Wladziu Valentino Liberace
| Liberace | |
|---|---|
Liberace in 1968
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| 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 (brought on by HIV/AIDS) |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery |
| Other names | Walter Busterkeys Walter Liberace Lee The Glitter Man Mr. Showmanship |
| Occupation | Pianist, singer, entertainer, actor |
| Years active | 1936–1986 |
| Parent(s) | Salvatore Liberace Frances Liberace (née Zuchowska) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Easy listening |
| Instruments | Piano, vocals |
| Labels |
Columbia Dot |
| Associated acts | George Liberace, Ignacy Jan Paderewski |
| Notable instruments | |
| Mirror Chandler Baldwin Grand Piano | |
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 (known as "Lee" to his friends and "Walter" to family) was born in West Allis, Wisconsin. His father, Salvatore ("Sam") Liberace (December 9, 1885 – April 1, 1977), was an immigrant from Formia, Italy. His mother, Frances Zuchowska (August 31, 1892 – November 1, 1980), was of Polish descent. Liberace was born with a caul, which in some cultures is considered indicative of genius, good luck, or the promise of a prosperous future. He had a twin, who died at birth. He had two siblings, a brother George and sister Dora.
Liberace's father played the French horn in bands and movie theaters but often worked as a factory worker or laborer. While Sam encouraged music in his family, his wife, Frances, believed music lessons and a record player to be unaffordable luxuries. This caused family disputes. Liberace later stated, "My dad's love and respect for music created in him a deep determination to give as his legacy to the world, a family of musicians dedicated to the advancement of the art".
Liberace began playing the piano at age four. While Sam took his children to concerts to further expose them to music, he was also a taskmaster demanding high standards from the children in both practice and performance. Liberace's prodigious talent was evident from his early years. By age seven, he was capable of memorizing difficult pieces. He studied the technique of the Polish pianist Ignacy Paderewski. At age eight, he met Paderewski backstage after a concert at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee. "I was intoxicated by the joy I got from the great virtuoso's playing. My dreams were filled with fantasies of following his footsteps…Inspired and fired with ambition, I began to practice with a fervor that made my previous interest in the piano look like neglect". Paderewski later became a family friend.
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