今天早上打開電腦，看見的頭條新聞，是美國老牌歌手，月亮河（Moon River）演唱者Andy Williams逝世的消息：
'Moon River' singer Andy Williams dies:
ST. LOUIS (AP) — With a string of gold albums, a hit TV series and the signature "Moon River," Andy Williams was a voice of the 1960s, although not the '60s we usually hear about.
Williams died Tuesday night at his home in Branson following a yearlong battle with the disease, his Los Angeles-based publicist, Paul Shefrin, said Wednesday. He was 84.
He became a major star the same year as Elvis Presley, 1956, with the Sinatra-like swing "Canadian Sunset," and for a time he was pushed into such Presley imitations as "Lips of Wine" and the No. 1 smash "Butterfly." But he mostly stuck to what he called his "natural style," and kept it up throughout his career. In 1970, when even Sinatra had given up and (temporarily) retired, Williamswas in the top 10 with the theme from "Love Story" the Oscar-winning tearjerker. He had 18 gold records and three platinum, was nominated for five Grammy awards and hosted the Grammy ceremonies for several years.
Movie songs became a specialty, from "Love Story" and Days of Wine and Roses" to "Moon River." The longing Johnny Mercer-Henry Mancini ballad was his most famous song, even though he never released it as a single because his record company feared such lines as "my huckleberry friend" were too confusing and old-fashioned for teens. The song was first performed by Audrey Hepburn in the beloved 1961 film "Breakfast at Tiffany's," but Mancini thought "Moon River" ideal for Williams, who recorded it in "pretty much one take" and also sang it at the 1962 Academy Awards. Although "Moon River" was covered by countless artists and became a hit single for Jerry Butler, Williams made the song his personal brand. In fact, he insisted on it.
"When I hear anybody else sing it, it's all I can to do stop myself from shouting at the television screen, 'No! That's my song!'" Williams wrote in his 2009 memoir, titled, fittingly, "Moon River and Me."
20 年多前在國內讀書時，不知哪兒弄來一盤盒式磁帶，全是英語歌曲選。其中有幾首男聲演唱的歌：“Moon River”，”Love Story” ,“A Time For Us (Romeo & Juliet)” 不知聽了多少遍。記得當時有位女同學說，聽了他的歌，恨不能馬上嫁給他， 他的聲音實在太迷人了。當然，那時大家都不知道唱歌的這個他叫什麽名字，因為那盤盒式磁帶是翻錄的。
多年後，在美國，知道他叫Andy Williams。除了上麵提到的幾首歌，還唱過很多熟悉的電影歌曲和舞曲。相信很多中國人聽過他的歌，但不一定知道他的名字：
A Summer Place
Unchained Melody
Somewhere My Love
Speak Softly Love （The Godfather）
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Andy Williams 晚年在Branson, Missouri 蓋了個命名為Moon River 的劇院。 他的晚年寫的自傳書名也是“Moon River and Me". 可見他對Moon River這首歌的厚愛。
如今, 歌神去了天堂，把月亮河永遠留在了人間。
R.I.P, My Huckleberry Friend!
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