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Roger Williams (pianist)

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 singles–including the chart-topping "Autumn Leaves" in 1955 and "Born Free" in 1966–and 38 hit albums between 1955 and 1972.[1]

Roger Williams

Louis Jacob Weertz

(1924-10-01)October 1, 1924
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.

October 8, 2011(2011-10-08) (aged 87)
Encino, California, U.S.

1955–2011

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.[1]

Personal life[edit]

Williams was married twice. His first marriage produced three children. Both marriages ended in divorce.[1]


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 shrank it to an operable size. He said that he did not plan on canceling any upcoming concerts. He wrote: "What does it all mean? It means I'm in just one more fight – the fight for my life... And this much I know, this old Navy boxing champion is going for broke. Just watch me!" He died on October 8, 2011, one week after his 87th birthday.[5][6]

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

(Kapp KL-1081) – 1958

Till

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

The Piano Magic of Roger Williams (Columbia Musical Treasuries P2S-5306, P3S-5314) – 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)

Official website

at IMDb

Roger Williams

at AllMusic

Roger Williams

of Iowa legislature honoring Roger Williams

Text of resolution

Roger Williams page on

Nebraska Music Hall of Fame site

at Find a Grave

Roger Williams

at NAMM Oral History Collection (2006)

Roger Williams Interview

Media related to Roger Williams (pianist) at Wikimedia Commons