Liberace facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Liberace
|
|
|---|---|
Portrait by Allan Warren, 1969
|
|
| Born |
Władziu Valentino Liberace
May 16, 1919 West Allis, Wisconsin, U.S.
|
| Died | February 4, 1987 (aged 67) Palm Springs, California, U.S.
|
| Resting place | Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery |
| Other names |
|
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1936–1986 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Labels |
|
| Associated acts |
|
Władziu Valentino Liberace (born May 16, 1919 – died February 4, 1987) was a famous American pianist, singer, and actor. He was a child prodigy, meaning he had amazing talent from a very young age. Liberace had a successful career that lasted for 40 years. He performed in concerts, made recordings, appeared on television, and acted in movies.
At the peak of his fame from the 1950s to the 1970s, he was the highest-paid entertainer in the world. He had long-running shows in Las Vegas and toured all over the world. Liberace was known for his very flashy and over-the-top style, both on and off stage.
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Władziu Valentino Liberace was born in West Allis, Wisconsin, on May 16, 1919. His friends called him "Lee," and his family called him "Walter." His father, Salvatore Liberace, came from Italy, and his mother, Frances Zuchowski, was of Polish descent. Liberace had three siblings: a brother named George Liberace (who was a violinist), a sister named Angelina, and a younger brother named Rudy.
Liberace's father played the French horn and loved music. He wanted his children to be musicians. Liberace started playing the piano when he was just four years old. He was incredibly talented and could memorize difficult songs by age seven.
He studied the piano style of a famous Polish pianist named Ignacy Jan Paderewski. When Liberace was eight, he even met Paderewski backstage after a concert. This meeting inspired him greatly. Paderewski later became a friend and mentor to Liberace.
During the Great Depression, Liberace's family faced tough financial times. Liberace focused on his piano playing with the help of his music teacher, Florence Kelly. He gained experience playing popular music in theaters, on local radio, and at events like dances and weddings. For a while, he used the stage name "Walter Busterkeys." He also loved design and fashion, and he started to show his unique, attention-grabbing style early on.
A Dazzling Career in Entertainment
Becoming a Showman
In 1937, Liberace was praised for his "flair and showmanship" at a classical music competition. In 1939, after a classical concert, he played a popular comedy song, "Three Little Fishies," as an encore. He played it in the styles of different classical composers, showing his unique blend of music.
On January 15, 1940, Liberace played with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Milwaukee. He performed a challenging piano concerto and received great reviews. However, in the early 1940s, he decided to change his act. He moved away from only classical music and started mixing "pop with a bit of classics." He called it "classical music with the boring parts left out."
Liberace transformed from a classical pianist into an entertainer. He started interacting with his audience, taking requests, telling jokes, and even giving mini-lessons. He also paid more attention to his stage, lighting, and overall presentation. He wanted to connect directly with his audience, which was different from traditional classical concerts.
In 1943, he appeared in "Soundies," which were like early music videos. He performed two flashy songs, "Tiger Rag" and "Twelfth Street Rag." In 1944, he first performed in Las Vegas, which later became his main performance city.
He began using a candelabrum (a fancy candle holder) on his piano, which became his famous trademark. He also started using "Liberace" as his stage name, making sure people knew it was pronounced "Liber-Ah-chee." He wore fancy white suits to be seen better in large halls.
Liberace bought a rare, gold-leafed piano to match his growing stage presence. Later, he used many extravagant, custom-decorated pianos, some covered in rhinestones and mirrors. He moved to Los Angeles in 1947 and performed for Hollywood stars like Clark Gable and Shirley Temple.
Reaching Stardom
Liberace became a master at promoting himself, which helped him become a huge star. He wanted to reach even bigger audiences through television, movies, and recordings. His large-scale Las Vegas shows became legendary, attracting many fans and making him very wealthy.
In 1954, he earned a record $138,000 for one performance at Madison Square Garden in New York City. By 1955, he was earning $50,000 a week in Las Vegas. He had over 200 fan clubs with a quarter of a million members. He made millions of dollars each year from his shows and television appearances. Liberace was a pop-culture superstar, often featured in major magazines.
Music critics sometimes had harsh things to say about his piano playing. One critic wrote that Liberace's music "must be served with all the available tricks, as loud as possible, as soft as possible, and as sentimental as possible." They said he didn't always stick to what the classical composers wrote.
But Liberace famously said, "I don't give concerts, I put on a show." His shows ended with the audience invited on stage to touch his clothes, piano, and jewelry. He would give kisses, handshakes, and hugs. A critic once said that behind all the glitter, Liberace "exudes a love that is returned to him a thousand-fold."
Television Success
The Liberace Show
Liberace thought radio wasn't good for his act because it was so visual. He was excited about television and soon wanted his own show to control his performances. His first local TV show in Los Angeles was a huge hit, leading to a sold-out show at the Hollywood Bowl.
The Liberace Show, a 15-minute program, started on July 1, 1952. It became a filmed show for syndication in 1953, meaning it was sold to many local TV stations across the country. This widespread exposure made Liberace more popular and successful than ever. In his first two years, he earned $7 million from television.
Liberace learned to make his TV show appealing to a mass audience. He would joke and chat with the camera as if he were performing in the viewer's living room. He used dramatic lighting, costume changes, and exaggerated hand movements to make his show visually exciting.
His brother George often appeared as a guest violinist, and his mother was usually in the front row. Liberace would mention his brother Rudy and sister Angelina to create a "family" feeling. He started each show the same way, mixed musical numbers with chat, and ended by softly singing "I'll Be Seeing You," which became his theme song. His music included classics, show tunes, film melodies, and more.
The show was very popular, especially with women, attracting over 30 million viewers and receiving 10,000 fan letters each week. It was also one of the first shows to be broadcast on British commercial television, giving Liberace many fans in the United Kingdom.
Later Television Appearances
Liberace continued to appear on other popular TV shows like The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show with Jack Paar and later Johnny Carson. He often made fun of his own flashy style.
In 1960, Liberace received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in television. He also guest-starred on The Monkees, where he comically smashed a grand piano.
A memorable role was in the Batman TV series in 1966. Liberace played two characters: a concert pianist named Chandell and his gangster twin brother, Harry. These episodes were among the highest-rated for the show. He also appeared as himself in episodes of Here's Lucy (1970), Kojak, and The Muppet Show (both 1978). In The Muppet Show, he performed songs like "Concerto for the Birds" and "Chopsticks."
In the 1980s, he guest-starred on Saturday Night Live and appeared at the first WrestleMania in 1985 as the guest timekeeper.
Film Roles and Music Recordings
Movies
Liberace wanted to act in movies. His first film appearance was in South Sea Sinner (1950). In 1955, at the height of his fame, Warner Bros. cast him in his first starring role in Sincerely Yours. He played a concert pianist who becomes deaf and helps others.
However, the film was not successful with critics or audiences. Liberace found it difficult to bring his unique stage personality to the big screen as a leading man. The studio even changed the movie posters to make his name smaller. This experience made Liberace mostly stop pursuing movie acting.
He did make two more brief cameo appearances in films: When the Boys Meet the Girls (1965) and The Loved One (1965), where he played a casket salesman.
Recordings
Liberace's popular TV show greatly boosted his record sales. By 1954, he had released nearly 70 records. His album Liberace by Candlelight sold over 400,000 copies. His most popular single was "Ave Maria," which sold over 300,000 copies. His theme song, "I'll Be Seeing You," he would often sing instead of play.
His albums included popular songs of the time, like "Hello, Dolly!," and his versions of classical piano pieces. While some classical music fans criticized his style, he earned six gold records during his career, showing his widespread appeal.
Later Years and Legacy
Final Performances
Liberace's final stage performance was at New York's Radio City Music Hall on November 2, 1986. This concert series earned over $2.5 million. His last television appearance was on Christmas Day that same year on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Personal Life and Philosophy
Liberace was a private person but loved to socialize and was fascinated by famous people. He believed in capitalism and loved luxury. He always presented himself to his fans as someone who had achieved success through hard work and invited them to enjoy his lavish lifestyle with him.
He spent his wealth on extravagant things, like his famous costumes and custom-built homes. His house in Sherman Oaks, California, even had a piano-shaped swimming pool. He was also a skilled pitchman, promoting many products. When critics made fun of his flashy style, he famously said, "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 later joked, "I don't cry all the way to the bank any more – I bought the bank!"
Illness and Passing
Liberace became ill in his later years. He was hospitalized for pneumonia in January 1987. Liberace passed away on February 4, 1987, at his home in Palm Springs, California, at the age of 67. He was a devout Roman Catholic and received his last rites the day before he died.
His body is buried alongside his mother and brother at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles. In 1994, he was honored with a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.
Awards and Recognition
Liberace received many honors during his career, including two Emmy Awards and six gold albums. He also has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He set box-office records with 56 sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall just months before his passing.
The Liberace Museum
In October 2010, the Liberace Museum in Las Vegas closed after 31 years. The Liberace Foundation, which gives college scholarships to young performers, continued its work. In 2016, some of Liberace's cars, a piano, and costumes were put on display at the Liberace Garage in Las Vegas.
Liberace in Popular Culture
Liberace's unique style and personality led to him being featured or parodied in many forms of media:
- In the 1952 Tom and Jerry cartoon "Johann Mouse," Tom the cat imitates Liberace.
- The 1955 Warner Bros. cartoon Hyde and Hare features Bugs Bunny playing piano like Liberace.
- In 1981, the Canadian comedy show SCTV had Dave Thomas play Liberace in two skits.
- Two television movies about his life aired in 1988: Liberace starring Andrew Robinson and Liberace: Behind the Music starring Victor Garber.
- The 1996 The Ren & Stimpy Show episode "Sammy and Me" parodies Liberace as a piano-playing cockroach named "Liberoache."
- Behind the Candelabra, a film about his life starring Michael Douglas as Liberace and Matt Damon, debuted on HBO in 2013.
- Bill Murray appeared dressed as Liberace on The Late Show with David Letterman in 2013.
- Liberace's likeness and costumes have been used in TV shows like The Jim Gaffigan Show (2016) and Mozart in the Jungle (2018).
- He appeared as a game character in the app-based video game Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff in 2017.
- Fred Armisen has portrayed Liberace in several Saturday Night Live sketches.
- In the 2017 film Blade Runner 2049, Liberace's likeness and music appear in a futuristic Las Vegas setting.
Images for kids
-
Liberace with actress Maureen O'Hara during a court hearing in 1957
See also
In Spanish: Liberace para niños
