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.
The Nearness of You
Roger Williams Lyrics
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That thrills and delights me, oh no
Its just the nearness of you
It isn't your sweet conversation
That brings this sensation, oh no
Its just the nearness of you
All my wildest dreams come true
I need no soft lights to enchant me
If you'll only grant me the right
To hold you ever so tight
And to feel in the night the nearness of you
The song 'The Nearness of You' by Roger Williams is a haunting melody that talks about the thrill of being near your lover. The lyrics start with the singer explaining that it's not just the moon that excites him or her but being close to their love. The singer goes on to explain that it is not sweet conversations that bring this sensation but the closeness of their lover.
The lyrics describe the feeling of being close to someone who makes all the wildest dreams come true. The singer explains how they do not need any soft lights or enchantments if they grant the right to hold each other tight and feel the nearness of each other in the night. The song speaks of the intimacy that two people can share, and it conveys the idea that being near your significant other is an exhilarating experience.
In conclusion, 'The Nearness of You' by Roger Williams is a song about the joy of intimacy and being near the person you love. It is a song that speaks to the heart, and its melancholic melody and lyrics capture the emotions that many of us feel. The song's poignant lyrics convey the feeling of being close to someone who makes all the wildest dreams come true.
Line by Line Meaning
Its not the pale moon that excites me
The singer is not aroused by the moon's vague light
That thrills and delights me, oh no
The moon is not the source of the singer's joy and sensuality
Its just the nearness of you
It is solely the proximity of the beloved that arouses the singer's emotions
It isn't your sweet conversation
The artist is not enraptured by the beloved's words
That brings this sensation, oh no
The artist is not moved by verbal communication
Its just the nearness of you
The intense presence of the beloved is the sole cause for the singer's emotions
When you're in my arms and I feel you so close to me
The singer only experiences the fullness of emotion when holding the beloved in their arms and feeling their presence up close
All my wildest dreams come true
The artist experiences the ultimate fulfillment of all of their deepest desires
I need no soft lights to enchant me
The artist doesn't require any type of extrinsic sensory stimuli, such as dim lighting, to feel aroused
If you'll only grant me the right
The artist only needs permission from the beloved
To hold you ever so tight
To be physically close to the beloved in their embrace
And to feel in the night the nearness of you
To experience the beloved's presence during the night when every other stimuli is gone
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind