bertrand Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 The tune 'Pyramid' from Horace Parlan's On The Spur Of The Moment is credited to someone named Roger Williams. Who is he? What a great tune! Bertrand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Williams_(pianist) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonnymax Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 The first pianist to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Roger has 21 Gold and Platinum albums to his credit...Roger’s music has served as the soundtrack to the lives of three generations, and he burst upon the music scene when he recorded Autumn Leaves in 1955...He has performed at every major venue, with nearly every major symphony orchestra, including the afore-mentioned Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and the White House. The latter has earned him the title of “Pianists to the Presidents,” having played for nine chief executives...[Williams says] it made me very proud that one critic wrote: ‘Roger Williams has raised the so-called elevator music to astounding new heights, and as a result, it has certainly established him as the greatest popular pianist in history.’” Zowie! Mr. Piano Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 I remember hearing a very pretty version of "Nature Boy" that he recorded, it was used in the soundtrack to the movie "Untamed Heart". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertrand Posted March 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 You really think it's that guy? Bertrand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flat5 Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 What's a guy have to do to impress you :-) The good jazzy arrangement aside, it could be a show tune. I agree, it is a good song, and performance. I also agree he might not be the only musician with that name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazztrain Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 BMI lists a composition called Pyramid with Roger C. Wiliams as composer. He's listed as composer for two other songs: "Good Luck Best Wishes to You" and "Sunny Day Girl." Some websites link the Williams credited as composer of the tune on the Horace Parlan album to the well known pianistic purveyor of arpeggios (sorry, couldn't resist the alliteration; been a long week). However, those sorts of links are often not reliable. Record companies often make mistakes regarding composer credits, so the name listed on the LP may not even be right. Do the notes in the Mosaic box say anything about the composer? What's a guy have to do to impress you :-) The good jazzy arrangement aside, it could be a show tune. I agree, it is a good song, and performance. I also agree he might not be the only musician with that name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 If the "Autumn Leaves" guy wrote it, AMG doesn't show him as ever recording it: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/roger-williams-p1912/songs/all-songs/track_name-asc/200 I'd wager dollars to donuts that it's not the same guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 (edited) Bob Blumenthal, in the Mosaic booklet, writes: "Roger Williams, an older pianist who had moved from Pittsburgh to New York, gave Parlan the lovely 'Pyramid'". Obviously not the "Autumn Leaves" Williams. Jim wins the donuts. Edited March 18, 2011 by paul secor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 I'll donate them to charity, thanks. Donuts are one of the last things I need these days... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 I'll donate them to charity, thanks. Donuts are one of the last things I need these days... Unfortunately, you're not alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teasing the Korean Posted March 19, 2011 Report Share Posted March 19, 2011 Let's clear this up - it was written by pianist John(ny) Williams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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