Legendary crooner Andy Williams has died

[pstokely]

Source: USA Today

His rep tells Lifeline Live that Williams passed away after a year-long battle with bladder cancer. He was 84.

Williams, who was one of the most popular vocalists of the 1960s as well as an avid golfer, died at home in Branson, Mo.,where he owns the Moon River Theatre. Moon River -- by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini -- was Williams' signature song.

On Twitter, fans are saying farewell to our "huckleberry friend."

The crooner is survived by his wife Debbie and his three children, Robert, Noelle and Christian.Williams had the children with French-born dancer Claudine Longet. They divorced in 1975 and the following year she was charged with fatally shooting her boyfriend, alpine ski racer Spider Sabich in Aspen. Williams made headlines as he stood by her side throughout the public trial. He married Debbie Meyer in 1991.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network.

Read more: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2012/09/26/legendary-crooner-andy-williams-has-died-dies/70001170/1#.UGMGWo1lQ9g

[trumad]

1. WOW!

He was one of the great ones...RIP

[riverbendviewgal]

2. Great voice. He made Christmas more xmasy

RIP Andy...I heard your voice all my life.


and I loved his Moon River.
We will all be going on to where Andy has gone today , someday.

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[tularetom]

3. I thought he was already dead

Now I suppose you're going to tell me Abe Vigoda isn't dead.

[bitchkitty]

9. LOL -

can't stop giggling!

[pstokely]

33. I guess everyone who performs in Branson is already dead

nt

[loudsue]

4. We were just playing his music at dinner the other night.

This is a sad thing. I didn't like his politics, but I loved his music. He had a gift.

[TuxedoKat]

5. Rip Mr. Williams

I have fond memories of him from my childhood when my mom played his albums.

[Nay]

20. Me, too. My mom loved his voice and we listened to his albums regularly. Reminds me of Ma. nt

[armed_and_liberal]

6. Right winger

In a 2009 interview with the British newspaper "The Telegraph" Williams said about Obama ; "Don't like him at all," he said, "I think he wants to create a socialist country. The people he associates with are very Left-wing. One is registered as a Communist.
"Obama is following Marxist theory. He's taken over the banks and the car industry. He wants the country to fail."

[Hissyspit]

8. Yup.

[Faygo Kid]

10. He was, later in life. But lots of memories.

Like Heston, he was an early civil rights supporter who went off to the far right.

I will still listen to him every Christmas, though, and happily so. Liked his TV show, too. RIP.

[gordianot]

11. I was always amazed by this he was once a close friend of Robert Kennedy sang the Battle Hymn...

at Bobby Kennedy's funeral. I liked his music not his politics.

[slackmaster]

12. It doesn't matter. His political beliefs did no harm. I'll always remember him for his music.

[enlightenment]

14. Thank you.

Why we always have to make personal politics the trump card defies logic. The man was, first and foremost, a singer. He had a beautiful voice and he will be missed by many who could give a rat's arse what his personal politics happened to be.

[jwirr]

21. What a change from RFK to a right winger.

[Arugula Latte]

22. He was always a Republican, but I'd assumed he was a moderate one.

He used to tell a story about how he admitted to RFK that he was a Republican (RFK had asked him to do something politically related -- forget what) and RFK laughed about it when he found out.

I wonder if his paranoid rantings about Obama were the work of brain deterioration later in life, perhaps a form of dementia?

[Rhiannon12866]

28. Agreed, but he named his first born after Bobby Kennedy.

I remember him talking about that on his Christmas specials when I was a kid.

[Vidar]

7. Another great crooner gone. RIP Andy.

[Le Taz Hot]

13. Such a great voice . . .

Sing with the angels, Andy.

[Ganja Ninja]

15. RIP.

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[csziggy]

16. And he never gave the bear a cookie

[HeeBGBz]

17. RIP Andy

[slackmaster]

18. Speak softly, love

[jsr]

19. Incredible voice

R.I.P.

[shanti]

23. as a boomer

andy williams's songs were party of my earliest memories, with moon river being high on the list. RIP, mr. williams.

[NBachers]

24. I woke up to this news on my clock radio. Another great one gone. Thanks for all the music, Andy

[DinahMoeHum]

25. "Can't Get Used To Losing You" Can you believe it??

Andy Williams' original:

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And The English Beat's take on it:

BTW, since he was a close friend of the RFKs back in the day, there had always been rumors in the tabloids of him one day marrying RFK's widow, Ethel. But it never came to pass because outside of a few passions they shared such as art, tennis and dogs, they were simply not compatible. Ethel was too much the sportswoman for him; and she identified too strongly with Bobby and the Kennedys for any other man to be in her life.


Rest in Peace, Andy. Janus Prohaska (aka The Bear) is waiting for you in heaven.
But no cookies!
Not Now! Not Ever! NEVER!!

[Tom_Foolery]

30. My favorite Andy Williams song!! Thanks!!

[JNelson6563]

26. "Legendary crooner" surely applies here.

He'll live on for a very long time.

Julie

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

27. My condolences to Nelson Muntz

"I didn't think he'd do 'Moon River,' but then BAM! Second encore!"

[47of74]

31. LOL!

[maxsolomon]

29. "Legendary"?

no, pretty sure he was real.

[DeSwiss]

32. RIP - K&R n/t

[goclark]

34. Rest in peace....

Beautiful VOICE!