Page 178 - Cousins - Celebrities, Saints & Sinners

In 1962, Andy made a lucrative label change to Columbia Records, which produced the "Top 10"
pop hit "Can't Get Used to Losing You" and a collaboration with Henry Mancini, which inspired
Andy's signature song, "Moon River," the Oscar-winning tune from the popular Audrey Hepburn
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( 14 cousin) film, Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). Andy had the honor of singing the song during
the Oscar ceremony. Other major chartbusters for Andy came with the movie theme
songs Days of Wine and Roses (1962), Dear Heart (1964) and Love Story (1970).

What truly put Andy over the top was the phenomenal success of his weekly variety show, The
Andy Williams Show (1962). Andy was a natural in front of the television camera and his
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duetting with such singing legends as Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland (14 cousin, 1 time removed)
and Peggy Lee kept audiences enthralled week after week. Andy would often invite his brothers
to sing with him and also introduced another talented harmonizing boy group--the seven
"Osmond Brothers". The series, which concluded in 1971, won three Emmy Awards for "Best
Musical/Variety Series". Andy himself picked up a couple of nominations as a performer.

In tandem with his famous television show, Andy opened Caesar's Palace in 1966 and went on
to headline there for 20 years.

Inspired by singer/friend Ray Stevens, Andy had built a $12 million state-of-the-art theater,
which opened in 1992 and was christened the Andy Williams Moon River Theater. Andy
became the first non-country star to perform there and other theme shows have since been
inspired to populate the small town--now considered the live music capital of the world. At age
70+, he continued to perform in Branson, Missouri, where he and his wife resided. Williams
died at age 84 of bladder cancer.

References:
1. Relative Finder, associated with FamilySearch, and the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS)
2. Biography.com
3. Wikipedia.org
4. LDS Family Tree attached

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