Daily Pulse

‘Pianist To The Presidents’ Dies

Roger Williams, a virtuoso pianist who played for nine U.S. presidents and scored a No. 1 pop hit with “Autumn Leaves” in 1955, died of pancreatic cancer Oct. 8 aged 87.

He also had a string of hits including “Born Free,” “The Impossible Dream,” Theme From Somewhere In Time,” and “Lara’s Theme from Dr. Zhivago.”

A student of jazz at Julliard School of Music and signed to Kapp Records, Williams was a popular guest on top TV variety shows in the 1960s including “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “The Perry Como Show” and “The Steve Allen Show.”

He is a lifetime achievement award recipient from Steinway & Sons.

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