Remembering Andy Williams

The Archive is sad to report the death of singer/performer/host Andy Williams, who died yesterday at the age of 84. Williams had been battling bladder cancer and passed away at his home in Branson, Missouri. Williams was already a successful singer by the time he began hosting The Andy Williams Show, which celebrates its 50th anniversary tomorrow, September 27th.

Below are some selections from Williams' 2005 Archive interview:

On starting his show business career

On The Andy Williams Show theme song ("Moon River")

On his many Christmas specials

On his advice to aspiring performers

On how he would like to be remembered

I’ve been asked that before and I don’t really have a good answer but,  I would like to be remembered as a great singer. That’s about it.

The entire interview is online at http://emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/andy-williams

About the interview:

In his one-and-a-half hour Archive interview, Andy Williams discusses his early career working in his brothers’ singing group on stage and in radio, before embarking on a solo career. He speaks about his early appearances on television, including being cast as a regular singer on Steve Allen’s Tonight Show. He then details hosting his own series, The Andy Williams Show, and talks about the production schedule, some of his favorite guest stars (including the Osmond Brothers, whom he is credited with discovering), and the show’s segue into a series of Christmas specials. In conclusion, he discusses establishing his own theater in Branson, Missouri. Karen Herman conducted the interview on September 19, 2005 in Branson, MO.