The
holiday season isn’t complete without hearing Andy Williams sing “It’s the Most
Wonderful Time of the Year.” It is especially poignant this year since Andy
died in September at age 84. I have heard the tune several times this month and
I have to remind myself that he is no longer with us. I watched his show as a
kid and his Christmas specials were a favorite.
Judging
by comments on his videos, lots and lots of people loved these Christmas shows.
“Watching decades later, in living color and with the magic of the
replay button, you realize how SPECTACULAR the production numbers were on The
Andy Williams Show,” says YouTuber tobyjae. “The staging, sound, lighting,
wardrobe, COLORS, dancing, pony & sleigh, snowball, glitter… all those
details along with the joy & humor and the lovely warm feeling you get in
your heart watching it all unfold before your eyes! And BEST of all, the VOICE,
SMILE & EYES of ANDY WILLIAMS!"
Another YouTuber named Stephen told me that he
has always been a music lover and adored Andy Williams. “Andy’s soothing voice
shut out a lot of domestic problems in my house growing up,” he said. “His
early 70’s LPS were constantly being played…He made beautiful music. His death
was not a surprise but I did cry right there on the street when I saw it on the
cover of the local paper.”
I
have found a clip of “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” from one of his
Christmas shows that I hope you will enjoy. The song itself was written in 1963
by Edward Pola and George Wyle, and was released that year on Andy’s first
Christmas album.
