways. The song's message is that no matter how down we feel, we can always look to the sun as a source of inspiration and joy.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Feeling the warmth of the sun on my shoulders brings a sense of joy and happiness.
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Although eyes are sensitive to bright light, the beauty of the sun can evoke strong emotions and tears of happiness.
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
The reflection of the sun on the water creates a mesmerizing and picturesque view.
Sunshine almost always makes me high
The positive energy and mood the sun brings can create a feeling of euphoria and excitement.
If I had a day that I could give you
If I had the power to create a perfect day for someone, it would be just like today with beautiful sunshine.
I'd give to you a day just like today
I want to share the happiness and joy I feel from the sun with someone else by giving them a day filled with sunshine.
If I had a song that I could sing for you
If I could sing a song that could convey the feeling of happiness and joy the sun brings, I would.
I'd sing a song to make you feel this way
I would use music to try and share the same happiness and joy that the sun brings to me, with you.
If I had a tale that I could tell you
If I could share a story with you that could bring a smile to your face, I would.
I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile
I would use storytelling to try and share the same positive emotions that the sun brings, with you.
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
If I could grant you any wish, it would be for you to always have sunshine and the happiness and positivity that comes with it.
I'd make a wish for sunshine all the while
My wish for you would be to always have sunshine and the same positive energy and mood it brings.
Sunshine almost all the time makes me high
Feeling the warmth and seeing the beauty of the sun almost every day can create a consistent feeling of euphoria and excitement.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Denver, Michael C Taylor, Richard L Dick Kniss
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
nipstertunes
So glad you liked it, Rosanna! Thank you so much for listening! Jim
nipstertunes
Thank you so much, Heather. I think he is feeling the heavenly sunshine on his shoulders right now. It is a beautiful version of a great song, I think...and I am so glad you liked it. Jim
LoveTheOConnor
Gorgeous video, Jim! It never fails--no matter how many singers cover a particular song, Andy's version is always my favorite. Thanks so much for sharing this...your backgrounds and pictures are wonderful as always.
Ruben Aceja Uy
inimitable!!! Thanks for this wonderful piece you sharre with us.
nipstertunes
+Ruben Aceja Uy You are very welcome. Thank you so much for watching and commenting!
Jim
nipstertunes
You are very welcome. He has given me many hours of special musical moments over the years and I am so thankful for that. Thank you so much for listening to this one. Jim
mihail jurkovic
beautiful version
nipstertunes
@mihail jurkovic I thought it was too. Thank you so much for listening!
Jim
Rennzzo S
I never liked this song as a child--until I heard Andy's version when I was 12. Wow, my head was absolutely up in the clouds as I listened to it again after 41 years. I can't believe so much time has passed. Thank you for posting.
nipstertunes
You are very welcome. I'm so glad you found it here on YT. I love it too.
Jim