Roger Williams

• Born Louis Wertz, 1925, Omaha, Nebraska

The man who turned tinkling piano runs into a small industry and inspired Richard Clayderman, Ronnie Aldrich, and others to do the same. Williams was a child prodigy, learning to play the piano at the age of three. By high school, he could compose, arrange, and conduct, and play most of the instruments in the band.

He served in the Navy in World War II, then studied at Idaho State, Drake University, and Julliard. In 1952, he appeared on Arthur Godfrey's "Talent Scouts" television show, and began playing in nightclubs and piano lounges in New York. While playing at the Madison Hotel, Williams was discovered by Dave Kapp, president of the newly-formed Kapp Records label. Kapp signed him and gave him the stage name of Roger Williams, after the founder of original Rhode Island colony.

Williams quickly picked up minor hits with his showy intepretations of popular hits, but his real breakthough came with "Autumn Leaves," which stayed in the #1 spot on Billboard's pop chart for a month in late 1955.

Williams went on to record over 100 albums for Kapp and others. He had a number of Top 40 hits over the next 12 years, culminating in a Top 10 hit in his cover of "Born Free" in 1966. Williams still tours and performs 30-40 concerts a year, and in March, 1998, he appeared on a PBS special celbrating his 60th anniversary in show business.