Roger Williams

Roger Williams (born October 1, 1924) is one of the most popular pianists in American popular music history. As of 2004, he has released 116 albums.

He was born Louis Weertz, the

Roger Williams (born October 1, 1924) is one of the most popular pianists in American popular music history. As of 2004, he has released 116 albums.

He was born Louis Weertz, the son of a Lutheran minister (Rev. Frederick J. Weertz) and a music teacher (Dorothea Weertz), in Omaha, Nebraska, but before his first birthday moved to Des Moines, Iowa. He first played the piano at age three, but in high school 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, but was expelled for playing "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" in the practice room. After a stint during World War II in the United States Navy where he received a bachelor's degree in engineering, he managed to re-enroll at Drake, and later moved to New York City to study at the Juilliard School of Music. At Juilliard he studied jazz piano under Lenny Tristano and Teddy Wilson.