Roger Williams (pianist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roger Williams
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Williams in 1958
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Louis Jacob Weertz |
| Born | October 1, 1924 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Died | October 8, 2011 (aged 87) Encino, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Pop standards |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1955–2011 |
| Labels | Kapp |
Roger Williams, born Louis Jacob Weertz (October 1, 1924 – October 8, 2011), was a famous American piano player. He was known for playing popular music. The Los Angeles Times newspaper called him "one of the most popular instrumentalists" of his time. He was one of the few instrumental artists to become very successful.
Williams had 22 hit songs. These included "Autumn Leaves" in 1955 and "Born Free" in 1966. He also had 38 hit albums between 1955 and 1972. Roger Williams was a boxing champion in the Navy. He played music for nine different U.S. Presidents. A special gold Steinway & Sons piano was even named after him!
Contents
Roger Williams: A Piano Star
Early Life and Music
Louis Jacob Weertz was born in Omaha, Nebraska. His father was a minister. His mother, Dorothea, was a violinist and music teacher. The family moved to Des Moines, Iowa, when he was very young. He started playing the piano at just three years old.
In high school, he became interested in boxing. His father encouraged him to box. Louis went back to music after getting some injuries. When he was young, he played the organ at his father's church. He also played piano at a local restaurant.
Becoming a Professional Musician
Weertz studied piano at Drake University. There, he started mixing different music styles. He combined jazz, classical, and pop music. But he was kicked out for playing a pop song in a practice room. The school only allowed classical music.
After that, Weertz joined the United States Navy. He served during World War II. While in the Navy, he won a boxing championship. He also earned an engineering degree in 1950. He then went back to Drake University. He earned his master's degree in music in 1951. Next, he moved to New York City. He studied jazz piano at Juilliard.
A Star is Born
In 1951 and 1952, Louis Weertz won two talent shows. David Kapp, who started Kapp Records, heard him play. Kapp was very impressed. He signed the pianist to his record label. He gave him a new professional name: "Roger Williams." This name was chosen to be memorable. It was inspired by the founder of Rhode Island.
In 1955, Williams recorded "Autumn Leaves." This song became the only piano instrumental to reach number one on the Billboard music chart. It sold over two million copies! This earned him a gold record. In 1966, he had another big hit. It was the song "Born Free." This song was from a movie soundtrack.
His other popular songs include "Near You" and "Till." He also had hits with "The Impossible Dream" and "Maria." Billboard magazine says he is the best-selling piano artist ever. He had 21 gold and platinum albums.
Playing for Presidents
Roger Williams was known as the "Pianist to the Presidents." He played for nine U.S. Presidents. His first White House performance was for Harry S. Truman. President Truman even played his own version of a Chopin waltz. Williams' last White House show was in 2008. It was for a lunch hosted by First Lady Laura Bush.
Later Achievements and Legacy
On his 75th birthday, Williams played piano for 12 hours straight! He did these long piano marathons at famous places. These included Steinway Hall in New York City. He also played at the Nixon, Carter, and Reagan Presidential Libraries. Williams and President Jimmy Carter shared the same birthday. They celebrated their 80th birthdays together. Williams played a marathon at the Carter Center.
Roger Williams was a "Steinway Artist." He received the "Steinway Lifetime Achievement Award." A special "Roger Williams Limited Edition Gold Piano" was created to honor him. This golden grand piano traveled for public display. In 2010, Williams was added to the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
Williams' music was also in movie soundtracks. These included Somewhere in Time (1980) and Untamed Heart (1993). He performed his hit song Born Free at the 1967 Oscars.
Williams cared a lot about his fans. This came from an experience he had as a boy. He waited a long time to meet a famous pianist. But the pianist rushed away. Williams was disappointed. He decided then that if he became famous, he would never disappoint anyone who wanted to talk to him.
Williams said he knew 10,000 songs by heart. He often took requests from his audience. He believed his musical talent was a gift. He said, "I play my religion through my fingers."
Personal Life
Roger Williams was married twice and had three children. Both marriages ended in divorce.
In March 2011, Williams shared on his website that he had pancreatic cancer. He said doctors could not remove the tumor yet. He wrote that he was in "one more fight – the fight for my life." He passed away on October 8, 2011. This was one week after his 87th birthday.
