The Talent That Was Liberace

Colorful Liberace is believed to be the mostAnother seven years later he was playing his
renowned and notorious piano player of all times. Heinfamous piano having already returned a star.
rose from a very modest background to amassLiberace became a part of Hollywood in the 1950s
riches and came to be known as the king of pianos.and started being a part of movie production. He was
He exhibited remarkable elegance, enthusiasm andlater offered a part in a television series and won
style throughout his life.two Emmy awards for his efforts. It proved to be a
Liberace was born in West Allis, Wisconsin. His father,big hit all over the world both on television and radio.
Salvatore Liberace was an Italian who played theHis television engagements however did not prevent
French horn in the Milwaukee Philharmonic and hishim from performing and he gave house full
mother Frances Liberace was a Polish who played theperformances in Carnegie Hall and Madison Square
piano. Two of his siblings also showed musicalGarden.
prowess. Thus, the whole family was quite musicallyHe performed to full houses in Australia and Europe,
talented. As a child, Walter Valentino Liberace used totouring all over the world in the 1960s and 1970s. He
watch and listen to his parents playing theiralso started work on his autobiography and his now
instruments of choice, but he fell in love with pianos.famous cookbook "Liberace Cooks". He always
All this was long before he played his famousworked for charitable causes and set up the Liberace
mirrored or jewel encrusted pianos.Foundation to provide scholarships for talented
He was offered a scholarship to the College of Musicindividuals in Performing and Creative Arts. He got
in Wisconsin by a family friend who visited their homeContemporary Keyboard Magazine's "Pop Keyboard
and was impressed by his sheer talent. LiberlaceArtist of the Year" award for three consecutive
grabbed the offer and studied at the college. He alsoyears and also set up his own Las Vegas museum.
received private tutions from Florence Bettray Kelly,In the 1980s, Liberace continued to enthrall audiences
who was known as the protege of celebrated Moritzall over the world. He played the nominated songs
Rosenthal. He finished his classical training at an earlyflawlessly at the 1982 Academy Awards. He also
age of fourteen years and went on to give his solotraveled tirelessly, bringing fans at venues like Radio
debut performance at the Chicago Symphony.City Music Hall.
He took the night club route and performed at someShortly before his 68th birthday, the King of Pianos
of the most famous clubs in the country like thepassed away in the comfort of his Palm Springs
Persian Room at the renowned Plaza Hotel in Newhome. No one has yet to fill his shoes or sit at his
York City. He preferred to be known by his lastrhinestone encrusted pianos since his passing and the
name only and started appearing with the goldworld wonders will there ever be another Liberace?
cadelbra which ultimately became his trademark.