Andy Williams, the legendary family man's crooner passed away today after a long battle with cancer.
He will be missed.
Read all about him from Wikipedia.
Andrew Howard Williams (December 3, 1927 – September 25, 2012) was an American singer who recorded 18 Gold and three Platinum-certified albums.
He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owned the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri, named after the song Moon River with which he was closely identified.
Williams was born in Wall Lake, Iowa and performed in a children's choir at the local Presbyterian church.
Williams and his three elder brothers Bob, Don and Dick formed the Williams Brothers quartet in late 1938.
The Williams Brothers appeared with Bing Crosby on the hit record Swinging On A Star (1944).
They also appeared in four musical films, Janie and Kansas City Kitty in 1944, and Something In The Wind and Ladies' Man in 1947.
After landing a spot as a regular on Tonight Starring Steve Allen in 1954, Williams became a popular solo singer.
He released the song Canadian Sunset in 1956 and Butterfly in 1957.
During the 1960s, Williams became one of the most popular vocalists in the United States and at one time earned more gold albums than any solo performer except Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis and Elvis Presley.
By 1973 he had earned as many as 18 gold album awards.
Among his hit albums were Moon River, Days Of Wine And Roses, The Andy Williams Christmas Album, Dear Heart, The Shadow Of Your Smile, Love, Andy, Get Together With Andy Williams and Love Story.
Williams forged a collaborative relationship with Henry Mancini, although they never recorded together.
He sang Mancini's Moon River which became the Oscar Best Song 1962 (from Breakfast At Tiffany's).
Williams hosted the most Grammy telecasts, from the 13th Annual Grammy Awards in 1971 through the 19th Annual Grammy Awards in 1977.
In the early 1970s, when the Richard Nixon Administration attempted to deport John Lennon, Andy Williams was an outspoken defender of the former Beatle's right to stay in the United States.
In 2002, he re-recorded Can't Take My Eyes Off You as a duet with British actress and singer Denise Van Outen.
In 1961. Williams married French singer and actress Claudine Longet. They had three children and split in 1975.
In 1991, he married Debbie Meyer.
A Democrat during his early years, Williams became a Republican after being converted by his friend Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.
