![]() Williams is the only artist to receive the Steinway Lifetime Achievement Award, and holds the honor of being the only artist with a Steinway piano named after him (pictured here majestically in his Encino, California home). presidents, and in 2010 was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame. He regularly headlines in Las Vegas and was the first pianist to earn a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Williams’ music offers a blend of the classics, Gershwin, Duke Ellington, and contemporary pop composers from blues and jazz. ![]() ![]() An American “pop” pianist, Williams gained national prominence in 1955 with his recording of Autumn Leaves, which still stands as the greatest selling piano recording of all time. Billboard Magazine touted Williams as, “the greatest selling pianist in history.” So far in his career, Williams has released 117 albums, 21 of which reached gold and platinum. Williams, or “Rog” as his friends call him, looks back on his own early days of struggle. They look back and appreciate the days when they stood side-by-side with their wives, sweating it out together, struggling to achieve their goals.” “If we really want to do something in life, it’s in us.” Williams spoke fervently about the many people he’s met in his life, “I’ve asked billionaires what their happiest times were, and every one of them told me the happiest days were when they were struggling their way from the bottom to success. Diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas, Williams summoned his prize-winning boxer attitude, accepted the challenge like a true WWII Navy warrior, and vowed to win. Recently, the world-renowned Juilliard-trained pianist began the struggle of his life. David Letterman’s musical director Paul Shaffer put it well during Williams’ 2003 performance at Carnegie Hall’s 150th Anniversary, “The cat has chops.” Yes, the “cat” does have chops, however, that is an understatement. “Life is a struggle,” Roger Williams expressed enthusiastically, embracing the opportunity to extol the value of “struggle.” At age 86, Williams exudes the energy of a teenager and the swagger of a sexy pirate, “We’re born with all this fight in us, and the minute we stop struggling, we start dying,” he said.
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