| 词条 | Roger Williams (pianist) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 释义 |
|name = Roger Williams |background = non_vocal_instrumentalist |image=Roger Williams 1958.JPG |caption=Williams in 1958. |birth_name = Louis Jacob Weertz |birth_date = {{Birth date|1924|10|1|mf=y}} |birth_place = Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |death_date = {{Death date and age|2011|10|8|1924|10|1}} |death_place = Encino, California, U.S. |genre = Pop standards |instrument = Piano |years_active = 1955–2011 |label = Kapp |website = {{URL|http://www.mrpianotoday.com/|Roger Williams homepage}} }} Roger Williams (born Louis Jacob Weertz, October 1, 1924 – October 8, 2011) was an American popular music pianist. BiographyWeertz was born to a Lutheran minister, the Rev. Frederick J. Weertz (1891–1980) and a music teacher, Dorothea Bang Weertz (1895–1985), in Omaha, Nebraska. The family moved to Des Moines, Iowa, before his first birthday. He first played the piano at age three.[1] In high school he became interested in boxing, mainly at his father's insistence, and returned to music only after breaking his nose several times and sustaining several other injuries. Weertz majored in piano at Drake University in Des Moines, but was expelled for playing "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" in the practice room instead of classical music. Weertz entered the United States Navy and served in World War II. While still in the Navy, he earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from Idaho State College (now Idaho State University) in 1950. Afterward, Weertz re-enrolled at Drake, where he earned his master's degree in music in 1951. He then moved to New York City to attend Juilliard,[1] where he studied jazz piano under Lennie Tristano and Teddy Wilson. During 1951-1952 Weertz won 2 talent contests: "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts" and Dennis James "Chance of a Lifetime" television program. David Kapp, the founder of Kapp Records, heard him play at the Hotel Madison and was so impressed that he signed the pianist, giving him the professional name "Roger Williams" after the founder of Rhode Island. In 1955 Williams recorded "Autumn Leaves", the only piano instrumental to reach #1 on Billboard's popular music chart. It sold over two million copies, and was awarded a gold record. It was the fourth #1 song of the "rock era," which unofficially began with the ascension of "(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets into the top spot.[2] 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.[1] His last White House performance was in November 2008 for a luncheon hosted by First Lady Laura Bush. On his 75th birthday, Williams performed his first 12-hour piano marathon. He performed the marathon at Steinway Hall in New York City and the Nixon, Carter, and Reagan Presidential Libraries. He was a Steinway Artist and was awarded their "Steinway Lifetime Achievement Award." His Steinway & Sons "Roger Williams Limited Edition Gold Steinway" piano was designed by Steinway in his honor.[3] This grand piano was on tour for public display and entertainment during 2007–2008. In 2010, Roger Williams was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame. Williams developed his particular attitude to 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 who had waited was upset. I didn't even get near enough to touch him or get an autograph. It was then and there I resolved that if ever I became famous I would never disappoint anyone who wanted to talk to me.[4] Illness and deathIn 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 shrunk it to an operable size. Williams 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] Williams was married twice. His first marriage produced three children. Both marriages ended in divorce.[1] Singles discography
Discography{{expand section|date=January 2011}}
References1. ^1 2 3 {{cite news | work=Los Angeles Times | url = http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-williamsroger-20111009-story.html | title = Roger Williams dies at 87; 'Autumn Leaves' pop pianist found commercial success | page = A43 | date = October 9, 2011 | last = Nelson | first = Valerie J. | accessdate = November 17, 2014}} 2. ^{{cite book | first= Joseph | last= Murrells | year= 1978 | title= The Book of Golden Discs | edition= 2nd | publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd | location= London | pages= 77–78 | isbn= 0-214-20512-6}} 3. ^{{cite web|title=Roger Williams Gold|url=http://www.steinway.com/pianos/steinway/art-case/roger-williams/|work=Steinway & Sons Web Site|accessdate=October 8, 2011|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/62HuIjLvW?url=http://www.steinway.com/pianos/steinway/art-case/roger-williams/|archivedate=October 8, 2011|deadurl=yes|df=}} 4. ^The Tiger, Clemson Agricultural College (Clemson, South Carolina), January 13, 1961, Volume LIV, Number 14, p. 1 5. ^{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/arts/music/roger-williams-pianist-known-for-sentimental-songs-dies-at-87.html?ref=deathsobituaries|title=Roger Williams, Pianist Known for Sentimental Songs, Dies at 87|author=Dennis Hevesi|date=October 8, 2011|work=The New York Times}} 6. ^{{cite web | author= | url=http://abc7.com/archive/8384224/ | title=Pianist Roger Williams dies of cancer at 87 | work=Eyewitness News (KABC) | date=2011-10-08 | accessdate=2015-01-15}} External links
17 : 1924 births|2011 deaths|American Lutherans|American pop pianists|American male pianists|Easy listening musicians|Juilliard School alumni|American military personnel of World War II|Drake University alumni|Musicians from Des Moines, Iowa|Idaho State University alumni|Deaths from pancreatic cancer|Deaths from cancer in California|Kapp Records artists|Musicians from Iowa|20th-century American pianists|20th-century male musicians |
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