Roger Williams

Roger Williams (born Louis Jacob Weertz; October 1, 1924 – October 8, 2011) was an American popular music pianist. Described by the Los Angeles Times as "one of the most popular instrumentalists of the mid-20th century", and "the rare instrumental pop artist to strike a lasting commercial chord," Williams had 22 hit singlesincluding the chart-topping "Autumn Leaves" in 1955 and "Born Free" in 1966and 38 hit albums between 1955 and 1972.

He was a Navy boxing champion, played for nine U.S. Presidential administrations, and had a gold Steinway & Sons grand piano model named in his honor. 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" which was part of the film's music score. Billboard magazine ranks him as the top-selling piano recording artist in history, with 21 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 – who requested Bach and Ravel, then played his own version of the Chopin waltz. This grand piano was on tour for public display and entertainment during 2007–2008. In 2010, Williams was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

Williams' music was in movie soundtracks: More Than a Miracle (1967), Somewhere in Time (1980), Untamed Heart ("Nature Boy") (1993), Reckless and ("O Little Town of Bethlehem") (both 1995). He performed his hit song Born Free for the 1967 Oscars "Best Original - Song / Music Score."

Williams developed his caring attitude towards 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 was upset.

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

Williams claimed to know 10,000 songs by heart and often took requests. Of his talent, he said: “I know I was given a gift, and once in a while I go to church and say, ‘Hey, thanks.’ I play my religion through my fingers.”

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 251959 "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 1201964 "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'" "Theme from Summer of '42 (The Summer Knows)" 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" 391977 "Main Theme from King Kong" 32 "Theme From 'Airport 77'" 1980 "Somewhere in Time"

Discography The Boy Next Door (Kapp KL-1003) – 1957 It's a Big Wide Wonderful World (Kapp KL-1008) – 1958 Roger Williams with Orchestra (Kapp KL-1012) – 1955 Daydreams (Kapp KL-1031) – 1955 Roger Williams Plays the Wonderful Music of the Masters (Kapp KL-1040) – 1956 Roger Williams Plays Christmas Songs (Kapp KL-1042) – 1956 Roger Williams Plays Beautiful Waltzes (Kapp KL-1062, KS-3000) – 1957 Almost Paradise (Kapp KL-1063) – 1957 Songs of the Fabulous Fifties (Kapp KXL-5000) (2-record set) – 1957 Songs of the Fabulous Forties (Kapp KXL-5003) (2-record set) – 1957 Songs of the Fabulous Century (Kapp KXL-5005) (2-record set) – 1958 Till (Kapp KL-1081) – 1958 Roger Williams Plays Gershwin (Kapp KL-1088) – 1958 Near You (Kapp KL-1112) – 1959 More Songs of the Fabulous Fifties (Kapp KL-1130, KS-3013) – 1959 With These Hands (Kapp KL-1147, KS-3030) – 1959 Christmas Time (Kapp KL-1164, KS-3048, MCA-536, MCA-15005) – 1959 Always – Melodies That Will Live Forever (Kapp KL-1172, KS-3056) – 1960 Songs of the Fabulous Forties – Part 1 (Kapp KL-1207, KS-3207) – 1960 Songs of the Fabulous Forties – Part 2 (Kapp KL-1208, KS-3208) – 1960 Songs of the Fabulous Fifties – Part 1 (Kapp KL-1209, KS-3209) – 1960 Songs of the Fabulous Fifties – Part 2 (Kapp KL-1210, KS-3210) – 1960 Songs of the Fabulous Century – Part 1 (Kapp KL-1211, KS-3211) – 1960 Songs of the Fabulous Century – Part 2 (Kapp KL-1212, KS-3212) – 1960 Temptation (Kapp KL-1217, KS-3217) – 1960 Roger Williams Invites You to Dance (Kapp KL-1222, KS-3222) – 1961 Yellow Bird (Kapp KL-1244, KS-3244) – 1961 Songs of the Soaring '60s – Vol. 1 (Kapp KL-1251, KS-3251) – 1961 Roger Williams at Town Hall (Kapp KXL-5008) (2-record set) – 1961 Greatest Hits (Kapp KL-1260, KS-3260) – 1962 Maria (Kapp KL-1266, KS-3266) – 1962 Mr. Piano (Kapp KL-1290, KS-3290) – 1962 Country Style (Kapp KL-1305) – 1963 For You (Kapp KL-1336, KS-3336) – 1963 The Solid Gold Steinway (Kapp KL-1354, KS-3354) – 1964 By Special Request (Kapp KL-3. KS-3) – 1964 Roger Williams Family Album of Hymns (Kapp KS-3395) Academy Award Winners (Kapp KL-1406, KL-3406) – 1964 Roger Williams Plays the Hits (Kapp KL-1414, KS-3414) – 1965 Summer Wind and Your Special Requests (Kapp KL-1434, KS-3434) – 1965 Autumn Leaves – 1965 (Kapp KL-1452, KS-3452) – 1965 I'll Remember You (Kapp KL-1470, KS-3470) – 1967 Somewhere My Love (Kapp KS-3470) – 1967 Academy Award Winners – Vol. 2 (Kapp KL-1483) Born Free (Kapp KL-1501, KS-3501, KTL-3501) – 1966 Roger! (Kapp KL-1512, KS-3512) – 1967 Golden Hits (Kapp KL-1530, KS-3530) – 1967 By Special Request – Vol. 2 (Kapp KL-4, KS-4) – 1967 Amor (Kapp KS-3549) – 1968 The Impossible Dream (Kapp KS-3550) – 1968 More Than a Miracle (Kapp KS-3550) Only for Lovers (Kapp KS-3565) – 1968 Happy Heart (Kapp KS-3595) – 1969 Roger Williams Plays Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet and Other Great Movie Themes (Kapp KS-3610, L3610) Themes from Great Movies (Kapp KS-3629) – 1970 Golden Hits – Vol. 2 (Kapp KS-3638) – 1970 Magic Moods – Roger Williams/Bert Kaempfert (MCA Special Markets DL-734729) – 1970 Love Story (Kapp KS-3645) – 1971 Summer of '42 (The Summer Knows) (Kapp KS-3650) – 1971 Twilight Themes: 10 All-Time Favorites (Longines Symphonette Society – SYS5329, LS206C, LWS 640) – 1971 Love Theme from "The Godfather" (Kapp KS-3665) – 1972 Play Me: Love Themes from "Lady Sings the Blues" (Kapp KS-3671) – 1972 The Roger Williams Showcase (Kapp KW-900) Roger Williams (MCA-324) – 1973 Roger Williams Live (MCA-378) – 1973 The Way We Were (MCA-403) – 1974 I Honestly Love You (MCA-438) – 1975 Virtuoso (MCA-2175) – 1976 Nadia's Theme (MCA-2237) – 1976 The Best of Roger Williams (MCA2-4106, RCA Music Service R-243835) (2-record set) – 1976 Evergreen (MCA-2279) – 1977 Autumn Leaves: The Best of Roger Williams (Reader's Digest RDA-187) (8-record set) – 1979 Golden Christmas (Holiday HDY-1927) – 1981 Ivory Impact (Bainbridge BT-8002) – 1982 1970's (MCA2-4180) – 1983 The Best of the Beautiful (MCAD-5571) – 1985 To Amadeus with Love (MCAD-5574) – 1985 Somewhere in Time (Bainbridge BT-6265) – 1986 Today, My Way (Priority (Capitol) Records SL9323) – 1986 The Great Love Songs (MCA Special Products 15074) (3-CD set) – 1993 Golden Christmas (Special Music Company SCD-4607) – 1993 Sunrise Sunset (MCA, Pickwick SPC-3511) Spanish Eyes (MCA, Pickwick SPC-3367) Roger Williams & Ferrante and Teicher (Metro M-484) Born Free ... and Other Great Romantic Melodies (Longines Symphonette Society LS 206-A) (5-record box set)