Sadly the man most famous for singing “Moon River” <written and composed by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini in 1961> died today … Andy Williams.

My generation mostly knows Moon River as an obscure, but hysterically funny, moment in Fletch:

Fletch <Moon River>: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfzXpE0QB2U

But the song was originally sung by the stunning Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” <and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song>:

Breakfast at Tiffany’s Moon River: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdTJ0bc6Hhw

But the song eventually became synonymous with Andy Williams, who first recorded it in 1961 and performed it at the 1962 Oscars, mainly because he sang it better than Fletch and Audrey Hepburn. In fact, as with many of that generation’s songs and songwriting, there was such a beautiful simplicity to the song:

Moon River, wider than a mile,

I’m crossing you in style, someday,

Old dream maker, you heart breaker,

Wherever you’re goin’, I’m goin’ your way,

Two drifters, off to see the world,

There’s such a lot of world to see,

We’re after the same rainbows end,

Waitin’ round the bend,

And it seemed like it was written for his simply perfect voice to sing.

Andy himself singing Moon River: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK4pmJQ6zgM

Kathie Lee Gifford on Today this morning: “He had perhaps the most beautiful male voice ever. Perfect pitch.” Finally she said something noteworthy <pun intended>.

My generation will mostly know Williams for having to sit through his horribly boring Christmas television specials because (a) our parents thought it was part of the ‘Christmas’ experience and (b) there was no ESPN at that time.

Apparently he was a really nice guy and that has to count for something at some point <but those specials were like bamboo shoots under your fingernails>.

Regardless.

I guess I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge his death because I am willing to bet there are a shitload of Fletch movie lovers who did not know the link to Andy Williams and, maybe more importantly, given my love of music … whether I liked his music or not … the man could sing.

Written by Bruce