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Daydreams, Roger Williams

Roger Williams

September 20th, 2013

Birth Name:
Louis Weertz

Born:
October 1, 1924 in Omaha, NE

Genre:
Pop

Years Active:
'50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, '00s, '10s






Roger Williams

Biography

Pianist Roger Williams' sweeping, sparkling arpeggios, showy technique, and gentle easy listening arrangements made him one of the most popular pop instrumentalists of the late '50s and '60s. Like many other easy listening musicians, he blurred the boundaries between pop, jazz, and classical, creating a smooth, relaxing hybrid. Between 1955 and 1972, he had 38 hit albums and 22 hit singles, including the number one hit "Autumn Leaves.". Pianist Roger Williams' sweeping, sparkling arpeggios, showy technique, and gentle easy listening arrangements made him one of the most popular pop instrumentalists of the late '50s and '60s. Like many other easy listening musicians, he blurred the boundaries between pop, jazz, and classical, creating a smooth, relaxing hybrid. Between 1955 and 1972, he had 38 hit albums and 22 hit singles, including the number one hit "Autumn Leaves."

Williams (born Louis Weertz) began playing piano as a child, but he was lured into boxing while he was a high-school student. After suffering several injuries — including breaking his nose a number of times — he decided to turn his full attention to music, enrolling as a piano major at Drake University. As a student, he began playing hybrids of jazz, classical, and pop. A school official heard him playing "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" in one of the university's practice rooms and expelled the young musician.

Following his expulsion, Williams joined the Navy, where he earned a B.A. in engineering. When his tenure in the Navy was finished, he went back to Drake and re-enrolled in the university. After a couple of years, he moved to Juilliard, where he studied under jazz pianists Lennie Tristano and Teddy Wilson.

Williams' first big break arrived when he was scheduled to provide accompaniment for a Juilliard vocalist on Arthur Godfrey & Talent Scouts 1946-50. The vocalist didn't appear at the show, leaving the pianist to play a solo spot. Dave Kapp, the head of Kapp Records, heard Williams on the show and was impressed. Kapp signed the pianist to a contract and changed his name from Louis Weertz to Roger Williams; the name derived from the founder of Rhode Island.

After releasing a few singles, Williams had his first hit with the arpeggio-laden "Autumn Leaves" in 1955. The single reached number one on the U.S. charts and began a streak of 22 hit singles that ran through 1969; he had two other Top Ten hits, "Near You" in 1958 and "Born Free" in 1966. Williams was equally successful on the album charts, racking up a total of 38 hit records between 1956 and 1972, including the Top Ten albums Songs of the Fabulous Fifties (1957), Till (1958), Maria (1962), and Born Free (1966).

Williams' audience faded away in the early '70s, but he continued to record into the '80s. He remained one of the most popular pianists of the postwar era. He was the first pianist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and he played for every President of the United States between Harry Truman and Bill Clinton. Roger Williams died of complications from pancreatic cancer on October 8, 2011 in Los Angeles; he was 87 years old.

Top Albums

Daydreams, Roger Williams
1. Daydreams
Roger Williams: The Greatest Popular Pianist/The Artist's Choice, Roger Williams
2. Roger Willia..
Roger Williams' Greatest Hits, Roger Williams
3. Roger Willia..
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Roger Williams, Roger Williams
4. 20th Century..
Reader's Digest Music: The Best of Roger Williams - The Reader's Digest Recordings, Vol. 1, Roger Williams
5. Reader's Dig..
Plays the Songs of Love, Roger Williams
6. Plays the So..
Piano Christmas Classics, Roger Williams
7. Piano Christ..
The Roger Williams Collection, Roger Williams
8. The Roger Wi..
Roger Williams: Greatest Hits, Roger Williams
9. Roger Willia..
Moments to Remember, Roger Williams
10. Moments to R..
Reader's Digest Music: The Best of Roger Williams - The Reader's Digest Recordings, Vol. 2, Roger Williams
11. Reader's Dig..
America's Best Selling Pianist- 4 Original Albums 1957 - 1961 & Bonus Tracks, Roger Williams
12. America's Be..
More Songs of the Fabulous Fifties, Roger Williams
13. More Songs o..
Pop Goes the Ivories, Roger Williams
14. Pop Goes the..
An American Songbird In Paris, Jane Morgan
15. An American ..
Plays More Golden Songs of Love, Roger Williams
16. Plays More G..
Classic Praise, Roger Williams
17. Classic Prai..
Phantom of the Opera, Roger Williams
18. Phantom of t..
Roger Williams (The Man Called) Mr. Piano: Plays Romantic Melodies of Our Time, Roger Williams
19. Roger Willia..
Yellow Bird, Roger Williams
20. Yellow Bird

Top Songs

NameAlbumTimePrice
1.
Theme from "Somewhere In Time..Somewhere In Time (Soundtra..3:24$1.29
2.
When I Grow Too Old to DreamDaydreams2:24$0.99
3.
Autumn Leaves50 Best Slow Dance Songs Ev..2:58$0.99
4.
Forgotton DreamsSmokin' Lounge Music4:00$0.99
5.
Nature BoyRomantic Songs "Piano B..3:49$0.99
6.
Oh, What It Seemed to BeRomantic Songs "Piano B..2:18$0.99
7.
Groovin' You (French Revo Dub Mi..Discogalaxy Ibiza Sampler 2..5:24$0.99
8.
Groovin' You (Extended Mix)Discogalaxy Ibiza Sampler 2..6:41$0.99
9.
Bells of St. Mary's100 Romantic Songs Piano Ba..2:08$0.99
10.
Cheek to Cheek100 Romantic Songs Piano Ba..2:37$0.99
11.
Anniversary Song100 Romantic Songs Piano Ba..3:52$0.99
12.
Some Enchanted Evening100 Romantic Songs Piano Ba..3:06$0.99
13.
Nature Boy100 Romantic Songs Piano Ba..3:49$0.99
14.
Theme from "Exodus"Greatest Piano Works (1957-..3:27$0.99
15.
O Mio Babbino Caro (Oh My Beloved Da..Greatest Piano Works (1957-..2:47$0.99
16.
Theme From "the Apartment"Greatest Piano Works (1957-..2:14$0.99
17.
Hey ThereGreatest Piano Works (1957-..3:47$0.99
18.
Affair to Remember (Our Love Affair)Greatest Piano Works (1957-..3:34$0.99
19.
Dark EyesGreatest Piano Works (1957-..3:05$0.99
20.
Unchained MelodyGreatest Piano Works (1957-..2:58$0.99
21.
Anniversary SongFabulous Forties, Piano &am..3:52$0.99
22.
To Each His OwnFabulous Forties, Piano &am..2:45$0.99
23.
Some Enchanted EveningFabulous Forties, Piano &am..3:06$0.99
24.
LindaFabulous Forties, Piano &am..2:59$0.99
25.
Don't Fence Me InFabulous Forties, Piano &am..1:52$0.99

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