Roger Williams (pianist)

Roger Williams

Williams in 1958.
Background information
Birth name Louis Jacob Weertz
Born (1924-10-01)October 1, 1924
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Died October 8, 2011(2011-10-08) (aged 87)
Encino, California, U.S.
Genres Pop standards
Instruments Piano
Years active 1955–2011
Labels Kapp
Website Roger Williams homepage

Roger Williams (born Louis Jacob Weertz, October 1, 1924 – October 8, 2011) was an American popular music pianist.

Biography

Weertz was born to a Lutheran minister, the Rev. Frederick J. Weertz (1891–1980) and a music teacher, Dorothea Bang Weertz (1895–1985), in Omaha, Nebraska. The family moved to Des Moines, Iowa, before his first birthday. He first played the piano at age three.[1] In high school he became interested in boxing, mainly at his father's insistence, and only returned to music after breaking his nose several times and sustaining several other injuries.

Weertz majored in piano at Drake University in Des Moines, but claimed he was expelled for playing "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" in the practice room. Weertz entered the United States Navy and served in World War II. While still in the Navy, he earned a bachelor's degree from Idaho State College (now Idaho State University) in 1950. Afterwards, Weertz re-enrolled at Drake, where he earned his master's degree. He then moved to New York City to attend Juilliard,[1] where he studied jazz piano under Lennie Tristano and Teddy Wilson.

Weertz won a talent contest on Dennis James' television program, Chance of a Lifetime. David Kapp, founder of Kapp Records, heard him, and was so impressed that he signed the pianist, giving him the professional name "Roger Williams" after the founder of Rhode Island.

In 1955 Williams recorded "Autumn Leaves", the only piano instrumental to reach #1 on Billboard's popular music chart. It sold over two million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. It was the fourth #1 song of the "rock era," which unofficially began with the ascension of "(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets into the top spot.[2] In 1966 he had another Top Ten hit with the song "Born Free" from the motion picture soundtrack. His other hits include "Near You", "Till", "The Impossible Dream", "Yellow Bird", "Maria", and "The Theme from Somewhere in Time". Billboard magazine ranks him as the top selling piano recording artist in history with 18 gold and platinum albums to his credit. Williams was known as the "Pianist to the Presidents", having played for nine US Presidential administrations, beginning with Harry S. Truman.[1] His last White House performance was in November 2008 for a luncheon hosted by First Lady Laura Bush.

On his 75th birthday, Williams performed his first 12-hour piano marathon. He performed the marathon at Steinway Hall in New York City and the Nixon, Carter and Reagan Presidential Libraries. His Steinway & Sons "Gold Steinway"[3] grand piano was on tour for public display and entertainment during 2007–2008. In 2010, Roger Williams was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

Williams developed his particular attitude to his public from a boyhood experience in Des Moines, Iowa. After a piano concert by Ignacy Jan Paderewski, he waited for 45 minutes outside in cold weather to meet Paderewski. When the pianist finally appeared, it was to rush to a waiting automobile. Williams who had waited was upset.

"I didn't even get near enough to touch him or get an autograph. It was then and there I resolved that if ever I became famous I would never disappoint anyone who wanted to talk to me."[4]

Illness and death

In March 2011 Williams posted on his website that he had pancreatic cancer and that his doctors had told him they could not remove the tumor until chemotherapy shrunk it to an operable size. Williams said that he did not plan on canceling any upcoming concerts. He died on October 8, 2011, one week after his 87th birthday.[5][6] Williams was married twice. His first marriage produced three children. Both marriages ended in divorce.[1]

Singles discography

Year Title Chart Positions
US CB US – AC
1955 "Autumn Leaves" 1 1
"Wanting You" 38 41
1956 "La Mer (Beyond the Sea)" 37 42
"Hi-lili Hi-lo" 85 41
"Tumbling Tumbleweeds" 60 34
"Two Different Worlds"with Jane Morgan 41 22
"Anastasia"
1957 "Almost Paradise" 15 16
"Moonlight Love" 54
"Till" 22 24
1958 "Arrivederci, Roma" 55 32
"Young Warm and Wonderful" 31
"Near You" 10 12
"The World Outside" 71 25
1959 "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"
"Winter Wonderland"
"Dearer Than Dear"
"Mockin' Bird Hill"
"Sunrise Serenade" 106 119
1960 "La Montana" 98 62
"Riviera Concerto"
"Temptation" 56 72
1961 "Marie, Marie" 108
"A Lover's Symphony"
"Yellow Bird"
"Clair De Lune (Moonlight Love"
"Maria" 48 40 11
"Santa Claus-Santa Claus"
1962 "Intermezzo"
"Amor" 88 89 16
"On Top Of Old Smokey"
(With The Lincolns and Rich Dehr)
"Niagara Theme"
"Theme From 'Mutiny On The Bounty'"
1963 "Cold, Cold Heart"
"Theme From 'Ben Casey'"
"On The Trail" 113 140
"Janie Is Her Name" 118
"Look Again" 127
"Theme from 'The Cardinal'" 109 120
1964 "Felicia"
"This Is My Prayer"
"Whistl'n" 140
1965 "Vaya Con Dios"
"High Noon"
"Try To Remember" 97 97
"Summer Wind" 109 97 20
"Autumn Leaves '65" 92 110 10
1966 "Lara's Theme" 65 90 5
"Born Free" 7 7 1
1967 "Sunrise, Sunset" 84 65 5
"Love Me Forever" 60 63 3
"More Than A Miracle" 108 100 2
1968 "The Spinning Song"
"The Impossible Dream" / 55 52 5
"If You Go" 37
"Only For Lovers" 119 123 31
1969 "Love Theme From 'La Strada'" 122
"White Christmas"
"Galveston" 99 99 21
"Fill The World With Love"
1970 "Song From 'M*A*S*H' (Suicide Is Painless)"
"Butterflies"
(By Laura and Roger Williams)
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
1971 "Theme From 'Love Story'"
"The Summer Knows (Theme From 'Summer of '42')" 118
"How Can You Mend A Broken Heart"
1972 "Lady Sings The Blues"
"Love Theme From 'The Godfather'" 116 115
1974 "Theme From 'Murder On The Orient Express'"
1975 "Theme From 'Rollerball'"
1976 "Cast Your Fate To The Wind" 39
1977 "Main Theme from King Kong" 32
"Theme From 'Airport 77'"
1980 "Somewhere In Time"

Discography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Nelson, Valerie J. (October 9, 2011). "Roger Williams dies at 87; 'Autumn Leaves' pop pianist found commercial success". Los Angeles Times. p. A43. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  2. ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 77–78. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  3. ↑ "Roger Williams Gold". Steinway & Sons Web Site. Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
  4. ↑ The Tiger, Clemson Agricultural College (Clemson, South Carolina), January 13, 1961, Volume LIV, Number 14, p. 1
  5. ↑ Dennis Hevesi (October 8, 2011). "Roger Williams, Pianist Known for Sentimental Songs, Dies at 87". The New York Times.
  6. ↑ "Pianist Roger Williams dies of cancer at 87". Eyewitness News (KABC). 2011-10-08. Retrieved 2015-01-15.

External links

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