Roger Williams: The Solid Gold Steinway - Part 4 (Williams, 1964)

The "Solid Gold Steinway" LP was Roger William's salute to the pop pianists and composers of the time. Produced by Kapp records, KS-3354.

This track is comprised of the following tunes:

Nola (Felix Arndt)
Kitten on the keys (Zez Confrey)
Dancing the Tambourines (R. Ponce)
Doll Dance (Herb Nacio Brown)
Sunrise Serenade (Frankie Carle)
Elegie (By Jules Massenet, arranged by Art Tatum)

Interviewed by Billboard magazine on January 18, 1964, Williams remarked: "I was happy to read recently that musical interest in America is at an all-time high... people like everything from highbrow to hootenanny... A great deal has been written about classical piano and almost as much about jazz piano... but little, if anything could I find about the history of pop piano. I began to think about the wonderful contribution our artists and composers have made to popular piano music in our country... and so I thought it might be fun to re-create here the styles of these pop artists and composers and at the same time offer them my special tribute." Billboard reported that the LP listed in stores for $3.98 monaural, and $4.98, stereo.
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Roger Williams (born Louis Weertz, October 1, 1924), is an American popular music pianist. As of 2004, he had released 116 albums. In 1955 Williams recorded "Autumn Leaves", the only piano instrumental to reach #1 on Billboard's popular music chart. While many other recordings have been made of this song, Williams' version is easily the best known and most played. It sold over two million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. 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 Times." Billboard Magazine ranks him as the top selling piano recording artist in history with 18 gold and platinum albums to his credit. Williams is also known at the "Pianist to the Presidents" having played for nine Chief Executives beginning with Harry S. Truman. His most recent White House performance was in November 2008 for a luncheon hosted by First Lady Laura Bush. Still a popular draw with audiences, Williams performs concerts around the country and headlines Las Vegas each year.

Williams invites the audience backstage to visit him at all concerts. 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 car. "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 annyone who wanted to talk to me." On his 75th birthday, Williams performed his first 12 hour piano marathon. He has performed the marathon at Steinway Hall in New York City and the Nixon, Carter and Reagan Presidential Libraries. With no planned program, Williams plays hundreds of requests from the thousands who file in to hear him. His Steinway & Sons "Gold Steinway" grand piano was on tour for public display and entertainment during 20072008.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Roger Williams
• Solid Gold Steinway
• Nola
• Felix Arndt
• Kitten on the keys
• Zez Confrey
• Dancing the Tambourines
• Ponce
• Doll Dance
• Herb Nacio Brown
• Sunrise Serenade
• Frankie Carle
• Elegie
• Jules Massenet
• Art Tatum
• Kapp
• KS-3354
• David Hertzberg
• Classicvinyl.biz

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