Liberace
Liberace (born Wladziu Valentino Liberace) was the most flamboyant, popular easy listening pianist of the '60s and '70s by a wide margin. His campy, theatrical appearance and performances often disguised his prodigious talent.
Liberace was a child prodigy born to a musical family. His father, Salvatore, played French horn in John Philip Sousa's Concert Band, as well as the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Instead of following in his father's footsteps and playing horn, Wladziu Liberace decided to play piano instead. Liberace was exceptionally gifted at piano, earning strong words of praise from Ignace Paderewski, which helped him land a scholarship at the Wisconsin College of Music at the age of seven; he retained his scholarship for 17 years, the longest period of time in the history of the academy. When he was 11, he debuted as a concert soloist. When he was in his teens, he was performing with symphony orchestras.
Instead of following the accepted path of classical recitals and university courses, Liberace chose to be a showman. At encores at his concerts, he began playing novelty songs like "Mairzy Doats." To ensure that he had widespread appeal as an entertainer, he took elocution lessons in order to mask his Polish accent.
During World War II, Liberace performed in a variety of overseas entertainment units. When he came back to America, he began performing in clubs, playing and singing with dance bands. While he was on the club circuit, he began performing under the sole name of Liberace.
In 1940, he moved to New York City, where he became a fixture on the club circuits. However, his stint in New York wasn't particularly successful, as the Musicians Union banned the pianist after he began playing counterpoints to certain records played over the club's sound system. Undaunted, Liberace moved to California. While he was playing at a local hotel, he was spotted by Decca Record executives who offered him a contract. Decca attempted to make Liberace into a big-band leader, but it was unsuccessful. In the late '40s, he signed with Columbia Records and, under the direction of producer Mitch Miller, recorded an over-the-top rendition of "September Song." Along with a live concert album, the single helped bring Liberace to a national audience.
Liberace became a star in the '50s, both through his records and assorted television and film appearances. His appearance and repertoire were becoming increasingly campy, as he dressed himself in rhinestone, gold lame, furs, and sequins while playing everything from Gershwin and show tunes to lounge jazz and light classical pieces, with a candelabra placed on his piano. Liberace's star rose rapidly in the early '50s, as he had his own television show, appropriately titled The Liberace Show. His celebrity reached a peak in the mid-'50s. Not only did he star in the 1955 film Sincerely Yours, a movie about a deaf concert pianist, but he was mentioned in "Mr. Sandman" by the Chordettes and he published his own cookbook. In 1956, Liberace celebrated his 25 years in show business with an extravagant concert at the Hollywood Bowl. That same year, he made some headway in the U.K. market, playing three Royal Command Performances.
Though it was a heady time for the pianist, 1956 was also the year that his star began to dim somewhat. Cassandra, a columnist for the English tabloid The Daily Mirror, inferred that Liberace was homosexual. He sued the paper and won, yet he still made an effort to tone down his appearance. However, the public didn't want a subdued Liberace, and he reverted to his kitschy showmanship in the early '60s.
Liberace didn't have any more pop hits in the '60s,'70s, and '80s, yet he continued to sell out concerts around the world and sell a number of records, even though he never earned the favor of the critics. In 1982, a former chauffeur and bodyguard sued the pianist for palimony; the case was settled out of court. Liberace remained a celebrity and a popular performer until his death in 1987.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Remastered Hits Vol. 2 (All Tracks Remastered)
Pop - Released by jjjedizionimusicali on Dec 6, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
In Concert, Vol. 2 (Live)
Pop - Released by Diamond Days on Jan 21, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Liberace - The Greatest Hits Collection
Pop - Released by Music Manager on Apr 16, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Christmas At Liberace's
Christmas Music - Released by Columbia - Legacy on Nov 8, 1954
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Liberace by Candelight (10" Album of 1953 plus Bonus Tracks)
Pop - Released by Weird Music - Lounge on Sep 30, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Liberace's September Song
Pop - Released by Charly Records on Jun 24, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Chopsticks, Vol. 2
Pop - Released by Supreme Media on Sep 1, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Story of Three Loves
World - Released by Vintage Jukebox on Dec 1, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Merry Christmas with Liberace
Christmas Music - Released by Tam-Tam Media on Jan 1, 1954
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Moonlight Sonata
Pop - Released by Vision 21 OMP on Oct 20, 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Piano Song Book
Jazz - Released by Margate Copyright on Dec 18, 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Don't Care (As Long As You Care for Me) (UK Chart Top 40 - No. 28)
Jazz - Released by Music Manager on Dec 19, 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Oldies Selection: Gold Collection 2019, Vol. 1
Pop - Released by Pipe Dublin on Oct 1, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Oldies Selection: Gold Collection 2019, Vol. 2
Pop - Released by Pipe Dublin on May 4, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Deck the Hall
Liberace, Johnny Mathis, Percy Faith and his Orchestra, Leory Anderson and His Orchestra, Guy Lombardo And His Royal Canadians
Pop - Released by Oldies But Goldies on Oct 1, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Classic Christmas Collection
Pop - Released by Payback on Dec 2, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mr Showbusiness - The Ultimate Collection
Pop - Released by Play Digital on Dec 5, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Very Best of Liberace
Classical - Released by Past Classics on Jun 28, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live From The London Palladium
Pop - Released by Legends Live on Jun 1, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo