PIANIST SET FOR NEW FIRST WILLIAMS TO PERFORM AT CSUN.Byline: Jason Kandel Staff Writer Pianist Roger Williams spent decades serenading presidents and wooing fans all over the ``Autumn Leaves'' and ``The Impossible Dream,'' but there's one place he's never played: home. Williams, an Encino resident for 40 years, will play the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. for the first time Sunday night Sunday Night, later named Michelob Presents Night Music, was an NBC late-night television show which aired for two seasons between 1988 and 1990 as a showcase for jazz and eclectic musical artists. . Fresh from a tour in Asia and a string of American symphony concerts, Williams performs two shows at California State University, Northridge CSUN offers a variety of programs leading to bachelor's degrees in 61 fields and master's degrees in 42 fields. The university has over 150,000 alumni. It's also home to a summer musical theater/theater program known as TADW (TeenAge Drama Workshop) that leads teenagers through an . ``I played them all,'' said the 76-year-old Williams. ``But I've never played in the Valley. When I'm in my own place, people say that's just old Roger.'' That's Roger, the guy with 18 gold and platinum albums. A guy who's still selling out concerts. A guy who's provided the soundtrack for three generations. ``I'm a lucky guy,'' said Williams, who jogs, jumps rope and holds the record for the longest piano-playing marathon, logging 12 hours on his 75th birthday. ``I'm 76 years old,'' he said. ``I feel better than I did when I was 20, and I play better, too.'' Williams' Billboard hits include ``Born Free,'' ``Till,'' ``Almost Paradise,'' ``Two Different Worlds,'' ``Lara's Theme from Doctor Zhivago,'' and the theme song from ``Somewhere In Time.'' He started playing the piano when he was 3, first burst on the popular music scene in 1955 with ``Autumn Leaves,'' now an American classic. Williams has performed with many major symphonies across the nation and at venues such as Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall Concert hall in New York, N.Y., U.S. It was endowed by the industrialist Andrew Carnegie at the insistence of the conductor Walter Damrosch (1862–1950). and the Hollywood Bowl The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheatre at 2301 North Highland Avenue in Hollywood, California, USA, that is used primarily for music performances. The "bowl" in this context is the natural cavity in the earth into which the amphitheater is built, rather than the shape of the . Having played for eight occupants of the White House, he has been dubbed ``Pianist to the President.'' A graduate of the Juilliard School Juilliard School Internationally renowned school of the performing arts in New York, New York, U.S. It has its roots in the Institute of Musical Art (founded 1905) and a graduate school (1924) founded through an endowment from the financier Augustus D. of Music, he is the only pianist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a pavement along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States, which is embedded with more than 2,000 five-pointed stars featuring the names of not only human celebrities but fictional characters honored by and the only artist to receive the Steinway Lifetime Achievement Award. Williams still practices up to six hours a day on his three new Steinway concert pianos in his home south of Ventura Boulevard Ventura Boulevard is one of the primary east-west thouroughfares in the San Fernando Valley; as it was originally a part of the El Camino Real (the trail between Spanish missions), Ventura Boulevard is the oldest route in the San Fernando Valley. It was also U.S. . ``He likens playing the piano to being a fighter,'' said his publicist pub·li·cist n. One who publicizes, especially a press or publicity agent. publicist Noun a person, such as a press agent or journalist, who publicizes something publicist Rob Wilcox. ``It's all about keeping in shape for Roger.'' Williams will play with his five-piece band on Sunday, performing jazz, pop, Rachmaninoff, and DeBusey pieces, and will take written requests for a 30-minute medley at the end of the show. Jimmy Carnelli, 43, of Canyon Country, plays drums behind Williams. ``I think people will be very, very moved by the Rachmaninoff stuff,'' he said. ``The request portion of the show is always a highlight.'' Carnelli said there's nothing gimmicky about Williams. ``He commands the instrument,'' Carnelli said. ``No one could ever say he is not a true-blue musician.'' AT A GLANCE WHAT: Roger Williams concert WHERE: California State University, Northridge; Performing Arts Center A performing arts center, often abbreviated PAC, is a multi-use performance space that can be adapted for use by various types of the performing arts, including dance, music and theatre. , in the University Student Union on the west side of campus on Zelzah Avenue, between Plummer and Nordhoff streets. WHEN: Shows at 3 p.m. (sold out) and 7 p.m. Sunday. TICKETS: $35, $30 for students and seniors over 60 years old. INFORMATION: (818) 785-8885 CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Veteran pianist Roger Williams of Encino believes being a pianist requires staying in shape - just like being a fighter. Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer Box: AT A GLANCE (See text) |
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