The Andy Williams Show Makes Mike Post Its Music Director at Age 24

At age 24, Andy Williams made me the Music Director of his new variety show. I became the youngest musician to ever hold such a position in TV. More importantly, it gave me a 48-piece orchestra every week to use like lab to try all kinds of crazy things, from composing music for dogs performing tricks to crooner/pop stuff for Andy to working with many of my music idols, like Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, and Jerry Lee Lewis.
#andywilliams #musichistory #raycharles #arethafranklin #chuckberry #bodiddley #jerryleelewis #mikepost #varietyshow

[@ben2715]

It was this show's hip musical atmosphere that attracted my attention as a young teen. In addition to cool guests like Ray, Cass, Elton, Tina Turner, and The Temptations, Andy covered rock hits I recognized (like "Out in the Country," "Easy to Be Hard," and "It Don't Matter to Me") with equally cool arrangements. I loved the psychedelic transitional music as well. Twenty years later, I had the opportunity to mention these things to Andy, as well as how the deep-sounding bass and drums emanating from my family's little TV speaker were unlike the flatter, tinny sound of more traditional musical-variety orchestras of the time. Andy immediately responded, "That was Mike Post. He prerecorded the orchestra in a recording studio to get that sound." Thanks, Mike, for helping to expand Andy's musical versatility - I'm so glad he hired you back in 1969, and I've developed a lifelong appreciation for both him and you.

[@Brad_Bane]

Andy and Cass Elliot backed by Ray Charles and Elton John!?! 😮

[@allkindsofoutdooractivities]

Amazing!