As golden as his piano

By Jerry Fink

Thursday, March 16, 2006 | 6:52 a.m.

When: 7:30 p.m. March 24-26

Where: Suncoast Showroom

Tickets: $39.95

Information: 636-7075

For a mere $258,000 you can become the proud owner of a 9-foot, Roger Williams Limited Edition Gold Steinway Piano.

Or, if you are a little strapped for cash, you can have the 7-foot model for $178,000.

But don't expect to be able to drive it off the lot.

Steinway craftsmen take 18 months, or longer, to build one of the instruments with the gold-metallic, high-gloss finish.

Three have been sold since the edition was created in 2004, two 9-foot and one 7-foot.

The edition came out in time to honor one of the most notable piano players in the world on his 80th birthday, Oct. 1, 2004.

One of the gold pianos - there will only be eight made, one for each decade of his life - will be his co-star when he performs at the Suncoast March 24-26.

Williams, who was a boxer in his youth, says he has never really considered another career.

"It's the only thing I'm good at," he said during a recent telephone interview from his home in Encino, Calif.

His career was launched in 1955 when he recorded "Autumn Leaves," the only piano instrumental to ever reach No. 1 on a Billboard singles chart, and it has been beyond good.

Since recording the mega-hit, Williams has gone on to record more than 20 other hits and 116 albums, 18 of which went gold and platinum.

Among his most memorable tunes are "Born Free," "The Impossible Dream," "Til," "Maria" and "Lara's Theme from Dr. Zhivago."

Even after decades of performing he still practices.

"I haven't found an easy way," he said. "I'm still looking for it."

Williams began playing piano at the age of 3. He went on to graduate from Drake University in Des Moines and Julliard in New York City.

While at Julliard in 1952 he had a chance to play backup for a contestant on "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts." The contestant got cold feet and Williams went on as a solo.

He won the contest and was signed by Kapp Records and went on to a stellar career.

Williams has been performing in Las Vegas almost since the start of his career. For years he performed regularly in the Tropicana's Blue Room.

Though he says he has a couple of engagements a year in Las Vegas, he has spent a lot of time here during the past couple of weeks - taping a PBS special and performing at a charitable function featuring Clint Holmes.

He's a big fan of his fans.

"I'm so grateful that they'll even come out and see me," he said. "They're the only thing that really saves me. I am my own worst critic - but I know I am playing faster and better than ever in my life; the best part of my career is ahead of me."

Williams stays busy composing, writing and exercising.

"I'm a lousy golfer," he said.

He stays in shape by running three miles a day and eating his vegetables.

"When I was a kid I had to sit at the table till I finished my vegetables," Williams said. "I hate vegetables.

"Now, I take all the vegetables I hate and put them in a blender and grind them up and make a big tall glass of juice. Then I hold my nose and drink the stuff. I do that five days a week."

And he jogs five days a week.

"I hate every step but the last one," he said.

Apparently his regimen works.

"I've been 152 or 153 pounds for as long as I can remember."

But he doesn't recommend what he does for anyone else.

"All of us are different, chemically," he said.

Williams talked about his close friend, actor Dennis Weaver, who died of cancer on Feb. 24.

"He was my next door neighbor here in Encino for years," Williams said. "Dennis was the biggest health nut I ever met. He did everything right. He was so meticulous - he moved to Colorado and built a house out of tires to protect the environment.

"He and I were the same age, and he died - you just never know. It's a roll of the dice. You can do all these right things and you're still going to die, so I don't give advice."