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.
Younger Than Springtime
Andy Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Softer than starlight are you
Warmer than winds of June
Are the gentle lips you gave me
Gayer than laughter are you
Sweeter than music are you
Sunlight and moon beans
Are you to give me
And when your youth and joy
Invade my soul
And fill my heart
As now they do, then
Younger than springtime am I
Gayer than laughter am I
Sunlight and moon beans
Heaven and earth
Am I with you
The lyrics to Andy Williams's song "Younger Than Springtime" is a love song that vividly describes the singer's lover. The first stanza reveals the sheer beauty of the lover, portraying the lover as being "younger than springtime." This is a metaphor that evokes the imagery of something fresh and new, something that is just starting out, like the beginning of spring. The second line of the same stanza continues with the metaphor, describing the lover as "softer than starlight." This imagery creates a sense of delicacy and vulnerability, as starlight is fragile and transient. The third line in the first stanza further expresses the tenderness of the lover's affection comparing it to the gentle winds of June, which is also a metaphor for softness and sweetness. Finally, the singer emphasizes the beauty of the kisses given by that gentle lover.
The second stanza continues to describe the beauty of the lover, portraying the lover as "gayer than laughter." The use of the word "gayer" here doesn't hold the same meaning as how the word is commonly used in modern English. Here, it speaks to the lover's merriment and joy. The second line of the second stanza describes the lover's sweetness as being superior to music. The third line speaks to the cosmic significance of the lover's presence in the singer's life; he or she is described as sunlight, moonbeams, heaven, and earth. The fourth line finally declares the strength and effect of their love, as it has invaded the singer's soul, filling their heart with joy and youth.
In the final stanza, the singer now describes himself as "younger than springtime." This time, the tone of the expression is not an admiration for the lover's beauty but a reflection of how the love he has for the love has rejuvenated him, making him young and full of life. The second line of the stanza also speaks to the joy that this love has brought to the singer, describing him as gayer than laughter, just like in the second stanza. The third and fourth lines are the same as the third and fourth lines of the second stanza, describing the significance of the lover to the singer's life as being similar to heaven, earth, sunlight, and moonbeams.
Line by Line Meaning
Younger than springtime are you
You are younger than the season of new beginning.
Softer than starlight are you
You have a gentle and soothing presence like the light of stars.
Warmer than winds of June
You have an overpowering warmth in your personality as that of the heated June winds.
Are the gentle lips you gave me
Your soft lips when they touched mine were so gentle that I felt like I am walking on air.
Gayer than laughter are you
Your happy nature is akin to the contagious laughter that makes everyone feel joyous.
Sweeter than music are you
You are enchanting like sweet music that melts like honey on the tongue.
Sunlight and moon beans
You symbolize the positive vibes of both day and night.
Heaven and earth
You are everything to me that completes my universe and creates my heaven.
Are you to give me
You fulfill me completely and make my life complete.
And when your youth and joy
The happiness and liveliness you bring in my life.
Invade my soul
My soul receives your youthful glow of joy and hope that penetrates my innermost being.
And fill my heart
Your overflowing joy fills the empty spaces of my heart and makes me complete.
As now they do, then
Currently, you bring joy and vibrancy to my life and will continue to do so in the future.
Younger than springtime am I
I feel young, happy, and rejuvenated because of your presence.
Gayer than laughter am I
Your high spirits and contagious laughter add a new level of joy to my life that I have never felt before.
Sunlight and moon beans
I too can bring the bright sunlight and peaceful moonlight in your life.
Heaven and earth
I want to be your everything and complete your life in every way possible.
Am I with you
I feel alive, complete and happy only with you by my side.
Lyrics © IMAGEM MUSIC INC
Written by: RICHARD RODGERS HAMMERSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LoveTheOConnor
Bravo, Jim!! What a gorgeous version of this song--exactly what I'd expect from Andy. Your beautiful backgrounds, scenes and clips from the movie are perfect, as always! Thanks so much for sharing this stunning video, my friend--you made my day :))
Gary Hinkle
Andy Williams, Had One Of Those Rare Voices That Comes Along Once In A Generation. If We Are All Lucky ? Beautiful🎵
nipstertunes
Your kind words made my day, Heather! I watched the movie recently and got inspired to post Mr. Williams version. I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for watching it and...of course...for the "Bravo"! Jim
James Martin
I loved this...thanks for posting...
nipstertunes
Thank you Rosanna for watching, listening and commenting on my videos. It is very much appreciated! Jim
nipstertunes
You are very welcome! I am so happy you liked it. Thank you for watching it and for leaving a very nice comment! Jim
nipstertunes
Thank you so much for watching it! Jim