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| Andy Williams, Moon River singer, dies aged 84 | Andy Williams, Moon River singer, dies aged 84 |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Singer Andy Williams, 84, has died at his home in Branson, Missouri, a year after being diagnosed with bladder cancer. | Singer Andy Williams, 84, has died at his home in Branson, Missouri, a year after being diagnosed with bladder cancer. |
| He was best known for his version of the song Moon River, originally written for the film Breakfast at Tiffany's. | |
| In 1962, he started The Andy Williams Show, which was broadcast around the world and went on to win three Emmys. | In 1962, he started The Andy Williams Show, which was broadcast around the world and went on to win three Emmys. |
| Since the 1990s, he had run the Andy Williams Moon River Theater in his home town. | Since the 1990s, he had run the Andy Williams Moon River Theater in his home town. |
| The singer was one of the most enduring stars of the 1960s and '70s, whose easy style and mellow voice led President Ronald Reagan to call him "a national treasure". | The singer was one of the most enduring stars of the 1960s and '70s, whose easy style and mellow voice led President Ronald Reagan to call him "a national treasure". |
| A new generation discovered Williams' music when Music to Watch Girls Go By made the Top 10 in 1999 after being used in an advert. | A new generation discovered Williams' music when Music to Watch Girls Go By made the Top 10 in 1999 after being used in an advert. |
| He described Moon River as his "signature song" which had a "wonderful" melody and "timeless" lyrics. | He described Moon River as his "signature song" which had a "wonderful" melody and "timeless" lyrics. |
| "I never tried to sing like anybody else, fortunately I didn't sound like anybody else. It just happened," said Williams. | "I never tried to sing like anybody else, fortunately I didn't sound like anybody else. It just happened," said Williams. |
| "I was very lucky that I had a voice that sounded different to almost anybody else's and it's recognisable." | "I was very lucky that I had a voice that sounded different to almost anybody else's and it's recognisable." |
| Fellow crooner Tony Christie, who achieved chart success with Is This The Way To Amarillo, described Williams as "a very charming man" who had "perfect pitch". | Fellow crooner Tony Christie, who achieved chart success with Is This The Way To Amarillo, described Williams as "a very charming man" who had "perfect pitch". |
| The singer was "one of the old school," he added, "and there aren't many left". | The singer was "one of the old school," he added, "and there aren't many left". |
| Williams died on Tuesday night and is survived by his wife, Debbie, and his three children, Robert, Noelle and Christian. | Williams died on Tuesday night and is survived by his wife, Debbie, and his three children, Robert, Noelle and Christian. |
| Global fame | Global fame |
| Howard Andrew Williams was born in Iowa and started singing professionally with his three brothers as the Williams Brothers Quartet. | Howard Andrew Williams was born in Iowa and started singing professionally with his three brothers as the Williams Brothers Quartet. |
| They worked in night clubs and on radio and backed Bing Crosby on his number one record Swinging on a Star in 1944. | They worked in night clubs and on radio and backed Bing Crosby on his number one record Swinging on a Star in 1944. |
| Williams' TV show made him an international star and launched a recording career that spawned such hits as Butterfly, Love Story, Can't Get Used to Losing You and Almost There. | Williams' TV show made him an international star and launched a recording career that spawned such hits as Butterfly, Love Story, Can't Get Used to Losing You and Almost There. |
| The weekly show lasted nine years and will be remembered by many for introducing the Osmond family to the world. | The weekly show lasted nine years and will be remembered by many for introducing the Osmond family to the world. |
| In a statement, Donny Osmond described Williams as inspiring in music and in life, and said the "warmth and grace of his singing" had shaped his own love of music. | In a statement, Donny Osmond described Williams as inspiring in music and in life, and said the "warmth and grace of his singing" had shaped his own love of music. |
| Donny later joined his brothers to tour with Williams as his opening act and as back-up singers. | Donny later joined his brothers to tour with Williams as his opening act and as back-up singers. |
| "He truly was a great singer and I will ever be indebted to Andy for giving me the opportunity to fulfil my dreams and the opportunity to be personally inspired by such a generous talent," he said. | "He truly was a great singer and I will ever be indebted to Andy for giving me the opportunity to fulfil my dreams and the opportunity to be personally inspired by such a generous talent," he said. |
| Williams became a major star in 1956, the same year that Elvis Presley shot to fame, and was well loved in the 1960s. | Williams became a major star in 1956, the same year that Elvis Presley shot to fame, and was well loved in the 1960s. |
| "The old cliche says that if you can remember the 1960s, you weren't there," said the singer. | "The old cliche says that if you can remember the 1960s, you weren't there," said the singer. |
| "Well, I was there all right, but my memory of them is blurred - not by any drugs I took but by the relentless pace of the schedule I set myself." | "Well, I was there all right, but my memory of them is blurred - not by any drugs I took but by the relentless pace of the schedule I set myself." |
| Cancer battle | Cancer battle |
| In 1962 he married Claudine Longet, a French actress and singer, with whom he had three children before their divorce in 1975. | In 1962 he married Claudine Longet, a French actress and singer, with whom he had three children before their divorce in 1975. |
| Williams continued to play live into his 80s. During a 2007 tour of the UK, he said that performing kept him vital. | Williams continued to play live into his 80s. During a 2007 tour of the UK, he said that performing kept him vital. |
| "Perhaps that two hours out onstage is the medicine that everybody should have," he told a reporter. | "Perhaps that two hours out onstage is the medicine that everybody should have," he told a reporter. |
| In November 2011, he revealed he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer but said he planned to continue performing at his own theatre. | In November 2011, he revealed he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer but said he planned to continue performing at his own theatre. |
| He said at the time that bladder cancer was "no longer a death sentence" and that "people with cancer are getting through this thing". | He said at the time that bladder cancer was "no longer a death sentence" and that "people with cancer are getting through this thing". |
| "They're kicking it, and they're winning more and more every year. And I'm going to be one of them," he went on. | "They're kicking it, and they're winning more and more every year. And I'm going to be one of them," he went on. |
| Williams left hospital in July to spend his final days at home with his family. | Williams left hospital in July to spend his final days at home with his family. |
| In lieu of flowers, his family has asked that donations be made to the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network. | In lieu of flowers, his family has asked that donations be made to the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network. |