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.
Somewhere my Love
Roger Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like an April breeze on the wings of spring,
And you appear in all your splendor,
My one and only love.
The shadows fall and spread their mystic charms
In the hush of night while you're in my arms.
I feel your lips, so warm and tender,
The touch of your hand is like heaven,
A heaven that I've never known.
The blush on your cheek whenever I speak
Tells me that you are my own.
You fill my eager heart with such desire.
Ev'ry kiss you give sets my soul on fire.
I give myself in sweet surrender,
My one and only love.
In this beautiful love song, the singer expresses his deep and passionate love for his significant other. The mere thought of the person makes his heart sing and fills him with joy, like the fluttering of the wings of spring that bring new life and beauty. The person is described as appearing in all their splendor, indicating their beauty and allure. The singer then goes on to describe how being with the person is magical, like the shadows falling and spreading their mystical charm in the hush of the night. He describes how he feels the warmth and tenderness of their lips and the touch of their hands that he compares to heaven, something he has never experienced before.
The singer then goes on to describe how the person is uniquely his own. The blush on their cheek whenever he speaks tells him that he is the sole object of their affection, that they belong to each other. The person fills his eager heart with such desire, and every kiss from them sets his soul on fire. Finally, he gives himself fully and completely to the person in sweet surrender, declaring them his one and only love.
Overall, this song is a romantic and heartfelt declaration of love that emphasizes the depth of the singer's emotions for the person he loves. It celebrates the beauty and magic of being in love and the unique connection between two people that makes them each other's one and only love.
Line by Line Meaning
The very thought of you makes my heart sing
The mere idea of you brings me unbridled joy
Like an April breeze on the wings of spring,
You come into my life like a cool gust of air from the emerging season of rebirth and rejuvenation,
And you appear in all your splendor,
You arrive with your full magnificence and grandeur,
My one and only love.
You are the only one I truly love.
The shadows fall and spread their mystic charms
As nightfall comes, an entrancing atmosphere of intrigue and magic fills the air
In the hush of night while you're in my arms.
As we hold each other close in the silence of the night
I feel your lips, so warm and tender,
I feel the warmth and tenderness of your lips against mine
My one and only love.
Again, you are my only love.
The touch of your hand is like heaven,
Your touch is like the blissful feeling that can only come from a divine place
A heaven that I've never known.
I've never felt this kind of a perfect, ethereal connection before
The blush on your cheek whenever I speak
Your rosy cheeks when I talk to you reveal the depth of your emotions
Tells me that you are my own.
It convinces me that you are mine and only mine
You fill my eager heart with such desire.
Your presence ignites an ardent longing in my heart
Ev'ry kiss you give sets my soul on fire.
Each kiss from you has the power to set my soul ablaze with passion
I give myself in sweet surrender,
I surrender myself wholly and completely to you, my love
My one and only love.
One last time, you're my only love
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Guy B. Wood, Robert Mellin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind