1960s Era Legendary Pop Music Pianist Roger Williams concert program-VINTAGE!

Description

Check it out...Here's a unique ORIGINAL 9" wide by 12" long multi-paged program from a mid-1960s era concert by legendary pop music pianist Roger Williams (see bio below). Front cover features an of image of "Mr. Piano Roger Williams" -The program is full of lengthy text, bios, info and GREAT photos of Mr. Williams inside! Shows light wear and soiling consistent with age and normal use, but still, how many of these survived in any condition? What a great VINTAGE item ready for display. These are ORIGINAL items, NOT REPRODUCTION items! Postage information is listed at the bottom-$ 6.95 postage is required.
1960s Era Legendary Pop Music Pianist Roger Williams concert program-VINTAGE!
1960s Era Legendary Pop Music Pianist Roger Williams concert program-VINTAGE!
Click images to enlarge
Description
Check it out...Here's a unique ORIGINAL 9" wide by 12" long multi-paged program from a mid-1960s era concert by legendary pop music pianist Roger Williams (see bio below). Front cover features an of image of "Mr. Piano Roger Williams" -The program is full of lengthy text, bios, info and GREAT photos of Mr. Williams inside! Shows light wear and soiling consistent with age and normal use, but still, how many of these survived in any condition? What a great VINTAGE item ready for display.
Here's some info on Mr. Williams:
Roger Williams (born Louis Jacob Weertz, October 1, 1924 – October 8, 2011) was an American popular music pianist. Described by the Los Angeles Times as "one of the most popular instrumentalists of the mid-20th century", and "the rare instrumental pop artist to strike a lasting commercial chord," Williams had 22 hit singles — including chart-topping "Autumn Leaves" in 1955 and "Born Free" in 1966 — and 38 hit albums between 1955 and 1972. He was a Navy boxing champion, played for nine U.S. Presidential administrations, and had a gold Steinway & Sons grand piano model named in his honor. Weertz was born in Omaha, Nebraska to the Rev. Frederick J. Weertz (1891–1980), a Lutheran minister, and a music teacher, Dorothea Bang Weertz (1895–1985). 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 returned to music only after breaking his nose several times and sustaining several other injuries. Weertz majored in piano at Drake University in Des Moines, where he began developing a style that was a fusion of jazz, classical and pop, but was expelled for playing "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" in the practice room in violation of the school's classical music only policy. Weertz entered the United States Navy and served in World War II. While still in the Navy he won the middleweight boxing championship at his base in Idaho, and earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from Idaho State College (now Idaho State University) in 1950. Afterward, Weertz re-enrolled at Drake, where he earned his master's degree in music in 1951. He then moved to New York City to attend Juilliard, where he studied jazz piano under Lennie Tristano and Teddy Wilson. During 1951-1952 Weertz won 2 talent contests: "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts" and Dennis James "Chance of a Lifetime" television program. David Kapp, the founder of Kapp Records, heard him play at the Hotel Madison and was so impressed that he signed the pianist, giving him a professional name "that would stand up anywhere”, '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 record. 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" which was part of the film's music score. Billboard magazine ranks him as the top-selling piano recording artist in history with 21 gold and platinum albums to his credit. Williams was known as the "Pianist to the Presidents", having played for nine US Presidential administrations, beginning with Harry S. Truman – who requested Bach and Ravel, then played his own version of the Chopin waltz. His last White House performance was in November 2008 for a luncheon hosted by First Lady Laura Bush. 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. (By the way, Williams and Carter were born on the same date.) He was a Steinway Artist and was awarded their "Steinway Lifetime Achievement Award." His Steinway & Sons "Roger Williams Limited Edition Gold Steinway" piano was designed by Steinway in his honor. This 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. Williams claimed to know 10,000 songs by heart, and often took requests. Of his talent, he said: “I know I was given a gift, and once in a while I go to church and say, ‘Hey, thanks.’ I play my religion through my fingers.” On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Roger Williams among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire. Williams was married twice. His first marriage produced three children. Both marriages ended in divorce. 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!" He died on October 8, 2011, one week after his 87th birthday.
These are ORIGINAL items, NOT REPRODUCTION items!
Postage information is listed at the bottom-$ 6.95 postage is required.
Payment
We accept Paypal payments.
Shipping
We will try and combine shipping on multiple purchases wherever possible. Please e-mail us with auction item numbers before sending payment.
However, if the items are heavy or require special packing / tracking, the postal rates might not be significantly reduced. We no longer ship overseas first class mail. We will only ship Internationally by Priority Mail, and that starts at .00. So please be aware that we NO LONGER SHIP FIRST CLASS MAIL INTERNATIONALLY unless seller agrees to ship by USPS Priority mail at an increased rate. Postage rates are non-negotiable and non-refundable. We pack every item professionally using new packing materials and appropriate mailing supplies. We send all items via US Postal Service.The U.S.Postal service rates change fairly regularly every year and we don't make money on postage like some other ebay sellers. I think you'll find that we're quite fair.
Thank-you!
Terms of Sale
I try and place a penny in every photo to help judge the size of the item, obviously it is there for size comparison and is not included with the item. The standard sized Lincoln head penny in the photograph is there for size comparison ONLY and is not included in the package. We're just trying to help you figure out how big the item is. We try and always be as accurate as we can in the item
description and will gladly answer any question about item size & description when needed. Please e-mail us with any questions BEFORE the end of sale and BEFORE placing a bid. Postage is determined by the U.S. Postal service and is never refundable. Many of the items are VINTAGE and although they are in very fine condition, they may not function as well as when they were made decades ago. So if you intend on using the old item, please be aware that we are selling it for collector value only. In other words, if you intend on using a 50+ year old letter opener and it breaks, don't get mad at us. It may be hard to believe, but we have received a couple negatives because people broke vintage items while trying to use them.
About Us
Our Mission statement: We try to offer Ebay users unique additions to their collections. We comb the antique stores & malls as well as Antique shows & flea markets from Coast-to-coast in an effort to try and find that special addition to your collection. We travel hundreds of miles and wake up with the sun in search of these items. We truly have a love for our hobby / business. Please be aware of the postage rates BEFORE you bid! We pack professionally and do not try and make money off of postage. We generally charge the same postal rate that the US Post Office charges us. We'll respect you, but please respect us as well. Thanks & happy bidding to you! Good Luck!
Contact Us
Please e-mail us with any questions BEFORE the end of sale and BEFORE placing a bid. Postage is determined by the U.S. Postal service and is never refundable.
Please be aware of the postage rates BEFORE you bid! We pack professionally and do not try and make money off of postage.
Get images that
make Supersized seem small.
Showcase your items with Auctiva's
Listing Templates!
THE simple solution for eBay sellers.
Track Page Views With
Auctiva's FREE Counter