With his piano rendition of "Autumn Leaves" in October 1955, Williams scored the greatest selling instrumental of all time and the only piano recording to reach #1 on the Billboard Hits chart.
His piano version of "Born Free", the title theme from the 1966 movie hit, Born Free (1966), made the song popular even before it won an Academy Award.
First pianist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at Hollywood & 1533 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
Performed annual Piano Marathons, playing continually for 14 hours improvised medleys of audience requested songs. Williams could play over 10,000 melodies by ear.
Roger Williams earned him the title, "Pianist to the Presidents," having played for nine chief executives, from Truman to Bush.