He 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. In high school he became interested in boxing, mainly at his father's insistence, and only returned to music after breaking his nose several times and sustaining several other injuries.
He majored in piano at Drake University in Des Moines, but claimed he was expelled for playing "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" in the practice room. Weertz entered the United States Navy and served in World War II. While still in the Navy, he earned a bachelor's degree from Idaho State College (now Idaho State University) in 1950. Afterwards, Weertz re-enrolled at Drake, where he earned his master's degree. He then moved to New York City to attend Juilliard, where he studied jazz piano under Lennie Tristano and Teddy Wilson.
Williams won a talent contest on Dennis James' television program, Chance of a Lifetime. He was heard by David Kapp, founder of Kapp Records. Kapp was so impressed that he signed the pianist, changing his name to "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 disc. 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. 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". Billboard magazine ranks him as the top selling piano recording artist in history with 18 gold and platinum albums to his credit. Williams was known as the "Pianist to the Presidents" having played for nine administrations beginning with Harry S. Truman. His last White House performance was in November 2008 for a luncheon hosted by First Lady Laura Bush.
His interest in the public stems from a boyhood experience in Des Moines, Iowa. After a piano concert by the Polish genius Ignacy Jan Paderewski, young Roger waited for 45 minutes outside in the freezing cold to meet his idol. When the pianist finally appeared it was to rush to a waiting automobile. "I didn't even get near enough to touch him or get an autograph," says Williams. "It was then and there I resolved that if ever I became famous I would never disappoint anyone who wanted to talk to me."
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. His Steinway & Sons "Gold Steinway" 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. At that time, "Autumn Leaves" was the best-selling piano solo record of all time and the only one ever to top the Billboard charts.
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 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!"
Williams died on October 8, 2011, one week after his 87th birthday.
April Love
Roger Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every star's a wishing star that shines for you
April love is all the seven wonders
One little kiss can tell you this is true
Sometimes an April day will suddenly bring showers
Rain to grow the flowers for her first bouquet
But April love can slip right thru your fingers
So if she's the one, don't let her run away
April love is for the very young
Every star's a wishing star that shines for you
April love is all the seven wonders
One little kiss can tell you this is true
Sometimes an April day will suddenly bring showers
Rain to grow the flowers for her first bouquet
But April love can slip right thru your fingers
So if she's the one, don't let her run away
The lyrics of Roger Williams's song April Love are about young love and its ephemeral nature. The song is essentially a love song about how fleeting love can be, particularly when it is young and inexperienced. The chorus of the song speaks to the many wonders of April love, such as how even the stars shine for the young lovers, and how a single kiss can reveal the truth of their feelings.
The song seems to suggest that even though April love can be beautiful and magical, it can also be fragile and easily lost, like the flowers that bloom in the rain. It is a reminder that love must be nurtured and protected if it is to survive. At its core, April Love is a song about seizing the moment and not letting go of the one you love if you truly want to be with them.
Overall, Roger Williams's April Love is a song that celebrates the joy and beauty of young love, while also acknowledging the vulnerability and fleeting nature of that love. It is a song that speaks to the hearts of those who have ever been in love, and serves as a reminder that true love is worth fighting for.
Line by Line Meaning
April love is for the very young
The emotions and feelings related to love felt in April are most intense at a young age.
Every star's a wishing star that shines for you
There is always hope and luck in love; every star under the sky shines for that one true love.
April love is all the seven wonders
April love is magnificent, full of surprises and enchanting to the heart. It has the power to make one feel alive and see the world's wonders.
One little kiss can tell you this is true
A kiss is worth a thousand words; a single kiss can reveal the honest intentions of a person's heart.
Sometimes an April day will suddenly bring showers
At times, there could be unexpected events in April that can bring tears and sadness in relationships.
Rain to grow the flowers for her first bouquet
Even though the rain brings challenges in love, it can serve a purpose, like nurturing a relationship and help love bloom like flowers in a bouquet.
But April love can slip right thru your fingers
Love needs to be cherished, valued, and appreciated before it disappears in a blink of an eye.
So if she's the one, don't let her run away
If someone has found true love in April, then they should not let it go as such opportunities do not come often in life.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Paul Francis Webster, Sammy Fain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind