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Remembering Andy Williams

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Performer and host Andy Williams at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles in 1978. (AP)
Performer and host Andy Williams at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles in 1978. (AP)

Andy Williams — the man who sang "Moon River" and starred in many Christmas TV shows — has died at the age of 84.

President Reagan once called Williams "a national treasure."

Williams starred in his own TV program from the late '50s into the '70s. Here & Now's Robin Young spoke to him in 2009 when his book, "Moon River and Me: An Autobiography" came out.

Interview Highlights

On his father, who used to tell Williams that he wasn't that big a deal.

"In the long run, that thing about you're not as good is that you have to work harder. I worked my butt off all the time to get as good as other people. And on my television series, I worked very hard to make sure that I knew this stuff so well that I could get out and be very calm about it and easy and relaxed"

On his Iowa upbringing and becoming famous

"I always felt... my God what am I doing. How can I be sitting next to Bing Crosby and singing duets with him on my show... It was surreal in a way, I couldn't believe that I was this lucky."

On his singing success

"I never took a lesson in my life. I just always sang. It just was natural for me to sing, it's natural for all my brothers too. I don't know, it just was easy."

This segment aired on September 26, 2012.

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