Andy Williams: Four Classic Albums (Andy Williams / Lonely Street / Moon River And Other Great Movie Themes / Warm And Willing)

Andy Williams may well be one of the first boy band stars to go solo, before the concept of boy bands even existed. His career was quite extraordinary when considered in its entirety. He was a member of the Williams Brothers Quartet from 1938, at age, 11 and a huge star throughout the forties with his brothers appearing live, on record and in many films. Championed by former radio star, later head of the vocal department at MGM and lover, Kay Thompson, the boys incredibly went on to become the highest paid night club act in the world when they became her backing singers after she decided to come out of the shadows and perform again. Thompson became a vital factor in the early career of Andy Williams as his mentor, coach, songwriter and arranger and it was she who guided him into becoming a solo singer when the brothers finally disbanded in 1953. The pair would appear on each others albums and he can be heard on her Top 40 hit Eloise. Their relationship ended in 1962 when Andy met future wife Claudine Longet, Kay left for Rome and the rest as they say is history. His career in the 1960s and 70s, incredibly was even bigger than the 1940s and 50s. These selections find him at the start of his amazing solo career as an albums artist who would go on to sell over 100 million records.