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.
Till
Roger Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Till all the seas run dry
Till then I'll worship you
Till the tropic sun grows cold
Till this young world grows old
My darling, I'll adore you
All I own, I would give
Just to have you adore me
Till the rivers flow upstream
Till lovers cease to dream
Till then I'm yours, be mine
The song "Till" by Roger Williams is a beautiful love song that expresses the depth of commitment and love that a person can have for their beloved. The lyrics describe the undying love that the singer has for someone, and how they are willing to do anything for them. The opening lines, "Till the moon deserts the sky/Till all the seas run dry/Till then I'll worship you," convey that the singer's love is eternal and infinite. They will continue to love and worship their beloved until the end of time.
The lyrics in the second verse, "Till the tropic sun grows cold/Till this young world grows old/My darling, I'll adore you," show that the singer's love is not dependent on external factors or circumstances. They will love their beloved even if the world changes or the sun stops shining. The third verse, "You are my reason to live/All I own, I would give/Just to have you adore me," demonstrates the depth of the love that the singer has for their beloved. They are willing to give up everything they have just to be loved in return.
Line by Line Meaning
Till the moon deserts the sky
I will love you until something impossible happens.
Till all the seas run dry
I will love you until the end of time.
Till then I'll worship you
I will continue to show you reverence and devotion until the previously stated events occur.
Till the tropic sun grows cold
I will love you until the world undergoes a major change.
Till this young world grows old
I will love you until the world is no longer young.
My darling, I'll adore you
I will continue to admire and cherish you forever.
You are my reason to live
You are the main motivation behind everything I do.
All I own, I would give
I would sacrifice everything I have for you.
Just to have you adore me
I want nothing more than to have your love and devotion in return.
Till the rivers flow upstream
I will love you until something impossible happens.
Till lovers cease to dream
I will love you until the end of love.
Till then I'm yours, be mine
Until those impossible events occur, I am completely devoted to you and want you to reciprocate my love.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CARL SIGMAN, CHARLES DANVERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cristina Delgadillo
Una hermosa canción con una letra maravillosa, y la interpretación? Única.
John James
What musical talent. Come to think of it, they should have instrumentalists on American Idol.