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.
Try to Remember
Andy Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When life was slow and oh, so mellow
Try to remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain was yellow
Try to remember the kind of September
When you were a tender and callow fellow
Try to remember and if you remember then follow (follow)
Try to remember when life was so tender
That no one wept except the willow
Try to remember when life was so tender
That dreams were kept beside your pillow
Deep in December, it's nice to remember
The fire of September that made us mellow
Try to remember and if you remember then follow (follow)
Follow (follow)
Follow (follow)
The song "Try to Remember" by Andy Williams is a pure depiction of nostalgic memories that transcends time, place and age. It's a song that calls on listeners to take a trip down memory lane to recall those beautiful moments that have made a lasting impact on their lives. The lyrics in the song are centered around the idea of September as the month of beauty and serenity, a time when everything seems to slow down and life becomes mellow.
The beginning of the song captures the essence of September, describing the month as a time when life was slow and mellow, and the colors of nature were in harmony with each other. It takes the listener back to those days when they were young and innocent, and life was not fraught with the weight of the world. The chorus of the song reinforces the idea of reminiscing and remembering those memories that have shaped who we are.
The second verse of the song is not just about memories but is also a tribute to the power of dreams. It tells us that life was so tender that dreams were kept beside our pillow, reminding us of the simple things that can bring immense joy and contentment. The bridge of the song "Deep in December, it's nice to remember" brings us back to reality and tells us that it takes us back to a time that is long gone. It reminds us that no matter how old we are and how much the world changes, it's always nice to remember those special memories.
Line by Line Meaning
Try to remember the kind of September
Let's recall the unique nature of September
When life was slow and oh, so mellow
Time moved at an easy pace and life was peaceful
When grass was green and grain was yellow
This season was characterized by lush greenery and ripe crops
When you were a tender and callow fellow
During this time, you were innocent and inexperienced
Try to remember and if you remember then follow (follow)
Recalling this time and its values could help guide us in the present
Try to remember when life was so tender
Let's relive the moments when life was gentle
That no one wept except the willow
There was no need for sorrow, except in nature
That dreams were kept beside your pillow
Hopes and aspirations seemed easily attainable
Deep in December, it's nice to remember
Even in the depths of winter, September's memory can bring warmth
The fire of September that made us mellow
The warmth and passion that characterized September led to contentment
Follow (follow)
The memory of September can guide our actions moving forward
Follow (follow)
We should continue to be guided by these memories and values
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Actual Music, S.L., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARVEY SCHMIDT, TOM JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Eighties Child
Andy Williams possessed arguably the purest singing voice of any male vocalist who ever lived. Dang. Even his falsetto was as smooth as butter! Simply magnificent. Tragically, music will never be this good (or wholesome/classy) again.
George Kitchen
@Ray Gray You're free to have your opinion, but to state it as being better "by a mile", reduces your credibility. They are both amazing takes on the song. No need to compare.
Ray Gray
That honour goes to Perry Como. You should hear his version of this beautiful song. Better than Andy Williams by a mile.
Mister Roper's Smile
"Try to remember when life was tender that no one wept except the willows." What a gorgeous line!
Lana H
Most definitely 💕
Gregory Clancey
This ranks among the best versions of this classic song.
Rose Barton
Yes
Rose Barton
So sad
todos miros
this is the closest to "salow and tender" that I can find. I am thinking of covering this, but I cant find a slow drag version. every version has a swing. A march. the singers unlimited is the other version.
Cindy Salt
Beautiful song I love it. Thankyou mr. Williams.❤️💙💛