Anyone remember Liberace?

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

Today we learned of the unfortunate death of American classical pianist Van Cliburn. I can recall seeing Van Cliburn on popular TV shows in the 60s playing classical music. It was a time when network television would actually feature icons of the classical and jazz music worlds. Leonard Bernstein had a prime time TV show featuring classical music performers, something that seems like it was a crazy dream to me now. Back then there also were cheesy musical shows like Lawrence Welk and the Porter Wagoner Show but there were some amazing musicians displaying phenomenal musicianship on those shows and exposing young people to musical excellence.

Liberace had a long-running TV Show in which he almost always played a piece by Lizst, Chopin, or another classical composer. Liberace at one time was the highest paid entertainer in the world. While he was as much a comedian and showman as a serious musician, he always featured his dazzling (although often schmaltzy) musicianship usually wearing an outrageous costume covered with sequins or a mink cape or feather boa around his neck. Music critics would blast his treatment of the classics but for me he made musicianship cool and I was heavily into guitar, violin, and piano when I was a kid in the 60s. If I had grown up in today's world where musicianship is not as celebrated in the media and you don't see Van Cliburn, Leonard Bernstein, and Liberace on TV, I might have never taken up music and my life would have been much poorer. I'm getting up there in years now and music is one of the things in my life that keeps me going.

Here's Liberace doing his comedic showmanship schtick on a guest appearance on the Smothers Brothers, all the while showing that he could really play.

[Archae]

1. Didn't he originate that phrase, "Crying all the way to the bank?"

When he referred to his critics?

But he was silly, and talented.

[monmouth3]

2. I loved his brother George too..n/t

[woodsprite]

3. My Aunt used to babysit me once in awhile

She is the one who first introduced me to Liberace. I didn't care for the music at the time (6 or 7yo), but I loved his outfits and showmanship. When I got a bit older, I thought it was cool that he played twin characters on Batman (Chandell/Harry). He just seemed like he'd be the nicest guy if you met him in person.

After I got a bit older (teens), I started appreciating him more and was always sorry I didn't go with my Aunt and grandmother when they went to see him at the Latin Casino in New Jersey.

Here's the link to one of his Batman appearances:

[digonswine]

4. This takes me back to my grandmother's living room-

yes-he could play-a great showman.

[RebelOne]

5. Yes, I am old enough to remember Liberace.

I think I watched every one of his TV shows. All the women loved him even though he was pretty much known to be gay even in those years.

[In_The_Wind]

6. Of course I remember Liberace. We watched his show every week.

[HeiressofBickworth]

7. My daughter ran into Liberace

in Vancouver BC ---- literally. She fell on her ass and Liberace helped her up. It was entirely her fault; she wasn't watching where she was going. She apologized profusely and he was very charming and forgiving about the incident.

[becca da bakkah]

8. God Yes.....Didn't He Just LOVE to Play on the Organs!

[kwassa]

9. I've seen his grave in Forest Lawn

I was there for another funeral, and the burial site was close to his.

[Loryn]

10. I remember the show

My grandmother watched. He always seemed so happy, and he was not afraid to sparkle, when men didn't really sparkle. He was clearly a good sport too.

[Enrique]

11. they both had nice heads of hair

i remember a lot of Liberace commercials from when I was a kid. I don't remember what he was selling, i don't think it was his records but it might have been.

[freshwest]

12. Loved Liberace, enjoyed seeing him for years. Van Cliburn was good, but I didn't watch tv much then.

Liberace struck me as having a heart of gold, with a real joy in performing and love of people. He had a great sense of humor and I suspect he had much more talent than his gig required. That was my impression. He was a sweetheart.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. My mother said I loved him when I was little and one of my first words was "Candleabra." :D

[Art_from_Ark]

14. I remember Liberace's show

This is one of my favorite Liberace medleys:

[lastlib]

15. How in the h@!! did he ever get by with just one name??!?1?

[Bake]

16. Liberace was a great showman, but Van Cliburn ...

... now he could PLAY!!

Van Cliburn's death was unusually moving for me. My wife is a classically-trained pianist, and so I've listened to Van Cliburn for years. The dude actually eased Cold War tensions by touring Russia and playing the piano! He did more for classical music than just about anyone!

But damn, wasn't Liberace one outrgeous son of a gun? And yes, he too could play!



Bake