Roger Williams, Pianist to Presidents, Dead at 87

Roger Williams, nicknamed "pianist to the presidents" has died of complications from pancreatic cancer at the age of 87.

Williams topped the Billboard pop chart in the 1950s and played for nine U.S. presidents during a long career. He died Saturday, at his home in Los Angeles, according to his former publicist Rob Wilcox.

You might remember some of Roger Williams' hits, such as "Born Free," "The Impossible Dream," "Theme From Somewhere In Time," and "Lara's Theme from Dr. Zhivago." However, his biggest hit was 1955's "Autumn Leaves." It was the only piano instrumental to ever reach No. 1 on the Billboard pop charts. "Autumn Leaves" remains the best-selling piano record of all time, with more than 2 million sold.

He was the first pianist to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Steinway & Sons. In 2010 Roger Williams was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

With his father a Lutheran minister, the Rev. Frederick J. Weertz (1891–1980) and his mother a music teacher, Dorothea Bang Weertz (1895–1985), Roger Williams was born as Louis Weertz in Omaha, Nebraska. The family moved to Des Moines, Iowa, before his first birthday. Williams first played the piano at age three.

Williams, then Weertz majored in piano at Drake University in Des Moines, but, according to Wikipedia, was expelled. He claimed he was expelled for playing "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" in the practice room.

He entered the United States Navy and served in World War II. Still in the Navy, he earned a bachelor's degree from Idaho State College (now Idaho State University) in 1950. Afterwards, he re-enrolled at Drake, where he earned a master's degree. He next moved to New York City to study at Juilliard, where he studied jazz piano under Lennie Tristano and Teddy Wilson.

His fame began one night as a result of someone else's absence. One night, he was scheduled to accompany a Juilliard student who was to sing on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. That singer failed to appear, and Weertz went on as a piano soloist and won the night's contest. He was heard by David Kapp, founder of Kapp Records, who was so impressed with Weertz that he signed him, changing his name to "Roger Williams," after the founder of Rhode Island.

In March, Roger Williams announced on his website that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Roger Williams is survived by his daughters, Laura Fisher and Alice Jung, and five grandchildren.

Image Source: Official Roger Williams Website

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