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On this day, May 16, 1919, Liberace was born.
He had so much fun at that Baldwin of his. Let's start with Jack Fina's take on "Flight of the Bumblebee."
Liberace Bumble Boogie
showmanlee
28.1K subscribers
243,581 views Aug 7, 2008
Here is Liberace performing Bumble Boogie on his 50's TV Show
showmanlee
28.1K subscribers
243,581 views Aug 7, 2008
Here is Liberace performing Bumble Boogie on his 50's TV Show
Liberace 12th Street Rag from the 50's.wmv
showmanlee
28.1K subscribers
553,958 views Jul 5, 2010
Here is Liberace playing 12th Street Rag back in the 50's
showmanlee
28.1K subscribers
553,958 views Jul 5, 2010
Here is Liberace playing 12th Street Rag back in the 50's
Beer Barrel Polka - Liberace
Lib Thack
7.58K subscribers
854,046 views Jul 3, 2013
A young Liberace performs one of his most well known songs, technically magnificent and look out for the 'hand-jumps' enjoy Liberace in his early days. This clips is from the 'Liberace - the Ultimate Entertainer' DVD box set from Timeless Media, it contains hours of Liberace at his finest.
Lib Thack
7.58K subscribers
854,046 views Jul 3, 2013
A young Liberace performs one of his most well known songs, technically magnificent and look out for the 'hand-jumps' enjoy Liberace in his early days. This clips is from the 'Liberace - the Ultimate Entertainer' DVD box set from Timeless Media, it contains hours of Liberace at his finest.
His brother George is one of the violinists.
In color, on "The Tonight Show, with Johnny Carson." He died the following year.
Liberace on Johnny Carsons Tonight Show (1986)
Liberace Girl
5.34K subscribers
123,362 views Jul 2, 2018
Liberace appeared on The Tonight Show, hosted by Johnny Carson, Jan. 9 1986. This is wonderful - enjoy!
Liberace Girl
5.34K subscribers
123,362 views Jul 2, 2018
Liberace appeared on The Tonight Show, hosted by Johnny Carson, Jan. 9 1986. This is wonderful - enjoy!
Mon Jul 31, 2023: On this day, July 31, 1911, George Liberace was born.
Wed May 16, 2018: Today's birthday boys: Robert Fripp (1946), Liberace (1919), and Henry Fonda (1905)
1 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Last edited Fri May 17, 2024, 07:50 AM - Edit history (1)
Liberace
Liberace in 1969
Born: Władziu Valentino Liberace, May 16, 1919, West Allis, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died: February 4, 1987 (aged 67), Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Cause of death: Pneumonia as a complication of AIDS
Resting place: Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery
Other names: Walter Busterkeys, Claide Forget Jr., Walter Liberace, Lee, The Glitter Man, Mr. Showmanship
Years active: 1936–1986
Władziu Valentino Liberace (May 16, 1919 – February 4, 1987) was an American pianist, singer and actor. A child prodigy born in Wisconsin to parents of Italian and Polish origin, Liberace enjoyed a career spanning four decades of concerts, recordings, television, motion pictures, and endorsements. At the height of his fame, from the 1950s to the 1970s, Liberace was the highest-paid entertainer in the world, with established concert residencies in Las Vegas, and an international touring schedule. Liberace embraced a lifestyle of flamboyant excess both on and off stage, acquiring the nickname "Mr. Showmanship".
{snip}
Early career
{snip}
Liberace was a conservative in his politics and faith, eschewing dissidents and rebels. He believed fervently in capitalism and was also fascinated with royalty, ceremony, and luxury. He loved to hobnob with the rich and famous, acting as starstruck with presidents and kings as his fans behaved with him. Yet to his fans, he was still one of them, a Midwesterner who had earned his success through hard work, and who invited them to enjoy it with him.
In the next phase of his life, having earned sudden wealth, Liberace spent lavishly, incorporating materialism into his life and his act. He designed and built his first celebrity house in 1953, with a piano theme appearing throughout, including a piano-shaped swimming pool. His dream home, with its lavish furnishings, elaborate bath, and antiques throughout, added to his appeal. He leveraged his fame through hundreds of promotional tie-ins with banks, insurance companies, automobile companies, food companies, and even morticians. Liberace was considered a perfect pitchman, given his folksy connection with his vast audience of housewives. Sponsors sent him complimentary products, including his white Cadillac limousine, and he reciprocated enthusiastically: "If I am selling tuna fish, I believe in tuna fish."
The critics had a field day with his gimmicky act, his showy but careful piano playing, his non-stop promotions, and his gaudy display of success, but he remained largely unaffected, as preserved by the famous quotation, first recorded in a letter to a critic, "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 used a similar response to subsequent poor reviews, famously modifying it to "I cried all the way to the bank." In an appearance on The Tonight Show some years later, Liberace reran the anecdote to Johnny Carson, and finished it by saying, "I don't cry all the way to the bank any more – I bought the bank!"
{snip}
Liberace in 1969
Born: Władziu Valentino Liberace, May 16, 1919, West Allis, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died: February 4, 1987 (aged 67), Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Cause of death: Pneumonia as a complication of AIDS
Resting place: Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery
Other names: Walter Busterkeys, Claide Forget Jr., Walter Liberace, Lee, The Glitter Man, Mr. Showmanship
Years active: 1936–1986
Władziu Valentino Liberace (May 16, 1919 – February 4, 1987) was an American pianist, singer and actor. A child prodigy born in Wisconsin to parents of Italian and Polish origin, Liberace enjoyed a career spanning four decades of concerts, recordings, television, motion pictures, and endorsements. At the height of his fame, from the 1950s to the 1970s, Liberace was the highest-paid entertainer in the world, with established concert residencies in Las Vegas, and an international touring schedule. Liberace embraced a lifestyle of flamboyant excess both on and off stage, acquiring the nickname "Mr. Showmanship".
{snip}
Early career
{snip}
Liberace was a conservative in his politics and faith, eschewing dissidents and rebels. He believed fervently in capitalism and was also fascinated with royalty, ceremony, and luxury. He loved to hobnob with the rich and famous, acting as starstruck with presidents and kings as his fans behaved with him. Yet to his fans, he was still one of them, a Midwesterner who had earned his success through hard work, and who invited them to enjoy it with him.
In the next phase of his life, having earned sudden wealth, Liberace spent lavishly, incorporating materialism into his life and his act. He designed and built his first celebrity house in 1953, with a piano theme appearing throughout, including a piano-shaped swimming pool. His dream home, with its lavish furnishings, elaborate bath, and antiques throughout, added to his appeal. He leveraged his fame through hundreds of promotional tie-ins with banks, insurance companies, automobile companies, food companies, and even morticians. Liberace was considered a perfect pitchman, given his folksy connection with his vast audience of housewives. Sponsors sent him complimentary products, including his white Cadillac limousine, and he reciprocated enthusiastically: "If I am selling tuna fish, I believe in tuna fish."
The critics had a field day with his gimmicky act, his showy but careful piano playing, his non-stop promotions, and his gaudy display of success, but he remained largely unaffected, as preserved by the famous quotation, first recorded in a letter to a critic, "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 used a similar response to subsequent poor reviews, famously modifying it to "I cried all the way to the bank." In an appearance on The Tonight Show some years later, Liberace reran the anecdote to Johnny Carson, and finished it by saying, "I don't cry all the way to the bank any more – I bought the bank!"
{snip}
Hat tips, http://www.thisdayinrock.com/, http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/, and Wikipedia.
http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/
May 16th: On this Day
1962, B Bumble and the Stingers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Nut Rocker.' The instrumental was based on Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker Suite.'
{snip}
May 16th: Born on this day
1919, Born on this day, American pianist, singer, and TV presenter, Liberace, (Wladziu Valentinon Liberace) who had a career spanning four decades and for a period, his TV show would pull in over 30 million viewers at any one time and he was the became the highest-paid entertainer in the world. He died on 4th February 1997. Behind the Candelabra, a film adaptation of Scott Thorson's autobiography, featured Michael Douglas stars as Liberace, with Matt Damon playing Thorson.
May 16th: On this Day
1962, B Bumble and the Stingers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Nut Rocker.' The instrumental was based on Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker Suite.'
{snip}
May 16th: Born on this day
1919, Born on this day, American pianist, singer, and TV presenter, Liberace, (Wladziu Valentinon Liberace) who had a career spanning four decades and for a period, his TV show would pull in over 30 million viewers at any one time and he was the became the highest-paid entertainer in the world. He died on 4th February 1997. Behind the Candelabra, a film adaptation of Scott Thorson's autobiography, featured Michael Douglas stars as Liberace, with Matt Damon playing Thorson.
Two for one. Possibly my favorite video on all of YouTube, Liberace playing "The Bumble Boogie," Jack Fina's orchestration of "Flight of the Bumblebee." Jack Fina died in 1970, "during an engagement at the Beverly Hills Hotel."
Here's the same tune, this time by B Bumble and the Stingers:
Nut Rocker:
Bonus: how could I leave this out?
Here's a favorite from years gone by. "And lots of wavy hair, like Liberace":
One last tune from Liberace, a grerat one, I'll Be Seeing You:
Sat May 16, 2020: Today's birthday boys: Robert Fripp (1946), Liberace (1919), and Henry Fonda (1905)
Thu May 16, 2019: Today's birthday boys: Robert Fripp (1946), Liberace (1919), and Henry Fonda (1905)
Wed May 16, 2018: Today's birthday boys: Robert Fripp (1946), Liberace (1919), and Henry Fonda (1905)