ST. LOUIS (AP) — With a string of gold albums, a hit TV series and the signature "Moon River," Andy Williams was a voice of the 1960s, although not the '60s we usually hear about.
Williams died Tuesday night at his home in Branson following a yearlong battle with the disease, his Los Angeles-based publicist, Paul Shefrin, said Wednesday. He was 84.
He became a major star the same year as Elvis Presley, 1956, with the Sinatra-like swing "Canadian Sunset," and for a time he was pushed into such Presley imitations as "Lips of Wine" and the No. 1 smash "Butterfly." But he mostly stuck to what he called his "natural style," and kept it up throughout his career. In 1970, when even Sinatra had given up and (temporarily) retired, Williamswas in the top 10 with the theme from "Love Story" the Oscar-winning tearjerker. He had 18 gold records and three platinum, was nominated for five Grammy awards and hosted the Grammy ceremonies for several years.
Movie songs became a specialty, from "Love Story" and Days of Wine and Roses" to "Moon River." The longing Johnny Mercer-Henry Mancini ballad was his most famous song, even though he never released it as a single because his record company feared such lines as "my huckleberry friend" were too confusing and old-fashioned for teens. The song was first performed by Audrey Hepburn in the beloved 1961 film "Breakfast at Tiffany's," but Mancini thought "Moon River" ideal for Williams, who recorded it in "pretty much one take" and also sang it at the 1962 Academy Awards. Although "Moon River" was covered by countless artists and became a hit single for Jerry Butler, Williams made the song his personal brand. In fact, he insisted on it.
"When I hear anybody else sing it, it's all I can to do stop myself from shouting at the television screen, 'No! That's my song!'" Williams wrote in his 2009 memoir, titled, fittingly, "Moon River and Me."
20 年多前在国内读书时，不知哪儿弄来一盘盒式磁带，全是英语歌曲选。其中有几首男声演唱的歌：“Moon River”，”Love Story” ,“A Time For Us (Romeo & Juliet)” 不知听了多少遍。记得当时有位女同学说，听了他的歌，恨不能马上嫁给他， 他的声音实在太迷人了。当然，那时大家都不知道唱歌的这个他叫什么名字，因为那盘盒式磁带是翻录的。
多年后，在美国，知道他叫Andy Williams。除了上面提到的几首歌，还唱过很多熟悉的电影歌曲和舞曲。相信很多中国人听过他的歌，但不一定知道他的名字：
A Summer Place
Unchained Melody
Somewhere My Love
Speak Softly Love （The Godfather）
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Andy Williams 晚年在Branson, Missouri 盖了个命名为Moon River 的剧院。 他的晚年写的自传书名也是“Moon River and Me". 可见他对Moon River这首歌的厚爱。
如今, 歌神去了天堂，把月亮河永远留在了人间。
R.I.P, My Huckleberry Friend!