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The Spectacle Blog
Singer Andy Williams passed away last night after a year long battle with bladder cancer. He was 84.
Williams rose to prominence in the mid-1950s as a regular on The Steve Allen Show. He had a string of hits throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s beginning with “Canadian Sunset” but would become best known for his rendition of the Johnny Mercer-Henry Mancini composition “Moon River” which was featured in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s starring Audrey Hepburn. Ironically, it was never released as a single. Another notable movie song on which Williams crooned was “Born Free”.
From 1962 to 1971, Williams hosted The Andy Williams Show on NBC. During the 1970s, Williams’ music became closely associated with Christmas with his annual Christmas specials and recorded numerous Christmas albums. His best known Christmas song was “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”.
For the past two decades, Williams was based in Branson, Missouri where he built his own theatre. Williams was instrumental in broadening Branson’s appeal beyond country music.
Williams was a close friend of Robert F. Kennedy and was present when he was assassinated in 1968. He would sing “Battle Hymn of The Republic” at RFK’s funeral.
However, despite his support of RFK, Williams was conservative in his politics and vocally critical of President Obama. In September 2009, Williams said:
Don’t like him at all. I think he wants to create a socialist country. The people he associates with are very left-wing. One is registered as a Communist. Obama is following Marxist theory. He’s taken over the banks and the car industry. He wants the country to fail.
Should Williams have lived long enough to see Obama defeated I’m sure he would considered it the most wonderful time of the year.
Ronald Reagan put it best when he said, “Andy Williams, I think we’ll have to declare your voice a national treasure.”
View all comments (11) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/09/26/andy-williams-rip
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Albert Constantine Jr.| 9.26.12 @ 2:13PM
I used to enjoy his variety show on TV, as well as his many hits on the radio. I got an added bonus in Asia in the 80s and 90s when karaoke was the rage there, going to the bars and watching and listening to the locals do their versions of Mr. Williams' hits "Moon Liver "and "Born Flee" (I would do "My Way" to avoid the pronunciation issues, which would also occur with "The Gleen, Gleen Glass of Home).
Occam's Tool| 9.26.12 @ 4:13PM
He apparently lived a decent life as well, rising from eating dog food on one poor patch to wealth and fame.
It is nice when a great talent is also a very good man. Like Jimmy Stewart, for instance.
Oldefarte| 9.26.12 @ 8:38PM
My best wishes to you and yours on YAM KIPPUR!!!!!!
edw| 9.26.12 @ 5:56PM
(From an email)-
Sorry to hear about the passing of Andy Williams- I know, we all say the same thing, to wit: "My mom liked him"-
Dammit, I liked him, as did Jackie (and my mom did too, and your mom (RIP to both), I'm sure, to keep the current wisdom intact)- Jackie's mom went thru one of her unstable periods just before abandoning Jackie and Jackie's brother for the wilds of Canada, back in the late 60s- and her new lover- Jackie's mom attempted overdosing on more than one occasion, leaving Jackie to walk her around until the pills wore off- Something that no 15 yr old kid should have to endure- Anyway, Jackie reports that her mother played Andy Williams' recording of LONELY STREET repeatedly during these dreary affairs- Surprisingly, Jackie still likes the song (the power of art!), as do I-
Andy Williams was one of that diminishing number, performers who EVERYBODY likes- America
used to turn them out in number- Perry Como, Ella, Louis- nowadays, not so much- And we are the poorer for it-
Crassus| 9.26.12 @ 6:05PM
Back when I was a young snot nose, I had a baby sitter who had a huge crush on Andy Williams. His variety show was on opposite professional wrestling and I would be forced to watch ole Moon River instead of Brute Bernard and Skull Murphy on the Saturday nights when this chick babysat me. Needless to say, I never became a fan but I am sorry to hear about his death. Anyone who disliked Obama couldn't have been all bad.
RIP, Mr. Williams
Oldefarte| 9.26.12 @ 8:48PM
First of all, BEST WISHES TO ALL BLOGGERS HERE OF THE JEWISH FAITH ON YAM KIPPUR! Second, I remember Williams fondly from my younger days watching his TV show. He introduced the Osmund Brothers to TV also, with Donnie and Marie just small family members of that original barbershop-type crooning group. If memory serves me, he sort of took over for Perry Como show also had a TV show similar to Williams'. I seem to remember his saddened seperation/divorse from the Frenchwoman Claudine Longier [sp?] when maybe their small children were involved in same. He was a tremendous and talented singer, and it is sad to hear of his passing. He brought the world and many of us joy from his vocal talents, and I wish for his peace and happiness in his afterlife!!!!!
Albert Constantine Jr.| 9.26.12 @ 9:47PM
Now that you mention Claudine Longet, I'm brought back to the 70s and the Spider Sabitch shooting...
Oldefarte| 9.27.12 @ 1:30PM
If memory serves me, Andy was smittin with her big time!!!!
Cobalt| 9.26.12 @ 10:44PM
She only served 30 days, and that was on the weekends.
Seek| 9.27.12 @ 11:22AM
Either way, Ms. Longet was not the kind of woman with whom I would have wanted to share a life.
Indy| 9.27.12 @ 9:12AM
RIP, his Christmas album is one of my favorites. Having lost a loved one to cancer, I know how difficult this awful disease is on the patient and on the family. Thankfully, he is no longer suffering. God Bless all who cared for him in his final days.