Liberace’s Story
Listen While You Read
This video empitomizes the genius of Liberace. Here you see him a year before he died playing in a solo concert with The London Philharmonic Orchestra for a full two hours without a single piece of sheet music.
This performance of Hoagy Carmichael’s “Stardust” demonstrates his incredible mastery of the keyboard.
Liberace was a world-renowned pianist and entertainer who rose to fame in the mid-twentieth century. At the height of his fame, he was the highest-paid entertainer in the world.
Humble Beginnings
Born Władziu Valentino Liberace on May 16, 1919, in West Allis, Wisconsin, he was the son of Italian and Polish immigrants. Liberace's father played the French horn in bands and cinemas, but often worked as a factory worker or laborer. While Sam took his children to concerts to further expose them to music, he was a taskmaster demanding high standards from the children in both practice and performance.
Liberace's prodigious talent was evident from his early years. He began playing the piano at the age of four, and by the age of seven was capable of memorizing difficult pieces. When he was eight, he was studying the piano tecnique of the famous Polish pianist Paderewski and met him backstage after a concert in Milwaukee. This changed everything.
Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941)
“"My dreams were filled with fantasies of following his footsteps....Inspired and fired with ambition, I began to practice with a fervour that made my previous interest in the piano look like neglect." - Liberace
Creativity During Hard Times
By the time he was a teenager, he was playing jazz in local clubs and cabarets. His parents frowned on this, but it was the Depression and he was earning a living to help the family. He gained experience playing popular music in theaters, on local radio, for dancing classes, for clubs, and for weddings.
He went on to study at the Wisconsin College of Music and the Chicago Musical College. By the time he was 20, he played with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on January 15, 1940 at the Pabst Theatre in Milwaukee, performing Liszt’s Second Piano Concerto for which he received strong reviews. He also toured in the Midwest.
Liberace moved to New York City in the 1940s, and he soon became a popular performer on the nightclub circuit. At this time he also signed a contract with Columbia Records in 1945 and began recording albums.
Liberace moved away from straight classical performance and reinvented his act to one featuring what he called "classical music with the boring parts left out".
He moved to the Los Angeles neighborhood of North Hollywood in 1947 and was performing at local clubs, such as Ciro’s and The Mocambo ,for stars such as Rosalind Russell, Clark Gable, Gloria Swanson and Shirley Temple.
A Visionary Ahead of His Time
Despite his success in the supper-club circuit, his ambition was to reach larger audiences as a headliner and a television, movie, and recording star. In the 1950s and 1960s, Liberace became a television star, hosting his own variety show, "The Liberace Show." His idea was to bring classical music to the American public via the television.
He continued to tour extensively, performing in concerts and making appearances on television shows including "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson."
He became a regular performer in Las Vegas and released a series of hit records. He also starred in several films, including "Sincerely Yours" and "South Sea Sinner."
Below is a short segment from “Sincerely Yours” in which the young Liberace performs Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1.
Mr. Showmanship
Throughout his career, he was known for his virtuoso piano playing, his over-the-top stage presence, and his extravagant lifestyle. He was often maligned by music critics for embellishing classic compositions, but he remained undeterred in his pursuit of audience appeal…and money.
By 1955, he was making $50,000 per week at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and had over 200 official fan clubs with a quarter of a million members. He was making over $1 million per year from public appearances, and millions from television.
Below is his famous retort to a negative review of one of his performances.
“Thank you for your very amusing review. After reading it, in fact, my brother George and I laughed all the way to the bank.”
He began incorporating showmanship into his performances, wearing flamboyant costumes and playing pianos that were adorned with rhinestones and other flashy embellishments.
“I don’t give concerts, I put on a show”.
Liberace
He also developed a signature stage persona that was characterized by his charming personality, his witty banter, and his flamboyant style.
“ “Mr. Showmanship has another more potent, drawing power to his show: the warm and wonderful way he works his audience. Surprisingly enough, behind all the glitz glitter, the corny false modesty, and the shy smile, Liberace exudes a love that is returned to him a thousand-fold.”
Conspicuous Consumption
In addition to his musical talents, Liberace was known for his extravagant lifestyle. He owned numerous homes, including a mansion in Beverly Hills, and was a collector of fine art, jewelry, and antiques. He also owned a fleet of cars, including a crystal covered Rolls-Royce (below) and a mirrored piano-shaped car.
“Too much of a good thing is wonderful”.
Liberace quoting Mae West
Celebrity Friendhips
Throughout his career, he formed close friendships with many celebrities, including actors, musicians, and other performers.
One of Liberace's closest celebrity friendships was with actress and singer Debbie Reynolds. The two met in the 1950s and remained close until Liberace's death in 1987.
“I knew Mrs. Liberace. Lee and I were great friends. I knew the whole inside story.”
-Debbie Reynolds
His most famous friendship was with actor and comedian Bob Hope. The two met early in Liberace's career and quickly became close friends. They would often perform together, and Hope even appeared as a guest on Liberace's television show.
Another celebrity friend of Liberace's was actress Betty White. The two met in the 1950s and remained friends for many years. White even appeared as a guest on Liberace's television show, and the two would often perform together for charity events.
Other celebrities who were known to be friends with Liberace include Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson. He has been credited with helping both of these young men launch their careers. It’s clear that they both got their sense of style from their mentor.
Elvis Presley in Las Vegas
“Liberace said, ‘You need more glitz in your act,’ and Elvis listened. He started wearing gold suits and capes — that inspiration came from Liberace. I don’t think people realized Elvis’ over-the-top showmanship in Vegas was influenced by Liberace. But there was a real connection.”
-From an interview with Richard Zoglin, author of the book “Elvis in Vegas”
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson’s definitive flashy military look was described by his longtime fashion collborator, Michael Bush, as “Liberace goes to war”.
A Private Life and Very Public Death
Despite his celebrity friendships, Liberace was also a private person and kept much of his personal life out of the public eye.
He was often rumored to be gay. He never publicly acknowledged his sexuality, but he did file a lawsuit in the 1950s against a British tabloid that had published a story alleging that he was gay. The lawsuit was settled out of court, but the rumors persisted throughout his career.
Liberace continued to perform and make public appearances until his death in 1987. He died of complications from AIDS died on February 4, 1987, at the age of 67.
A few days after his death, as Liberce’s body was being transported to his funeral, the Los Angeles coroner insisted that the hearse be diverted to his office for an inspection after hearing that Liberace’s doctor had ruled the death was due to heart failure.
The newpapers made a very public spectacle of the whole thing…The AP Wire went out with this headline “Liberace Had AIDS, Coroner Says; Accuses Doc of Cover-Up”.
The Liberace Family Tomb
The tomb, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills, stands between a pair of flowering pear trees trimmed to resemble Liberace’s trademark candelabras.
Recognition That Transcends Time
Despite the controversy surrounding his personal life, Liberace remains a beloved and influential figure in the world of music and entertainment.
Today his YouTube concert with the London Philharmonic Orchestra has over 1 million views, and audiences around the world continue to learn about, enjoy and applaud his amazing talent.
Liberace was recognized during his career with two Emmy Awards , six gold albums, and two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“Oh Liberace your hands are silent now and the angels are taking care of them, but we can still hear your beautiful piano playing. Your showmanship was unique and there will never be another entertainer like you. You are still missed and it’s a shame the younger generation have never heard of you. But we shall never forget you while we can still see and hear your magic. RIP Liberace you were a joy to behold”
