Roger Williams • Themes From Great Movies [1970] Kapp Records KS-3629

 

Requested by Eliane.  Enjoy!  😍

Roger Williams • Songs of The Fabulous Forties [Double LP] [1957] Kapp Records KXL-5003

 

1940s Music:

The music my parents listened to - big band swing and crooners!  Swingin' big bands! Harry James. Glenn Miller. Tommy Dorsey. Artie Shaw. And the crooners! Bing Crosby. Frank Sinatra. Perry Como.

I was born in that decade and was much too young to appreciate the music. I learned many years later to really love it - still do!  Listening to Roger play the songs of that era brings back a host of warm memories. ~Gipsy Dancer~  💟

Roger Williams • Songs of The Fabulous Fifties [Double LP] [1957] Kapp Records KX-5000-S

 

1950s Music:

"Elvis Presley. Sam Cooke. Chuck Berry. Fats Domino. Buddy Holly. The 1950s saw the emergence of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and the new sound swept the nation. It helped inspire rockabilly music from Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash. People swayed to The Platters and The Drifters. Music marketing, changed, too: For the first time, music began to target youth."

Yes, I loved the rock and roll artists, yet I never lost my love for the one and only Roger Williams!  ~Gipsy Dancer~  💖

Roger Williams • Songs of The Fabulous Century [Double LP] [1958] Kapp Records KX-5005-S

 

 As a burgeoning pianist, the first time I heard Roger Williams play "Autumn Leaves in 1955, I was hooked!  He still remains one of my very favorites.  ~Gipsy Dancer~  😍

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 and 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.