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.
Near You
Roger Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's like heaven to be near you
Times when we're apart
And I can't face my heart
Say you'll never stay
More than just two lips away
I'd be more than content, near you
Make my life worth while
By telling me that I'll spend the rest of my days near you
Near you, near you
Make my life worth while
By telling me that I'll spend the rest of my days near you
Spend the rest of my days near you
The lyrics to Roger Williams's song Near You express the deep and intense love that the singer feels for their partner. They believe that being close to their loved one is like being in heaven, and they cannot bear to be away from them. The singer pleads with their partner to never leave them and to always stay close, because even the smallest distance between them is unbearable.
The singer finds contentment in being close to their partner and believes that if they can spend their time near them, their life will be fulfilled. They ask their partner to make their life worth living by promising to always stay close, and to spend the rest of their days together.
Overall, the lyrics to Near You are a powerful expression of love and the desire to be near the one you love.
Line by Line Meaning
There's just one place for me, near you
Being close to you is the only place I want to be
It's like heaven to be near you
Being near you feels like paradise
Times when we're apart
When we are not together
And I can't face my heart
My heart feels broken without you
Say you'll never stay
Promise that you won't leave me
More than just two lips away
Being close to each other means more than just being physically near
If my hours could be spent near you
If I could spend all my time with you
I'd be more than content, near you
I would be extremely happy just being near you
Make my life worth while
Give my life meaning and purpose
By telling me that I'll spend the rest of my days near you
Let me know that I will spend the rest of my life with you
Near you, near you
Continuously emphasize my desire to be close to you
Spend the rest of my days near you
My ultimate goal is to spend my entire life close to you
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRANCIS CRAIG, KERMIT GOELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dusty Lacey
I grew up listening to this music. Roger Williams was great
John Sientz
Was Francis Craig's name really misspelled on the label? Wow ... but a great record!
Jim Hilliker
Good stuff. Love it.
Charlotte Fairchild
Mom loved playing piano and she missed Roger Williams because of food poisoning when he came to Atlanta. My husband stayed behind and spent time talking with her. I went with my Dad and sister to the Presidential Center for President Carter where Roger Williams played for 11 sets on his 80th birthday he shared with Mr. Carter. He asked anyone to sing K-k-k-katy and so I did a few bars and people joined in. Then he asked me in the next set to sing Bicycle Built for 2 so I did and no one joined in and he said I could sing for him anytime. I called him after the suicide of his friend just a week or 2 later and he said he didn't need me. In a way that was odd because I was a hospital chaplain. I had been at Emory Parkway Medical Center on 9/11/2001 and volunteered at Wellstar for a year in 2003-2004. So I missed my big break and sang for genius. Probably no one remembers it except my sister.
Ted Cantu
Moms favorite. Big fan of Roger Williams. Nobody can play this song like him. Oh how we all miss him.
Lars Nyberg
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