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.
Surrey With the Fringe on Top
Andy Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I take you out in the surrey
When I take you out in the surrey with the fringe on top.
Watch the fringe and see how it flutters
I will ride those high steppin strutters
Noswey pokes will peek through their shutters
And their eyes will pop!
The wheels are yeller the upholsters brown
The dash board's genuine leather
With in-sin glass curtains you can roll right down
In case there's a change in the weather
Two bright side lights winkin' and blinkin'
Ain't no fingering what I'm thinkin'
You'd be fingering if your thinkin' that I'd care to swap
For the shiny little surrey with the fringe on top.
The song "Surrey With the Fringe On Top" presents the image of a horse-drawn carriage ride in the countryside. It describes a scene of nature's beauty and romantic intimacy: "Chicks and geese and ducks better scurry / When I take you out in the surrey / When I take you out in the surrey with the fringe on top." The driver not only wants to impress his date with the beauty of the horse and carriage, but also with the car itself: "Watch the fringe and see how it flutters / I will ride those high steppin strutters / Noswey pokes will peek through their shutters / And their eyes will pop!"
The lyrics also describe the specific features of the carriage, emphasizing the luxurious details that add to the romantic atmosphere: "The wheels are yeller the upholsters brown / The dash board's genuine leather / With in-sin glass curtains you can roll right down / In case there's a change in the weather." The image of the surrey with its bright yellow wheels, warm brown upholstery, and clear glass curtains create a feeling of old-fashioned elegance and charm. The song suggests that riding in the carriage with the person you love is a magical experience that will never be forgotten: "Two bright side lights winkin' and blinkin' / Ain't no fingering what I'm thinkin' / You'd be fingering if your thinkin' that I'd care to swap / For the shiny little surrey with the fringe on top."
Line by Line Meaning
Chicks and geese and ducks better scurry
When we ride in the surrey, animals will have to make way for us
When I take you out in the surrey
When I take you out on a ride in the carriage
When I take you out in the surrey with the fringe on top
When I take you out in the carriage with the decorative fringe on top
Watch the fringe and see how it flutters
Observe the fringe and see it move with the wind
I will ride those high steppin strutters
I will drive the horses that are trained to walk with high steps
Noswey pokes will peek through their shutters
People will stop and watch us go by through their windows
And their eyes will pop!
And they'll be surprised and maybe even astonished
The wheels are yeller the upholsters brown
The carriage has yellow wheels and brown seats
The dash board's genuine leather
The dashboard is made of high quality leather
With in-sin glass curtains you can roll right down
There are special glass curtains that you can roll down in case the weather changes
In case there's a change in the weather
In case the weather changes
Two bright side lights winkin' and blinkin'
There are two bright side lights that flash on and off
Ain't no fingering what I'm thinkin'
There's no guessing what I'm thinking about
You'd be fingering if your thinkin' that I'd care to swap
You'd be mistaken if you thought I'd be willing to trade my carriage
For the shiny little surrey with the fringe on top.
For another carriage that isn't as special as mine
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LoveTheOConnor
JIM!!!!! LOVE this!! Fabulous version by Andy! Love the pictures and clips you used, and I love that you matched the words and the clips so perfectly!! Andy and Gordon...what a combination!! Seeing Gordon in that orange shirt, with his hat tipped back, makes me swoon! *collapse* Thanks so much, my friend, you really made my day! :))
@anthonynavarro6074
Andy Williams is a treasure.
@Jymster46
Ha! I sure hope you are alright, Heather! Funny, that is the affect Ms. Jones had on me while making the video! When I first saw this movie back in the 50's, I think I dremped about her for a week! What a Cutie!! Thank you so much for your super comments and...of course...for the "Bravo"! Now, just sit in front of a fan for a few minutes and I'm sure you'll be just fine. Ha! Jim
@Jymster46
You are very welcome! Ha! I tried to match their words as best I could but the tempo was just a little different. Never the less it was fun trying. Thanks so much for watching it and for leaving such a nice comment! Oh yes, the Lovely Ms. Jones! "Mercy"...is Right! Jim
@LoveTheOConnor
I was so busy swooning, I forgot to add a huge BRAVO!!! :))
@LoveTheOConnor
Ha!! I may be a little bruised, but it's worth it! I kind of thought she might have the same effect on you! Thanks again for this fabulous video *fanning myself furiously* :))