Władziu Valentino Liberace (May 16, 1919 – February 4, 1987), mononymously known as Liberace, was an American pianist, singer, and actor.
A child prodigy and the son of working class immigrants, 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 residencies in Las Vegas, and an international touring schedule. Liberace embraced a lifestyle of flamboyant excess both on and off stage, acquiring the sobriquet "Mr. Showmanship".
Liberace was recognized during his career with two Emmy Awards, six gold albums and two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Liberace also released a book on his life, and performed 56 sold out shows at Radio City Music Hall which set box office records a few months before his death in Palm Springs, California on February 4, 1987.
Throughout his entire life and career, Liberace publicly denied his homosexual orientation. When the Daily Mirror newspaper and Confidential magazine reported some of his gay relationships, he sued both publications and won damages and legal fees. Toward the end of his life, he was unsuccessfully sued for palimony, slander and conversion of property by his former chauffeur and lover, Scott Thorson. Liberace's death remains controversial because there had been rumors prior to his death that he had contracted HIV, which his management, publicist, friends, and even Liberace himself denied. Against the wishes of his estate, the Riverside County coroner ordered an official autopsy and determined that Liberace had died of an AIDS-related illness, making him the second major celebrity after Rock Hudson to officially succumb to the illness during the early days of media frenzy surrounding the disease.
"You know that bank I used to cry all the way to? I bought it."
"I cried all the way to the bank."
"I had to dare a little bit. Who am I kidding-I had to dare a lot. Don't wear one ring, wear five or six. People ask how I can play with all those rings, and I reply, "Very well, thank you.""
"When the reviews are bad I tell my staff that they can join me as I cry all the way to the bank"
"You can have either the Resurrection or you can have Liberace. But you can't have both."
"Hildegarde was perhaps the most famous supper-club entertainer who ever lived, ... I used to absorb all the things she was doing, all the showmanship she created. It was marvelous to watch her, wearing elegant gowns, surrounded with roses and playing with white gloves on. They used to literally roll out the red carpet for her."
"When the reviews are bad I tell my staff that they can join me as I cry all the way to the bank."
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby. Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue And the dreams that you dare to dream, Really do come true. Someday I'll wish upon a star And wake up where the clouds are far behind me. Where troubles melt like lemon drops, High above the chimney tops, That's where you'll find me. Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly Birds fly over the rainbow Why then, oh why can't I? If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow Why, oh why can't I? Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby. Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue And the dreams that you dare to dream, Really do come true. Someday I'll wish upon a star And wake up where the clouds are far behind me. Where troubles melt like lemon drops, High above the chimney tops, That's where you'll find me. Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly Birds fly over the rainbow Why then, oh why can't I? If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
The quirky actress, 51, gave the world a closer glimpse at her standout holiday decorations on Thursday, but she performed a dangerous stunt in the process ... 'The tree looks like Liberace and Elton are having a fight in a glitter and feather factory!'.
... like the purple pie man from Porcupine Peak, dressed like Liberace, and no, for all of the sensitive people, calling him Liberace is not an insult, I happen to think that Liberace is cool as hell.
So utterly luxurious it feels unreal, like a set for a movie about the planet's poshest hotel ...Spoiler alert. It does ... To the side, meanwhile, is a singer accompanied by a pianist tinkling the ivories of Liberace's legendary gleaming mirrored piano ... .
“Who doesn’t try to help his son?” ... He died aged 103 in 2020 ... For his portrayal of pianist Liberace in HBO film Behind the Candelabra alongside Matt Damon, he won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding LeadActor in a Miniseries or Movie ... .
It's time Live Auction at "Christmas in the Sky. "Sinsational. It's Vegas, Baby" Dec. 14 at Louisiana Downs... "We are on schedule ... Dr ... ("Mover over Liberace!" commands the press packet.)What's on the three floors of Christmas in the Sky at Louisiana Downs?.
CANTON − Jeff Dafler remembers calling his brother in 2009 with big news ...Liberace and Ray Charles perform on back-to-back nights ... "We thoroughly enjoyed Liberace Tuesday evening in a unique program spiced with dance, song, and laughter," she wrote ... ...
Broadway Ave. in December 2023 ... at the Avalon ... It was during that time that Liberace’s 9-foot-long, 1,400-pound rhinestone-encrusted "superpiano" was displayed on the second floor as it was being repaired for the Smithsonian Museum ... .
Atchison Globe
19 Dec 2024
Atchison Globe
19 Dec 2024