Roger Williams, 87, 'Autumn Leaves' pianist

LOS ANGELES - Roger Williams, 87, the virtuoso pianist who topped the Billboard pop chart in the 1950s and played for nine U.S. presidents during a long career, died Saturday at his home in Los Angeles of complications from pancreatic cancer.

Known as an electrifying stage performer and adept improviser, Mr. Williams effortlessly moved among musical styles.

"Roger was one of the greatest pianists in the world and could play anything, classical music to jazz. He was one of the greatest personalities I've ever known," said Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R., Utah), a longtime friend of Mr. Williams' and himself a musician. "He could touch any audience, from teenagers to senior citizens."

Williams' 1955 hit, "Autumn Leaves," was the only piano instrumental to reach No. 1 on the Billboard pop charts. It remains the best-selling piano record of all time, with more than two million sold.

Nicknamed the "pianist to the presidents," Mr. Williams played for every commander-in-chief from Harry S. Truman to George H.W. Bush. His last trip to the White House was in 2008, when he performed at a luncheon for Laura Bush.

Mr. Williams was good friends with Jimmy Carter, with whom he shared a birthday. When the two men turned 80, Mr. Williams played a 12-hour marathon at the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum in Atlanta, with the former president in attendance.

Born Louis Weertz in Nebraska, Mr. Williams started playing piano at age 3. By 9, he was proficient on several instruments and could play anything by ear.

As a teenager, he was given his own 15-minute radio show on KRNT-AM, which was broadcast live from a Des Moines, Iowa, department store. He later was host of a program on WHO-AM, where he first met the station's young sports announcer, Ronald "Dutch" Reagan. The two started a friendship that lasted more than 60 years.

Mr. Williams moved to New York to study jazz at the Juilliard School. He won performing contests on the popular radio shows Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and Dennis James' Chance of a Lifetime.

Soon after, Mr. Williams was signed to Kapp Records, where founder Dave Kapp was determined to find a hit for the young prodigy. Producers decided on a shortened arrangement of "Autumn Leaves," which Mr. Williams recalled first clocked in at three minutes and three seconds.

"In those days, the disc jockeys would not play a record over three minutes long. So Kapp asked if I could play the thirds a little faster. I did and it came in at two minutes and 59 seconds," Mr. Williams said.

It was an instant hit and catapulted Mr. Williams to national renown. He followed it with a string of hits including "Born Free," "The Impossible Dream," "Theme From Somewhere in Time," and "Lara's Theme" from Dr. Zhivago.

Mr. Williams became a popular guest on the top television programs of the time, including The Ed Sullivan Show, The Perry Como Show, and The Steve Allen Show.

He was the first pianist to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He also received a lifetime achievement award from Steinway & Sons.

On his 75th birthday, Mr. Williams played a 12-hour marathon at Steinway Hall in New York, a stunt he repeated several times in the ensuing years.