CHRISTMAS IN BRANSON: ANDY WILLIAMS STILL MAKES SEASON BRIGHT

BRANSON -- Back in the early '60s, Andy Williams' record company had first crack at a wistful song from the musical "Breakfast at Tiffany's." They passed. Williams himself rejected the future hits "Volare" and "More," but he finally did get around to recording "Moon River."

The album by that name went gold in 1963 and a year later Williams was hosting his own show on NBC. The song and long-running variety program made him a star, and the magical Christmas specials featuring his family became part of television lore.

These days, Williams is doing his singing in Branson at the Andy Williams Moon River Theatre. In 1992, he was the first non-country performer to establish a theater there, opening the door for Wayne Newton, the Osmond Brothers and others.

Williams' decision to move to Branson was simply a logical one. "I just thought they would come and see me because of having so much television exposure and hit records," he said in a telephone interview from the theater.

"Country music fans aren't one-dimensional ... and I couldn't see any reason why they wouldn't come and see me just because I wasn't country. I was right."

Tickets to see Williams' show are among the hottest in Branson, especially at this time of year when his Christmas show is under way.

The show began running Nov. 5 and continues through Dec. 21. More than 600 trees surrounding the theater are covered in twinkling lights, and there are more than 100 birch and pine trees on the stage.

He sings many of the songs from his new album, "We Need a Little Christmas," and presents a montage of film clips from his Christmas specials.

Williams introduced the youthful Osmond Brothers to the world through his TV show.

"My father found the Osmonds and brought them to me," he recalls. "He said, these guys are the same age. I think you ought to give them a shot.

"I said, Yes sir."

It was a case of giving back what he'd been given.

Growing up in Wall Lake, Iowa, 8-year-old Andy Williams was the youngest member of the Williams Brothers Quartet. They made their way onto some large radio shows in Des Moines, Cincinnati and Chicago before Bing Crosby heard them. Crosby recorded "Swinging on a Star" with the Osmonds.

When the Williams Brothers Quartet disbanded in 1951, Andy struck out for New York.

Despite "Volare" (a hit for both Dean Martin and Bobby Rydell) and "More" (a Perry Como hit), he's had an ear for good songs. His list of hits prior to and after "Moon River" includes "Hawaiian Wedding Song," "Can't Get Used to Losing You, "The Days of Wine and Roses," "Call Me Irresponsible," "Dear Heart," "The Shadow of Your Smiles," "born Free" and "Love Story."

On the other hand, he didn't like the Beatles when he first heard them. "I had been brought up in a different kind of group background. Singing with my brothers I heard everything in modern harmony, like the Modernaires."

Now he loves the Beatles' music.

Today, Williams lives nine months of each year on a Branson golf course with his wife Debbie and their dogs Cody and Sophie. The other three months are spent in Palm Springs.

He says his wife had more trouble adjusting to life in Branson than he did. "Having my own theater and doing a show six days a week, I didn't have time to have problems," he said.