BRANSON, Mo. When tour industry publications compile their annual lists of the most-popular motorcoach destinations, they typically identify the top cities, states, natural wonders, or man-made attractions.

As far as we know, "Andy Williams" never made one of the lists, even the man-made-attraction list, but he was nevertheless a leading motorcoach destination.

In fact, he may have been THE leading "single-person" motorcoach destination for much of the past 20 years.

While Branson, "the live-entertain capital of the universe," has been a top motorcoach "city" destination for more than 30 years, most of passengers on the hundreds of coaches that came here during the past two decades wanted to make certain they saw one person -- Andy Williams.

For the seniors who traveled to Branson, Andy Williams was an entertainer like few others.

He had the longevity of a Tony Bennett and the star power of a Willie Nelson, wrapped in a velvety voice that remained vibrant well into his 80s.

Up until 11 months ago, Mr. Williams was still performing six times a week at the $9 million theater he built in the early 1990s to extend his entertaining and to showcase young and off-beat talent, just as he had done for nearly 10 years on his popular television variety show in the 1960s and early 1970s.

From the day the 2,000-seat Andy Williams Moon River Theater opened in 1992, it was a must-stop destination for motorcoach tours that came to town.

So, when health issues forced Mr. Williams to stop performing last November, and when he died late last month at the age of 84, his departure from lifes stage was a blow not only to his millions of fans but also to an industry that made it possible for tens of thousands of those fans to see him perform -- live.

And anyone who saw him perform, especially as the years piled up, marveled.

Despite performing several months a year, year after year, he retained his crooner capabilities. He also held onto his affable personality, his good looks and his easygoing charm, delivering American pop music with relish and vitality.

Five years ago, in an interview, he attributed his longevity to the joy of performing. He told a reporter: "Perhaps that two hours out on stage is the medicine that everybody should have."

For thousands, his music and show were enough medicine to send them on their way with a feeling that some things in life are as good as we remember them.

Hearing show stoppers like "Moon River," or his closing "May Each Day," or his buoyant Christmas anthem, "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," made his performances unforgettable.

For those with longer memories, Mr. Williams, "the motorcoach destination," dates back to the mid-1960s, when he became a headliner at the opening of Caesars Palace and continued to do shows there for two decades.

"Andy Williams was an American icon whose remarkable career spanned eight decades," said ABA President and CEO Peter Pantuso. "We in the motorcoach, travel and tourism industry owe Mr. Williams a huge debt of gratitude. . . . We truly mourn his passing."