It was an interesting time when jazz, pop, classical, and showbiz were all intertwined. Peter Nero was part of that phenomenon, as were, to varying degrees, Liberace, Oscar Levant, Errol Garner, Dave Brubeck, and Oscar Peterson. It was probably a holdover from the Vaudeville ethos. The socio-cultural factors that enabled this no longer exist. Setting aside my own thoughts on Nero's playing, I acknowledge him as being a part of this vanished world.
Shifting gears, which John Williams tune did you arrange? I like a lot of Williams's 1960s stuff, but I check out at Star Wars.