(File this under,I have no idea where the idea for writing this came from.)
I think the first time I saw Liberace must have been on Ed Sullivan, or maybe it was The Mike Douglas Show,
Władziu Valentino Liberace (1919 –1987) was an American pianist, singer, and actor. He was born in Wisconsin to parents of Italian and Polish origin. Liberace had an identical twin who died at birth. Liberace began playing the piano at age four.
Liberace enjoyed a career spanning four decades of concerts, recordings, television, motion pictures, and endorsements. Liberace created a publicity machine that helped to make him a star.At the height of his fame, from the 1950s to 1970s, he was the highest-paid entertainer in the world, with established concert residencies in Las Vegas and an international touring schedule.
Believe it or not, Liberace was conservative in his political and religious beliefs. He believed fervently in capitalism, and he was fascinated with royalty, ceremony and luxury. He loved to socialize and was fascinated by the rich and famous. In the later years of his life, having earned sudden wealth, Liberace spent lavishly, displaying extravagant materialism in his life and his act.
Liberace was secretly diagnosed HIV positive in 1985 by his private physician in Las Vegas. Aside from telling his long-term manager and a few family members and associates, Liberace kept his terminal illness a secret until the day he died and did not seek medical treatment.
Liberace’s final stage performance was at New York’s Radio City Music Hall on November 2, 1986; it was his 18th show over a tour of 21 days, and the concert series grossed just over $2.5 million at the theater box office.
Liberace died in the late morning of February 4, 1987, at The Cloisters, his home in Palm Springs, at the age of 67. He had a Catholic priest administer last rites to him the day before his death. A memorial service was held at St. Anne’s Roman Catholic Church.
Liberace was recognized during his career with two Emmy Awards, six gold albums, and two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
(As I said, I have no idea where the idea for writing this came from😉
