Andy Williams

"The Emperor of Easy," as he was known to his faithful fans in the U.K., Andy Williams was a singer and television host whose tasteful renditions of songs from the Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer songbook like "Moon River" and "Days of Wine and Roses" made him one of the more well-loved entertainers of the 1960s and 1970s. A former child member of a vocal act featuring his brothers, Williams broke out on his own in 1951 and soon established himself as an effortlessly warm and smooth singer on the aforementioned songs, as well as hits like "Are You Sincere," "Music to Watch Girls By" and "(This Is Where I Begin) Love Story." He parlayed his popularity into a lengthy second career as the host of his own variety series, which ran for over a decade before settling into yearly specials, especially around the holidays. He later became one of the most successful performers in the Southern entertainment mecca of Branson, Missouri, where his easygoing charm and unblemished baritone continued to please generations of music fans.