Junion

Discography has been updated.
 


By the way, the film “The James Dean Story“ is available here:
 
 

Yes, sort of. Williams originally didn't have any intention to be a fulltime film composer. But when he signed with Revue studios in the summer of '58 (kudos to Stanley Wilson for signing this young talent that had been a buzz name for two years), that became the path, and he embraced it. Television composing took up a good amount of time (sometimes you had to compose an episode score in a matter of days), eventually he could toggle between television and the occasional feature film.
 
Gradually, session work became more and more of a side business (although an ACTIVE side business -- he was involved with a great deal of albums as a session musician untill the mid 60s). It was a gradual and organic process, though. When the Revue contract ran out in 63 or 64 (depending on whether it was a 5-year or 6-year contract, sources differ), he mostly did pilots as a freelancer. So television was winding down (1968's LAND OF THE GIANTS being the very last thing he did, mostly as a favour to Allen since he had pretty much abandoned television series by then -- especially after his "breakthrough" year as a feature film composer in 1966).
 
 
If THE GREAT RACE doesn't qualify (and I'm open to that possibility), you have things like the Shelley Manne album THAT'S GERSHWIN, which was also 1965. Providing you also count arranging as 'session work'.

Yes, based on existing information it was 1965.
In that year, he composed the soundtrack of NONE BUT THE BRAVE. It was conducted by Morris Stoloff and John Williams himself played the "Piano Theme".
 
Unfortunately, it`s not really clear if he played on Mancini`s THE GREAT RACE. In 2017, La-La Land Records released the original film score plus the original, 1965 re-recorded LP album tracks. Actually, John Williams is neither credited as pianist on the film score nor on the re-recording but Pearl Kaufman, James G. Rowles (aka Jimmy Rowles) and Ray Sherman.
 
On the other hand, he is mentioned as part of the Soundtrack Personnel in "Jazz on the Screen" by David Meeker (see here: https://www.loc.gov/item/jots.200025045/)!  It would be great if that could be confirmed!

One of John Williams` earliest contributions to a soundtrack as pianist were the recording sessions for the motion picture "The James Dean Story" in 1957. This film was directed, produced and edited by Robert Altman and George W. George. The musical score was composed and conducted by Leith Stevens.
 
John Williams was only 25 years old when he played the piano in Leith Stevens`orchestra for the soundtrack of this legendary documentary about the short life of James Dean, in which there are no actors and there is no fiction.
 
Artist: Leith Stevens
Album: The James Dean Story  Featuring John Williams (piano); Capitol Records; W-881 Recorded at Capitol Tower Studios, Hollywood, May 10 & 11, 1957 Released July, 1957; Reissued as Special 50th Anniversary Commemorative Collection in 2005

One of John Williams` earliest contributions to a soundtrack as pianist were the recording sessions for the motion picture "The James Dean Story" in 1957. This film was directed, produced and edited by Robert Altman and George W. George. The musical score was composed and conducted by Leith Stevens.
 
John Williams was only 25 years old when he played the piano in Leith Stevens`orchestra for the soundtrack of this legendary documentary about the short life of James Dean, in which there are no actors and there is no fiction.
 
Artist: Leith Stevens
Album: The James Dean Story  Featuring John Williams (piano); Capitol Records; W-881 Recorded at Capitol Tower Studios, Hollywood, May 10 & 11, 1957 Released July, 1957; Reissued as Special 50th Anniversary Commemorative Collection in 2005

In early 1962, there was another single release from the TV Production "PETER GUNN" featuring Johnny Williams and his orchestra.
 
Artist: Mike Clifford
Song: "Joanna" Featuring Johnny Williams and His Orchestra Columbia No. 4-42335 Released February 16, 1962  
 

Discography is updated with album "Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely" as well as the La-Land Records releases "The Time Tunnel (Volume 1)" and "The Time Tunnel (Volume 2)".
 

 

 
 

One of John Williams` earliest contributions to a soundtrack as pianist were the recording sessions for the motion picture "The James Dean Story" in 1957. This film was directed, produced and edited by Robert Altman and George W. George. The musical score was composed and conducted by Leith Stevens.
 
John Williams was only 25 years old when he played the piano in Leith Stevens`orchestra for the soundtrack of this legendary documentary about the short life of James Dean, in which there are no actors and there is no fiction.
 
Artist: Leith Stevens
Album: The James Dean Story  Featuring John Williams (piano); Capitol Records; W-881 Recorded at Capitol Tower Studios, Hollywood, May 10 & 11, 1957 Released July, 1957; Reissued as Special 50th Anniversary Commemorative Collection in 2005

In early 1962, there was another single release from the TV Production "PETER GUNN" featuring Johnny Williams and his orchestra.
 
Artist: Mike Clifford
Song: "Joanna" Featuring Johnny Williams and His Orchestra Columbia No. 4-42335 Released February 16, 1962  
 

Discography is updated with album "Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely" as well as the La-Land Records releases "The Time Tunnel (Volume 1)" and "The Time Tunnel (Volume 2)".
 

 

 
 

What a night, what an experience!Such a pleasure to have visited yesterday’s concert and seeing the Maestro conducting the Berlin Philharmonie Orchestra.So happy that I got a ticket in first row and to be so close to the stage!A dream has come true.

What a night, what an experience!Such a pleasure to have visited yesterday’s concert and seeing the Maestro conducting the Berlin Philharmonie Orchestra.So happy that I got a ticket in first row and to be so close to the stage!A dream has come true.

What a night, what an experience!Such a pleasure to have visited yesterday’s concert and seeing the Maestro conducting the Berlin Philharmonie Orchestra.So happy that I got a ticket in first row and to be so close to the stage!A dream has come true.

What a night, what an experience!Such a pleasure to have visited yesterday’s concert and seeing the Maestro conducting the Berlin Philharmonie Orchestra.So happy that I got a ticket in first row and to be so close to the stage!A dream has come true.

What a night, what an experience!Such a pleasure to have visited yesterday’s concert and seeing the Maestro conducting the Berlin Philharmonie Orchestra.So happy that I got a ticket in first row and to be so close to the stage!A dream has come true.

From what I posted at the discography thread:
 
 

If you didn`t know it yet. John Williams was also session pianist along with Bill Miller on three tracks of the amazing Sinatra album "Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely"!
 
https://sinatraology.com/person/view/870
 
 

If you didn`t know it yet. John Williams was also session pianist along with Bill Miller on three tracks of the amazing Sinatra album "Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely"!
 
https://sinatraology.com/person/view/870
 
 

Well, I`ve known John Williams`father worked as percussionist with Frank Sinatra but did not have further info about recordings. That`s why I was checking Sinatra`s discography in order to gather more details and became successful even twice. 
 
On the one hand, I obtained data of the John Williams` Jr. credit. On the other hand, I also got details about a recording with his father. Johnny Williams is credited on two tracks as session musician of an orchestra conducted by Morris Stoloff for the musical comedy film "Pal Joey" starring Rita Hayworth, Frank Sinatra and Kim Novak. Both tracks "I Didn`t Know What Time It Was" and "Dream Sequence and Finale" were recorded September 25, 1957.
 
https://sinatraology.com/person/view/2851

If you didn`t know it yet. John Williams was also session pianist along with Bill Miller on three tracks of the amazing Sinatra album "Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely"!
 
https://sinatraology.com/person/view/870
 
 

If you didn`t know it yet. John Williams was also session pianist along with Bill Miller on three tracks of the amazing Sinatra album "Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely"!
 
https://sinatraology.com/person/view/870
 
 

If you didn`t know it yet. John Williams was also session pianist along with Bill Miller on three tracks of the amazing Sinatra album "Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely"!
 
https://sinatraology.com/person/view/870
 
 

Yes, it is John Towner Williams! He is credited as John Williams, Jr. on three tracks recorded June 24, 1958. 
 
https://sinatraology.com/person/view/870
 
Artist: Frank Sinatra
Album: Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely Featuring John Williams, Jr. & Bill Miller (piano) on tracks "Blues In The Night" , "What`s New?" & "Gone With The Wind"; Capitol Records; (S)W1053 Recorded at Capitol Tower Studios, Hollywood, May 29, June 24 & 25, 1958; Released September 8, 1958; Reissued as 60th Anniversary Edition in 2018  
 
 

Yes, that was what I thought.
 
By the way, while browsing Discogs, found out a Williams credit on Sinatra's "Sings Only For the Lonely": https://www.discogs.com/Frank-Sinatra-Frank-Sinatra-Sings-For-Only-The-Lonely/release/12770175
I went through all the data on that page, and I'm totally convinced this is indeed (our) John Towner Williams, and not the other John T. Williams. 
I'll be getting this recording soon (actually, might have some of the tracks on a Sinatra compilation).

Ok. It took some time but here are the recording dates of the Johnny Ever Green`s album 
 
Artist: Russel Garcia and His Orchestra
Album: The Johnny Ever Green`s Played By Russel Garcia Featuring John Williams (piano & celeste); ABC Paramount Records (ABC-147); Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, 17 & 31 August and 6 September, 1956; Released 22 December 1956; Reissued in 1986 & 2011