Moon River and Me: a Memoir by Andy Williams

This beguiling memoir of popular singer Andy Williams, best known for his rendition of Moon River, is an eye opener and takes the reader on a lifelong journey toward stardom. Son of Jay Emerson Williams, a father determined to see his sons succeed in the music business, Andy worked his way to the top of the music world with lots of bumps along the way. One of six children - three older brothers Bob, Don, and Dick as well as a younger sister Janey and a younger brother Buddy, who died of spinal meningitis at a early age - Williams originally sang with his brothers as the family moved from small to big towns in search of a better life. Andy spent his early childhood in Wall Lake, Iowa, a small country town and then moved to greener pastures in Des Moines. At first rebuffed by radio station WHO, the Williams brothers were later hired to sing on that station after 6 months of constant practice; they remained with this station for 6 years. The Williams brothers also sang at a local funeral parlor to pay for Buddy's funeral expenses.

When Andy was thirteen, his family moved to Chicago where his father landed them a job on radio station WLS as well as a gig on the National Barn Dance show. The family next moved to Cincinnati where they obtained a job with WLW. Isolated from their peers, the Williams brothers had few friends outside the family circle. Education was a distraction, and Andy never attended college. Their time in Cincinnati was short; the family moved to Los Angeles; MGM eventually hired the Williams brothers. Kay Thompson, MGM's vocal coach, became a significant influence in young Andy's life. She later encouraged the Williams brothers to perform with her on the night club circuit.

Andy chronicles the major events in his musical career, his twenty years as a headliner at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas and his popular television show, ending up with a detailed description of his Moon River Theater in Branson, Missouri,where he built his dream home, and still performs today.

For those readers who love music and who experience nostalgia for the well-loved harmonies, this book is a must read. Williams' style is honest and forthright with lots of descriptive passages to help the reader visualize the family's road to success.

Reviewed by Susie Nightingale