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Births on October 1

Roger Williams (pianist)
1924Oct, 1

Roger Williams (pianist)

Roger Williams, American pianist (d. 2011)
Roger Williams (born Louis Jacob Weertz, October 1, 1924 – October 8, 2011) was an American popular music pianist. Described by the Los Angeles Times as "one of the most popular instrumentalists of the mid-20th century", and "the rare instrumental pop artist to strike a lasting commercial chord," Williams had 22 hit singles – including the chart-topping "Autumn Leaves" in 1955 and "Born Free" in 1966 – and 38 hit albums between 1955 and 1972.He was a Navy boxing champion, played for nine U.S. Presidential administrations, and had a gold Steinway & Sons grand piano model named in his honor.

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Events on 1924

  • 12Feb

    Rhapsody in Blue

    George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue received its premiere in a concert titled "An Experiment in Modern Music", in Aeolian Hall, New York, by Paul Whiteman and his band, with Gershwin playing the piano.
  • 25Mar

    Second Hellenic Republic

    On the anniversary of Greek Independence, Alexandros Papanastasiou proclaims the Second Hellenic Republic.
  • 8Apr

    Atatürk's Reforms

    Sharia courts are abolished in Turkey, as part of Atatürk's Reforms.
  • 4Aug

    Soviet Union

    Diplomatic relations between Mexico and the Soviet Union are established.
  • 23Nov

    Andromeda Galaxy

    Edwin Hubble's discovery, that the Andromeda "nebula" is actually another island galaxy far outside of our own Milky Way, is first published in The New York Times.