In Memoriam: Andy Williams (1927-2012)
It’s tempting to say “they don’t make ’em like they used to,” but truth to tell, they never made ’em quite like Andy Williams. Howard Andrew Williams, the favorite son of Wall Lake, Iowa, died yesterday at the age of 84, having valiantly fought bladder cancer. But Williams leaves behind a rich and reassuring legacy of music and entertainment that recalls a gentler time in American life, of huckleberry friends and caroling out in the snow.
If any popular singer defined Christmas in the 1960s, it was Andy Williams, whose style blended the intimacy of Bing Crosby and the relaxation of Perry Como with a soaring tenor that was all his own. 1963’s The Andy Williams Christmas Album began a close association with the holiday music genre for Williams, who recorded a string of perennial Christmas albums and extended his presence to television sets. His annual Christmas specials became a tradition, with the sweater-clad, blue-eyed vocalist warmly welcoming viewers for an evening of homespun entertainment dedicated to “the most wonderful time of the year.” His variety show ran from 1959 through 1971 (taking a break in 1968), introducing viewers to the Osmonds (not to mention the Cookie Bear!) as well as to Williams’ favorite music. His impeccable vocals were often shared with his guests. Williams deftly blended with the likes of Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Judy Garland and Sammy Davis, Jr., but also with The Association, Simon and Garfunkel, and Peter, Paul and Mary. Williams wasn’t primarily known for his performances of standards, though he brought polish and confidence to those songs. He embraced many of the day’s most successful songwriters and performers both on his TV show and on his Columbia Records albums, and was an outspoken defender of John Lennon when the U.S. government sought to deport the Beatle in the 1970s.
Williams, always true to his convictions, was an also an entrepreneur. He purchased the catalogue of his original label, Cadence, and ran the Barnaby label which scored hits for Ray Stevens and first signed the young Jimmy Buffett. His accomplishments were many; Williams opened Caesars Palace in 1966, and was once signed to Columbia for what was then the biggest recording contract in history. He scored three platinum records and eighteen gold ones, and popularized not only “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” but “Can’t Get Used to Losing You,” “Music to Watch Girls By,” “Happy Heart,” “Love Story (Where Do I Begin),” “Speak Softly Love,” and of course, Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer’s immortal “Moon River.” His delicious, lounge-style 1970s reworkings of pop hits led to a surge in popularity in the 1990s and particularly in the U.K., where a greatest hits album reached the Top 10 as recently as 2009.
Every year, Andy Williams’ holiday recordings reappear on radio in November and December, ready to hook a new generation on the man and his music. Look deeper in his catalogue, though, and you’ll be richly rewarded, whether you find his stirring “Battle Hymn of the Republic” released in tribute to his dear friend Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.; his sunshine-pop duet “Small Talk” with then-wife Claudine Longet; or his truly groovy take on the Jackson 5’s “Never Can Say Goodbye.” Hearts have long been happier for the time we’ve known Andy Williams. Thanks, Andy, for always reminding us, with uniquely American optimism and spirit, that we all can strive to reach what’s waiting for us at that same rainbow’s end.
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The Beach Boys also appeared on Andy’s variety show.
R.I.P. Andy.
Bam! Second encore!
RIP Andy.
RIP Indeed. A real legend. He will be missed but will live on
every Christmas in my house. His red and green Christmas albums are an annual tradition.
Joe – An excellent post !!
I loved Andy’s Christmas music — his red and green albums, his religious album “Christmas Present”, and especially the Christmas album he did with his brothers — you just can’t beat their versions of “The Holiday Season” and “Kay Thompson’s Jingle Bells” !!
Plus his covers of 60’s and 70’s hits were great – his take on songs like “I Think I Love You”, “Candida”, “My Sweet Lord”, “Spooky”, Harry Nilsson’s “Without You”, etc. were all excellent !
RIP Andy….thank God we still have the music and the video of his old shows. I will always cherish the copies of his annual Christmas shows/specials that I have managed to collect on VHS and DVD.
Thanks, Rich. Well said. It’s all too easy to view those sixties/seventies “easy listening” (how I loathe that term!) cover recordings through the prism of kitsch, but I confess to enjoying many of Andy’s performances as much as the original versions! They certainly have a place, and nobody did them better than Andy at Columbia. When I saw him live in 2005, I was thrilled that he had so many of his original arrangements still in his book for songs like “MacArthur Park,” “Never Can Say Goodbye,” etc. It was a memorable evening, and tremendous fun.
Joe – I think his version of “MacArthur Park” was much, much better than Richard Harris’ hit version ! And Andy’s version of “Never Can Say Goodbye” was great as well.
Listening to his covers of songs like “Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In” always made me smile — I loved the way that he really “got into” this song !! And The Osmonds did great background vocals on “Aquarius” as well !!
Recently here in the U.K BBC4 dedicated a whole evening to Andy Williams. Among the programmes was a duets compilation. Americans of a certain age will remember these shows well – but – to my knowledge, they were never shown in the U.K.at the time. I have to admit they were a revelation – and a sheer joy.
What struck me was Andy’s adaptability to the artist he was dueting with. He could sing soft and folksy with Simon & Garfunkel on ‘Scarborough Fair – yet churchy and soulful with the likes of Ella or Pearl Bailey. It showed amazing adaptability and a great respect for his musical peers.
We have lost a great musical talent from a world of music that now seems gone forever. Thankyou Andy for all you have left us. R.I.P
Once again, touching and heartlelt….you remembered And in the way we would all like to
JOE, Love your stuff. Can you tell me how to get to hear Andy and Claudine on Small Talk? Thanks…
Thanks, Bill. One place to find Claudine and Andy’s “Small Talk” is the Varese Vintage CD THE VERY BEST OF CLAUDINE LONGET, released in 2000. It’s still in print and available via Amazon. This is the single version; the album version from LOVE IS BLUE features the voice of producer Tommy LiPuma in place of Andy. Enjoy!
THANK you for responding so quickly. This is valuable info to me and I shall definitely be following it up…
andy williams there’s no place like home for the holiday