NOTE : Important biographical questions that remain unanswered to this day are highlighted in color.
Father John Francis Williams is born in Watertown, a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts. First a percussionist for CBS Radio, then a jazz drummer with the Raymond Scott Quintet, he moved to Hollywood in 1948 to take part in film recording sessions, notably for Columbia Pictures. Is John Williams related to Welsh composer and teacher Aaron Williams, who influenced the work of William Billings ?
Birth of his mother Esther Gertrude Towner in Boston, Massachusetts. The importance of the Boston School in American classical music is well known, as is the international renown of the BSO. But might not the choice of conducting the Boston Pops be motivated above all by a certain attachment to family roots ?
John Towner Williams is born in Flushing, Queens, New York. The Williams already had a daughter Joan, born in 1931.
Birth of third child: Gerard ''Jerry'' D. Williams, future drummer and percussionist.
John F. Williams participates in the REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARM - Raymond Scott sessions. John T. accompanies his father into 20th Century Fox studios.
School year 1938 / 1939 (Grade 1) Probably the start of piano lessons / or in 1940 following the family's relocation ?
John Francis and Esther live at Assembly District 4, Queens, New York City. Birth of fourth child: Donald ''Don'' J. Williams, future timpanist.
The Williams family moves to Los Angeles. John finishes high school at North Hollywood High School, where he meets Barbara Ruick.
John Williams takes private piano lessons with M.G.M. musical director Robert Van Eps. He also participates in the North Hollywood High Dance Band.
First formation / quintet with Gene Estes & Perry Botkin Jr., children of Hollywood musicians.
John ''Curley'' Williams forms a jazz quintet with his friends. They perform at the Dry Night Club (Dri-Nite) in Van Nuys (San Fernando Valley). That year, he is invited to play with the Columbia Studios Orchestra.
Semester with the Studio Jazz Band at Los Angeles City College. John may have met some of his great friends there, such as Leonard Slatkin and Jerry Goldsmith !John seems to have taken orchestration lessons with Robert Van Eps at Los Angeles City College. It is unlikely that he entered U.C.L.A. in 1950 !?
The Dennis Day TV Show, with Jerry Calonna & Barbara Ruick, and John Williams on piano ?
John Williams joins the 775th Air Force Band during his military service in Tucson, Arizona.
He joins the 596th Air Force Band at Pepperell Air Force Base (St John's - Newfoundland) and participates in the Pepperell Dance Band.
Under the serial number A / 1c 19389341, he returned to the West with the 523 Air Force Band at March Air Force Base (Riverside - California); Service Club Dances and Eugene Loring Ballet Group.
John takes part in arrangements for Pete Candoli's orchestra. He also composed the music for the short film YOU ARE WELCOME.
John Francis Williams participates in FROM HERE TO ETERNITY. Could John have met Morris Stoloff around this time ?
He studies theory, harmony and composition at U.C.L.A..
John Francis Williams participates in ON THE WATERFRONT. Could John have met Leonard Bernstein around this time ?
John comes to New York for two years to study with Rosina Lhevinne at the Julliard School.
John attends the Eastman School of Music, where Howard Hanson is director. Did the Hanson name influence this choice ?
John Williams reunites with Barbara Ruick in New York. (Barbara separates from her husband on June 13).
Barbara Ruick files for divorce from her marriage to Robert Horton.
John records six songs for Harry Belafonte in New York. There he plays with Buddy Colette, Ted Nash, Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Childers, Conte Candoli and others. Wasn't this the real start of the Jazz Adventure ?
He leaves New York for the West Coast.
John auditionne notamment à la Columbia pour Morris Stoloff. Il travaille en Free Lance notamment pour la Twentieth Century Fox Orchestra.
Rencontre avec Alfred Newman : John est orchestrateur additionnel sur CAROUSEL, film dans lequel Barbara est actrice.
He takes private composition lessons with Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco in Hollywood.Jerry Goldsmith, Henry Mancini, Jerry Fielding… but alsoAndré Prévin, Marty Paich were among his students. Is this the opportunity to meet some of his lifelong friends ?
John Williams talks about his participation (historic and major in more ways than one) as pianist on a score by Miklos Rozsa: Is it the film MIAMI EXPOSE by Fred F. Sears or A TIME TO LOVE AND A TIME TO DIE by Douglas Sirk / Universal ? He claims to have contributed several times to Dimitri Tiomkin's scores outside GUNS OF NAVARONE : GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL by John Sturges / Paramount ? NIGHT PASSAGE by James Neilson / Universal ? WILD IS THE WIND by George Cukor / Paramount ? THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA by John Sturges / Warner ? RIO BRAVO by Howard Hawks / Warner ? THE YOUNG LAND by Ted Tezlaff / Warner ? LAST TRAIN FROM GUN HILL by John Sturges / Paramount ? THE UNFORGIVEN by John Huston / United Artists ? ALAMO by John Wayne / United Artists ? THE SUNDOWNERS by Fred Zinnemann / Warner ? The same for the Franz Waxman's soundtracks, outside HEMINGWAY'S ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG MAN : PEYTON PLACE by Mark Robson / 20th Century ? THE SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS by Billy Wilder / Warner ? SAYONARA by Joshua Logan / Warner ? RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP by Robert Wise / United Artists ? THE NUN’S STORY by Fred Zinnemann / Warner ? SUNRISE AT CAMPOBELLO by Vincent J. Donehue / Warner ? RETURN TO PEYTON PLACE by José Ferrer / 20th Century ? MY GEISHA by Jack Cardiff / Paramount ? TARAS BULBA by Jack Lee Thompson / United Artists ? The Same for Alex North : THE BAD SEED by Mervyn LeRoy / Warner ? THE RAINMAKER by Joseph Anthony / Paramount ? THE KING AND FOUR QUEENS by Raoul Walsh / United Artists ? THE LONG, HOT SUMMER by Martin Ritt / 20th Century ? HOTSPELL by Daniel Mann / Paramount ? THE SOUND AND THE FURY by Martin Ritt / 20th Century ? THE WONDERFUL COUNTRY by Robert Parrish / United Artists ? SPARTACUS by Stanley Kübrick / Universal ? THE MISFITS by John Huston / United Artists ? SANCTUARY by Tony Richardson / 20th Century ? THE CHILDREN’S HOUR by William Wyler / United Artists ?
Marriage to Barbara Ruick: The divorce from Robert Horton could not be finalized before the summer, so they fled to Mexico to get married.
Après leur mariage, John Williams fait la connaissance de Conrad Salinger qui se trouve être un ami proche de Barbara Ruick. Cette nouvelle amitié contribuera t-elle à la présence de John Williams sur FUNNY FACE, THE BIG COUNTRY ou PORGY AND BESS ?
Recording of Russell Garcia's album THE JOHNNY EVER GREEN. How did John end up on this album ? Ted Nash ? Buddy Childers ?
John Williams' first personal album : THE JOHN TOWNER TOUCH.
Birth of daughter Jennifer, future Jenny Gruska Williams, wife of Jay Gruska and mother of Ethan and Barbara Gruska, members of THE BELLE BRIGADE.
Recording Robert Altman's JAMES DEAN STORY : Is this when he met Dave Pell ?
M SQUAD - music: Stanley Wilson - Is this the moment he met Larry Bunker ?
SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS - music: Elmer Bernstein - Is this the moment he met Shelly Manne ?
WORLD ON STRING : Buddy Collette - Bob Enevoldsen - Milt Bernhart.
John Francis Williams takes part in the first sessions to record VERTIGO, interrupted by a Hollywood strike. John traces his friendship with Bernard Herrmann back to 1959. But had he already met Bennie on VERTIGO?
Release of his first feature film as a composer: DADDY-O.
Birth of son Mark Towner Williams, drummer, songwriter and father of Lionel Williams, leader of psychedelic band VINYL WILLIAMS.
John's debut as pianist for Henry Mancini on the TV series PETER GUNN.
CITY OF FEAR - music : Jerry Goldsmith.
John Williams accompanies Marilyn Monroe on screen for the soundtrack to SOME LIKE IT HOT.
Did John meet André Prévin for the first time on PORGY AND BESS ?
Bernard Herrmann composes the music for seven episodes of the TWILIGHT ZONE series. Was John Williams pianist on these episodes : Where Is Everybody (S1 -Ep1) ? - Walking Distance (S1 -Ep5) ? - The Lonely (S1 -Ep7) ? - The Eye Of The Beholder (S2 -Ep6) ? - Little Girl Lost (S3 -Ep26) ? - Living Doll (S5 -Ep6) ? - 90 Years Without Slumbering (S5 -Ep12) ?
John Williams conducts Mahalia Jackson's Grammy Award-winning album I BELIEVE.
Birth of son Joseph Stanley Williams, future singer of TOTO, father of Hannah Ruick, also a singer and musician. This period coincides with the start of the CHECKMATE series.
John Williams takes part in rehearsals for WEST SIDE STORY !?
Recording of RHYTHM IN MOTION - pianist: Jimmy Rowles !
Release of the film DIAMOND HEAD, for which John Williams is composer and whose musical edition will be his first soundtrack.
THE GREAT RACE: Up until this time, the name John Williams / pianist is very often associated with Henry Mancini's soundtracks, but it seems that John only intervenes during rehearsals. In more general terms, Johnny Williams is to be found on the recordings of the Jazz albums, while Jimmy Rowles is more likely to be in charge of the Original Soundtracks ! What about it? Did John work on Breakfast at Tiffany's, Pink Panther...
John Williams seems to share certain projects with his friend Bennie Herrmann, such as CONVOY.But what about this collaboration ?
Arranger for André Prévin on VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, which earns him his first Oscars nomination. The following year, Prévin proposes Williams' name to take over the musical direction of the film he had withdrawn from: GOODBYE MR. CHIPS.
André is appointed conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra !
Meeting with one of his heroes: William Walton during the recording of THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN at Anvil Studios.
John Williams releases his first album with Deutsche Grammophon.
Oscar for FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.
Meeting with Steven Spielberg.
Barbara died of a ruptured aneurysm. She had just returned to filming with Robert Altman's CALIFORNIA SPLIT.
Oscar for JAWS.
First concert at the Royal Albert Hall at the head of the London Symphony Orchestra.
STAR WARS recording sessions begin at Anvil Studios.
John Williams invited by André Prévin to conduct the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
Oscar for STAR WARS.
John Williams conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl.
Officially appointed principal conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra on January 10, John Williams gives his first concert under this designation at Carnegie Hall in New York.
John Williams makes his Boston Symphony Hall debut as Principal Conductor.
John Williams remarries for the second time to Samantha Winslow.
Concert at Boston's Symphony Hall: John Williams shares the stage with Leonard Bernstein.
Oscar for E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL.
Opening of the Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
Boston Pops tour kicks off across the United States of America.
John Williams conducts LIBERTY FANFARE in New York for the centenary of the Statue of Liberty.
Boston Pops tour kicks off in Japan.
Academy Awards: John Williams' music for INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE is up against BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY...
Boston - Concert event based on Steven Spielberg films.
Oscar for SCHINDLER'S LIST. Start of a new area...
Keith Lockhart takes over the helm of the Boston Pops Orchestra.
Opening of the Atlanta Summer Olympic Games.
John Williams returns to Barbican Center.
The AMERICAN JOURNEY suite, composed for the millennium, accompanies Steven Spielberg's movie.
Winter Olympics Opening on John Williams' 70th Birthday !
John Williams initiated the idea of the "Film In Concert" to mark the twentieth anniversary of E.T.THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL.
Academy Awards: John Williams' music for ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE is up against HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE...
John Williams receives a standing ovation at Boston's Symphony Hall on the occasion of his 70th birthday. On the program: two complementary and reference concerts.
Celebration of John Williams' 70th birthday at Tanglewood.
Opening of the Walt Disney Concert Hall. John Williams conducts SOUNDINGS and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND.
The first of Chicago's prestigious concerts.
Historic Tribute Concert to Bernard Herrmann and Henry Mancini in Boston.
Academy Awards : John Williams' music for MUNICH is up against MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA...
Inauguration of President Barack Obama in Washington: the musical piece AIR AND SIMPLE GIFTS, performed by the quartet Gabriela Montero / Yo-Yo Ma / Itzhak Perlman / Anthony McGill, is composed by John Williams for the occasion.
STAR WARS: A MUSICAL JOURNEY tour kicks off in London with Dirk Brossé at the helm.
Celebration of John Williams' 80th birthday in Boston.
Celebration of John Williams' 80th birthday at Tanglewood.
Film In Concert begin: David Newman conducts HOME ALONE at the world premiere!
John Williams commissions the bust of Leonard Bernstein for the Tanglewood site. Those of Aaron Copland will follow in 2018 and Serge Koussevitzky in 2019.
John Williams receives the French distinction of OFFICER OF ARTS AND LETTERS in Hollywood.
John Williams becomes the first composer to be honored with a LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD by the American Film institute.
John Williams is forced to cancel his appearance at the Royal Albert Hall for health reasons. This memorable concert, finally conducted by Dirk Brossé, was to be the culmination of his collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra.
First concert at the Vienna Musikverein.
John Williams receives the prestigious British ROYAL PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY GOLD MEDAL.
First concert with Berlin Philharmonic.
Célébration du 90ème anniversaire de John Williams à Washington; Stéphane Denève y dirige l'orchestre.
Celebration of John Williams' 90th birthday at Tanglewood; Ken-david Masur conducts the orchestra.
John Williams is invited to conduct the Filarmonica Della Scala in Milan.