Danny Williams sings 'Moon River' - UK No. 1 Hit 1961

Danny Williams was a young South African singer who won a talent contest at the age of 14 and came to London four years later where he signed a record contract. He was a smooth ballad singer who was styled as "Britain's Johnny Mathis" and in 1961, at the age of 19, he had a No. 1 hit with the recording of "Moon River" heard here. This was made famous in the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's" where Henry Mancini's song was sung by Audrey Hepburn. Danny Williams was soon swept aside by the likes of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Elvis and rock'n'roll, so he had no more major hits, as ballads like "Moon River" soon went out of fashion. Still, his recording of "Moon River" fully deserved its No. 1 spot where it stayed in the charts for 19 weeks. He continued with his singing career for a few years, working the nightclub circuit, touring and making records, few of which were very successful. In 2005, at the age of 63, he died of lung cancer.