Andy Williams
Andy Williams (born Howard Andrew Williams December 3, 1928) was an American pop singer from Wall Lake, Iowa. He began performing in a church choir before forming a quartet with his three brothers, performing on radio in the Midwest. They appeared with Bing Crosby on "Swinging on a Star" (1944) and with Kay Thompson, a comedian, later that decade.
Williams' solo career began in 1952 on Steve Allen's Tonight Show, then signing to Cadence Records. His third single, "Canadian Sunset' (1956) hit the Top Ten, and was followed his best-known hit, "Butterfly" (a Charlie Gracie cover). More hits followed before he moved to Columbia Records in 1961.
During the 1960s, Williams was less successful as a singer (though he still had hits including LPs like Moon River and Other Great Movie Themes as well as singles like "Can't Get Used to Losing You") and better known as a television personality, with his own weekly show. Among his regular guests were the Osmond Brothers. His popularity continued in the 1970s, especially in the United Kingdom. By the 1990s, he had almost retired from music, but returned to headline shows at his own theatre/resort in Branson, Missouri.
His ex-wife and mother of his 3 children, French singer Claudine Longet, was arrested and charged with the March 21, 1976 shooting death of her lover, Olympic skier Vladimir "Spider" Sabitch at his Aspen, Colorado home after he told her to move out, she and the children "cramping" his lifestyle. At the sensational trial, she claimed the gun discharged accidentally as Sabich was showing her how it worked. Williams very publicly supported Claudine throughout, even escorting her to and from the courthouse. She was covicted of criminal negligence and sentenced to 30 days in jail, which she served following a vacation with her defense attorney, whom she later married. Williams has also since remarried.
He made a surprise comeback when his recording of "Music to Watch Girls By" re-surfaced as a hit in 2003.
