ANDY WILLIAMS - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH - HFSID 265503

ANDY WILLIAMS
Black and white publicity photograph of Andy Williams wearing a plaid hat.
Photograph signed: "Andy/Williams". B/w, 8x10. Perhaps best known for his signature song, "Moon River", his long-running variety show and his Williams family Christmas specials, Andy Williams (1927-2012), the holder of 18 gold and three platinum records, began his career singing in the church choir established by his parents. He gained a wider audience from age eight, when the Williams Brothers Quartet began appearing on radio, first in Iowa and later in Chicago and Cincinnati. The Williams Brothers attracted the attention of Bing Crosby, who featured them on his 1944 hit, "Swinging on a Star". Three years later, the group teamed up with comedienne Kay Thompson, whose nightclub act toured widely throughout the U.S. and Europe. After the Williams Brothers disbanded in 1951, Andy headed to New York, where he became a regular performer on Steve Allen's Tonight Show. Signing with the Cadence label, Williams had his first Top 10 hit with "Canadian Sunset", which was followed by a string of hits including "Butterfly", "Lonely Street" and "The Hawaiian Wedding Song", which bought his first Grammy nomination. Williams' continued to appear regularly on television shows, including The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, The Chevy Showroom With Andy Williams and his own 13-week summer replacement variety show. In 1962, he began his 28-year association with Columbia Records, turning out such hits as "Can't Get Used to Losing You" and "Moon River", the Oscar-winning song from Breakfast at Tiffany's that became his signature song after his stunning performance of it at the Academy Awards ceremony. The song, which charted for over 100 weeks, was No. 1 for 16 weeks. On September 16, 1963, The Andy Williams Show, which would run until 1972, debuted. The variety show would win three Emmy Awards for Best Musical/Variety (1966, 1967, and 1969) and launch Williams' classic Christmas specials. During this time, Williams also toured, opening Caesar's Palace in 1966 (he would headline there for the next 20 years) and performing for fans worldwide. In 1991, Williams traveled to Branson, Missouri, where he built the Andy Williams Moon River Theater. Since opening it in May 1992, Williams, the first non-country performer to take up permanent residence in Branson, continues to entertain fans six nights a week from September-December. Lightly creased at upper and lower right corners. Ink marks at lower and upper right margins, slightly soiled at blank right edge. Overall, fine condition.