Jack Goldstein - 101 Amazing Andy Williams Facts

Title Page

101 AMAZING ANDY WILLIAMS FACTS

by

Jack Goldstein

Publisher Information

Published in 2012 by

Andrews UK Limited

www.andrewsuk.com

The right of Jack Goldstein to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1998

Copyright 2012 Jack Goldstein

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Any person who does so may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Disclaimer: All facts presented in this title were gained from common and reputable sources in print and on the internet. If any detail within this title is found to be incorrect, the author will be happy to publish a corrected version.

Introduction

Are you a fan of the king of Easy listening (and Mr Christmas) Andy Williams? Do you know everything there is to know about the late, great singer? Then this is the book for you! In this easy-to-digest eBook are 101 facts about your favourite artist - do you know all of them?

Test yourself and your friends with these handily-packaged facts easily organised into categories for maximum enjoyment. Sections include his early life, his music, his theater and much more.

Biographical

1. Andy was born on the 3 rd December 1927.
2. His full name was Howard Andrew Williams.
3. He was born in the city of Wall Lake, Iowa.
4. Andy moved to California in his teens.
5. He went to University High School is Los Angeles.
6. Andy was five foot six inches tall.
7. His official website is at www.andywilliamstheater. com
8. Andy married Claudine Longet in 1961, but divorced her in 1975.
9. He later married again - to Debbie Meyer in 1991.
10. Andy sadly died on the 25 th September 2012.

Singing Career - Part 1

1. Andy first started singing in a local church choir.
2. When he was just 11, he and his brothers formed a singing group.
3. They were known as The Williams Brothers.
4. The boys were so good that radio stations started playing their performances.
5. Well-known star Bing Crosby liked them so much that he recorded a song with them.
6. It was called Swinging on a Star and was released in 1944.
7. The boys also featured in four films - Janie , Kansas City Kitty, Something in the Wind and Ladies Man .
8. They went on to perform in nightclubs for four years.
9. The performed alongside popular singer of the time Kay Thompson.
10. The Williams Brothers disbanded in 1951.

10 Amazing Recordings

If you like Andy Williamss music, make sure you listen to the following recordings:

1. Wives and Lovers
2. I Think I Love You
3. Its The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
4. The Impossible Dream
5. Love Story
6. Cant Get Used to Losing You
7. Music to Watch Girls By
8. Love Theme from The Godfather
9. Cant Take My Eyes Off You
10. Moon River

Singing Career - Part 2

1. Andy began his solo singing career in 1953.
2. He signed to RCA Records, and recorded a total of six songs.
3. None of them did well though!
4. In 1954 Andy became a regular on entertainment show Tonight Starring Steve Allen .
5. He then signed to Archie Bleyers label Cadence Records.
6. He released a number of songs on this label, including his only ever American number one: Butterfly.
7. In the 1960s, Andy signed to Columbia records.
8. In 1962 he performed the Henry Mancini song Moon River at the Oscars.
9. Amazingly - and despite it becoming Andys theme song - it was never released as a single.
10. The song itself won an Oscar that year.

Friends and Family

1. Andys father was called Jay Emerson Williams.
2. And his mother was called Florence Williams.
3. Andy was the youngest of four children.
4. They were all boys.
5. His brothers were called Don, Bob and Dick Williams.
6. Andy was a close friend of Robert F Kennedy.
7. In 1968 he actually campaigned for him in the presidential primaries.
8. Andy was with Robert when he was shot dead in 1968.
9. He sang Battle Hymn of the Republic at the politicians funeral.
10. And in his memory named his own son Bobby.

Singing Career - Part 3

1. In 1970, Caesars Palace - probably the best known casino in the world - opened its doors. Andy starred in the featured production of Rome Swings .
2. This began a twenty-year stint of Andy headlining for the casino.
3. Andy released a total of eight Christmas albums!
4. This led to him being known as Mr Christmas.
5. His song Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year was featured on each of the eight albums.
6. Andy sang the national anthem at the 1973 Super Bowl.
7. Andy released 12 albums during the 1970s.
8. And 3 in the 1980s.
9. He even released another three albums in the 1990s, and a final one in 2007.
10. This final album was a collection of thirteen songs he had always wanted to record. It was called I Dont Remember Ever Growing Up.

TV

1. Andy was given his own show in 1962.
2. It was called The Andy Williams Show.
3. The show won a total of three Emmy awards.
4. Amongst other acts featured on the show were family music group The Osmonds.
5. He retired the show at the peak of its success in 1971.
6. However, he continued to perform on TV in a series of specials.
7. His Christmas shows continued into the 1990s and were a firm family favourite.
8. In 1972, Andy featured in an episode of The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.
9. His music has featured in more than 50 TV shows and films.
10. Andy performed on Later With Jools Holland in 2009.

His Theater

1. After visiting Ray Stevenss theater in Missouri, Andy started to build his own theater.
2. It was - and still is - called the Moon River Theater.
3. It opened on the 1 st of May 1992.
4. Originally Andy wanted the theater to be made of dazzling marble.
5. However, he had a change of heart and designed it to blend in with its surroundings.
6. The theater can seat 2054 people.
7. The whole building is luxuriously furnished, and features many fantastic pieces of art...
8. ...including a display of nineteen Japanese Kimonos.
9. The theater featured in the TV soap As The World Turns , when a number of characters go to a show there.
10. It has also been in an episode of The Simpsons - with Andy himself singing!

Singing Career - Part 4

1. In 1999, Andys music had a revival when Music To Watch Girls By was used in a Fiat Punto advert in the UK.
2. The single was reissued, and reached number 9 in the charts.
3. This was higher than the original had reached - number 33!
4. On the back of this, Andy conducted a UK tour.
5. It began a UK-wide easy listening revival.
6. Andy recorded a duet of Cant Take My Eyes off of You with Denise Van Outen
7. It reached number 23 in the charts.
8. Andy toured again in 2007 - and sold out every venue.
9. In 2009, at the age of 81, Andy performed live on Strictly Come Dancing.
10. He sang - of course - Moon River .

Trivia

1. Andys performance of Happy Heart is played in the ending scene of Shallow Grave.
2. He had first performed it on Petula Clarks NBC special.
3. This was despite the fact that she was releasing her own version of it!
4. Andy defended the right of John Lennon to stay in America when President Nixons government tried to deport him.