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.
Spanish Eyes/Them From Love Story
Roger Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Teardrops are falling from your Spanish eyes
Please, please don't cry
This is just adios and not goodbye
Soon I'll return
Bringing you all the love your heart can hold
Please say "Si, si"
Blue Spanish eyes
Prettiest eyes in all of Mexico
True Spanish eyes
Please smile at me once more before I go
Soon I'll return
Bringing you all the love your heart can hold
Please say "Si, si"
Say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me
Say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me
The Roger Williams's song "Spanish Eyes/Them From Love Story" is a ballad about a man leaving his lover with the titular "Spanish Eyes" and promising to return soon. "Blue Spanish eyes" are described as "teardrops falling" from the woman's eyes, implying sadness and perhaps even tears. The singer does not want the woman to cry and says that this is only "adios" (goodbye) and not "adios forever." He promises to return soon with all the love the woman's heart can hold, asking her to say "Si, si" (yes, yes) and promise that her "Spanish eyes" will wait for him.
The song creates a romanticized image of Mexico, describing the woman's eyes as the "prettiest in all of Mexico" and "true Spanish eyes." The singer wants the woman to smile at him before he goes and to wait for him until he returns. The repetition of the phrase "please say 'Si, si,'" emphasizes the singer's desire for the woman to give her consent and shows that he cares deeply for her.
Overall, "Spanish Eyes/Them From Love Story" paints a picture of a man deeply in love with a woman with lovely Spanish eyes, promising to return and bring her all the love in his heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Blue Spanish eyes
The singer addresses the person with Spanish heritage, particularly the color of their eyes.
Teardrops are falling from your Spanish eyes
The singer acknowledges that the person with Spanish heritage is crying.
Please, please don't cry
The singer tries to comfort the person with Spanish heritage and asks them not to cry.
This is just adios and not goodbye
The artist assures the person with Spanish heritage that they will come back soon.
Soon I'll return
The artist promises to return to the person with Spanish heritage.
Bringing you all the love your heart can hold
The singer promises to bring back as much love as the person with Spanish heritage's heart can hold.
Please say "Si, si"
The singer requests the person with Spanish heritage to say yes in Spanish.
Say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me
The artist requests the person with Spanish heritage to wait for them and their love.
Prettiest eyes in all of Mexico
The artist compliments the person with Spanish heritage's beautiful eyes, comparing them to the prettiest eyes in all of Mexico.
True Spanish eyes
The artist acknowledges that the person with Spanish heritage has genuine Spanish eyes.
Please smile at me once more before I go
The singer requests the person with Spanish heritage to smile at them before they leave.
Say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me
The artist reiterates their request for the person with Spanish heritage to wait for them and their love.
Say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me
The singer ends the song with the same request for the person with Spanish heritage to wait for them.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: Carlos Villalobos, Garry Applebaum
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind