First published 2009
Andy Williams opens his story in the mid-1950s, when his career had hit rock bottom. The young singer from Wall Lake, Iowa, performs in shabby clubs to dwindling crowds, with no hint of the stardom ahead. Williams traces his rise from those dark days to becoming one of America's most cherished entertainers. He earned eighteen gold albums and three platinum records, headlined at Caesars Palace for over two decades, and hosted a television variety show whose Christmas episodes became cultural touchstones for baby boomers. President Ronald Reagan would later declare him a national treasure. Williams shares intimate memories of the celebrities who shaped his world, including Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, and Barbra Streisand. He reveals his close friendship with Bobby Kennedy and the personal moments behind his public success. At eighty-one, Williams still performs at his Moon River Theater in Branson, Missouri, drawing thousands of devoted fans who connect with his warm baritone voice and genuine personality.
Genres: 20th-century, american, autobiography, biography-memoir, music
Vibes: emotional, intimate, nostalgic
Tropes: rags-to-riches, rise-to-fame
Setting: Branson, Caesars Palace, Iowa, Missouri, Wall Lake
Period: 1950s, 1980s
320 pages · Hardcover · Viking Adult