Don Williams, the last-surviving member of the singing Williams Brothers Quartet – and crooner Andy Williams’ brother – has died aged 100.
Williams discovered fame alongside his siblings within the in style musical group, acting on the radio and in motion pictures alongside the likes of Bing Crosby.
The second-eldest of the foursome, comprised of Don, Andy and their brothers Dick and Bob, died at his Bransome, Missouri dwelling on Friday of pure causes.
His spouse Jeanne confirmed his demise to The Hollywood Reporter.
Born in Iowa on October 9, 1922, Williams was simply a teen when the brothers shaped their quartet within the mid-Thirties.
They graduated from native radio to backing up singing legend Crosby on his iconic 1944 tune Swinging on a Star and nabbing a contract with MGM Studios in 1943 after shifting out to LA.
Williams carried out together with his brothers within the studio choir for musicals together with Anchors Aweigh, Ziegfeld Follies (each 1945) and The Harvey Ladies (1946), which starred the likes of Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and Dame Angela Lansbury.
In addition they all appeared in Janie (1944), Kansas Metropolis Kitty (1944), One thing within the Wind (1947), alongside Deanna Durbin and Donald O’Connor, and Women’ Man (1947).
Kay Thompson, who was head of the vocal division on the studio, additionally shaped a preferred nightclub act with them from 1947 to 1951, which noticed them carry out in locations together with New York’s Plaza.
After the Williams Brothers went their separate methods in 1951, Williams stored singing, showing on in style TV progammes just like the Eddie Fisher and Nat King Cole tv reveals.
He additionally sang for quite a few commercials and shaped two additional teams: the Don Williams Singers and The Masquers with Burl Ives.
Shortly after the Tropicana Las Vegas resort opened in 1957, he was a solo performer there for 2 years.
Following the success of his youngest brother, Moon River singer Andy, Williams and his sibings reunited every year from 1962 to 1990 to carry out on The Andy Williams Christmas present.
He later turned an agent and supervisor, with Mary Tyler Moore and singer Ray Stevens amongst his shoppers.
Bob Williams, eldest of the quartet, was born in 1918 and died in 2003 aged 85, whereas youthful brother Dick was born in 1926 and died aged 91 in 2018.
Andy Williams, born in 1927, died at 84 in 2012.
Williams is survived by his spouse of 41 years Jeanne, his two sons Andy and David – who carried out themselves because the Williams Brothers – and a grandson, Harrison.
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