My cousin was a stagehand at NYCs Latin Quarter in the later 1960s. Liberace was performing and the cousin was able to meet him, my cousin told Liberace how much his mother liked him. The next night Liberace brought in a framed autographed photo of himself and told my cousin to give it to his mother. The fact that Liberace remembered and went to the trouble to bring in the gift speaks volumes about the kindness and thoughtfulness of this man who is still without comparison in talent and consideration.
You've obviously never heard of Van Cliburn, Yuga Wang, Valentina Lisitsa, Vladimir Horowitz, Olga Kern, Glenn Gould, Artur Rubenstein, and many other top flight pianists. To say Liberace was one of the most talented pianists is like calling McDonald's one of the best restaurants in the world. Totally laughable. But I'm sure he played a mean skin flute.
This was the pure "GOLDEN ERA of TALENT." Liberace was the epitome of piano talent. Sammy Davis jr. the best talent of tap dance. What a treat it was to see them both on stage.
many piano players are good technicians with the piano and can play this...but it takes someone who actually understands this music to play it as it should. he certainly shows that passion and intensity that this piece needs to be played with!
I am from Philippines I never seen LIBERACE plays piano on piano but I only heard LIBERACE on RADIO when I was a young BOY THANKS to RU-vid I come to see LIBERACE per-formances .
What a gift we have had in so much precious entertainment and good times from these two uniquely talented performers like Liberace and Sammy Davis Jr. !!! Thanks Showmanlee.
He played old saws and Warner Brothers cartoon level of classical music. He never went to classical music and polished hisncraft against discriminating critics. He played familiar tunes so blue haired old women coukd hum along. Go co.pare his Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto Number 1 (a famous old saw know by everyone) to the gold standard, Van Cliburn. Or by Volodos. Or by Yuja Wang. Or by Olga Kern. Play them side by side and tell me if you can't discern sutble complexities from real masters Liberace couldn't reach. Go and find Liberace playing Rachmaniniff Piano Conerto No. 2 if you can? I don't think he ever tried. Or Rachmaninoff 3rd Paino Concerto, 1st Movement, Ossia Cadenza. And compare that to those who had spent their lives mastering every note of those very famous concertos.
Liberace & Sammy Davis Jr. They don't make entertainers like them anymore! Makes me sad for kids these days. They'll never know the joy of this caliber of talent & originality.
Lee is truly one of a kind the likes we will never see again. A gentleman, a genius, a great gentle guy, all of these and more describe this talented man. RIP Lee, you are missed.
J.L. Neis Hmm....I'd ease off a bit on the gentleman bit! Have you seen the documentary about his life, leading up to his death? Gentle guy? W-e-l-l......?????
Liberace was one of the most unappreciated talents in show business. He owned many homes and when in Palm Springs often walked the main street, Palm Canyon. He was always friendly. Red Skelton was also a great Palm Springs celeb!
@@retroguy9494 It's of course an obvious over statement, and despite all their talent, great singing, songwriting, being funny, ....The Beatles took everyone by storm cause they were having so much fun performing. "If you not having fun, you're doing it wrong"....Steve Lungrin musician /teacher/writer/pianist/youtube
@@Tunz909 Is THAT why the Beatles took everyone by storm? And here I thought it was just because they were the latest "fad" for teenage girls. I've seen the footage from their performances on venues such as the Ed Sullivan Show and those girls went wild! As far as loving what one does, I think it applies to ALL professions. I'm living proof of that. My parents forced me to major in a profession in which I had no interest whatever even after they were told by career counselors that it wouldn't be the field for me. I hated every day of work.
There was no one that could surpass Liberace's talent -- the man was a genius! I am 73 years old and my mother first introduced me to him when I was a little girl and he had his own show on TV, candelabra and all and his brother George was playing the violin -- my mom was a concert pianist and she totally loved him. I wish he had lived forever.
Ahhh! There is a real Spanish guitar in the middle of "Malaguena" - a piece for the piano that imitates Spanish guitar. Sammy and Liberace - Mr. Showbusiness and Mr. Showmanship - two giants on the same stage - wonderful entertainment! Thank you, showmanlee!
Talent? Too simple a word ... Sheer GENIUS ! Liberace's version of MALAGUENA is BRILLIANT .... Nothing can compare to this in today's entertainment... The little dance at the end with Sammy was great... Love, love, love this recording.
I'm a musician of 50 years and I believe he does hit one off note within a chord @03:37 which I listened to over and over to see if I was correct. You can slow it down and it sticks out a little better.
There was nothing this wonderfully gifted man couldn't play. He was serious yet had the most beautiful smile that made his eyes sparkle and he played For And To his audience at all times.
I still enjoy Liberace’s piano playing and humor. I only wish I could have seen him in person before we lost him. What a talented man and one with a wonderful heart!
My mum used to love this guy back in the day. I don't think I appreciated then (back in the 70s) how wonder a pianist he really was, despite all the showmanship and flash clothes. But watching this you can see what a fantastic painist he really was
Makes a person want to cry and feel sad when you look at what we have today and have made our culture when you watch what we had once upon a time, not long ago.
This is my first time hearing and seeing Liberace perform...I have a lot of thoughts and feelings but the ones occurring the most are *"I've been missing out"* and a deep sense of loss. Like I'm just realizing now, late 2019, the significant hit the musical world took back in the 60s 😔
Yes, I was one of those "lucky" kids who grew up in the 50s watching black and white, no remote, 3 channel TV shows. We never felt as if "there was more" to it than that --- living in my middle-class Jewish kid bubble in the South! These two men WERE just about the epitome of weekly entertainment on prime time, along with Ed Sullivan Show. THEN CAME THE BEATLES AND EVERYTHING CHANGED!!!
This was so adorable. Lee had so much talent. His musicality, his humor, playfulness on stage with his audience etc. Now we see him dancing with himself - the multi talented, Hoofer, and Mr. Entertainment - Sammy Davis, Jr. Just brilliant.
There are 88 keys on a piano, and I can’t even remember where E-sharp is at. But to see this man play like it’s nothing, to know where each fingers go to make such beautiful music...is quite frankly amazing to watch
Wow.. I didn't know that Liberace could dance. He's got some moves. Sammy Davis Jr.. is Brilliant. but he was a dancer, singer. I didn't know that Liberace could move like that. Hey thanks for posting. GREAT video... a blast from the past..
I only recently discovered the true talent of Liberace. Never listened to him when I was a teen or young man. Now, I'm in awe of his talent. Nothing like it today. Mr Liberace; I salute you; you were the absolute best. Incredible! Folks, you wanna see another amazing version of Malaguena? Type Roy Clark Malaguena in the search on RU-vid.
I love this!! Two greats together! Oh how I long for those good ole days of showbiz...days of great clean entertainment...today's tv is nothing but pure filth!!
My dear friend Ray Arnett, who was Liberace's producer, director & stage manager for 30 years, taught Liberace how to do that tap routine. Ray was a gypsy transplanted from NYC to West Hollywood. He choreographed the Bilton Berls & Jack Bennie shows, was in Mae West's show & also worked a lot with Shirley McLean. xoxo :)
He grew up in Milwaukee, and used to play in the bars on 3rd St here in La Crosse, WI under the name "Walter Busterkeys." Just after I moved here in 1984, he did a big show in the huge La Crosse Center auditorium in his maximal incarnation that used his real surname of Liberace, which is Italian. His mom was Polish, so he had the Polish given name of Waldziu for Walter. He started off by acknowledging his warm memories of La Crosse, saying he always loved coming back here. Then he said, "And you know, than bank I used to cry all the way to? I BOUGHT IT! He was a great showman and I was glad to get to see him perform.
There is a difference between a showman and an entertainer but this man was truly both I have seen him perform each outfit was more magnificent than the one before plus he entertained everyone in every way
there will never be another great pianist like him. He was such a kind soul and his music reflects the love he had for music... thank you for posting.. Just wonderful.
Oh My! Liberace, another of the very talented and skilled performers that this world wishes were still here, not to mention the incomparable Sammy Davis Jr! RIP, Fellas.
Saw him in person years ago at Nanuet Theatre.He was a fabulous entertainer. After 2 hours I had to leave because I was working the next day.He played for another 2 hours. A true showman
Born in '56 this was pure entertainment in our house on TV, IF Liberace was going to be on a network show, they let you know BIG TIME, but back in the day that's the way it was....... NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS. They got all Liberace from time to time; we'd be glued to the set.
The world was a better place when he was in it. The man was a magnificent entertainer, piano player and human being. Still to this day, the world has a hollow in it because he's not here, anymore.
Gui Serbee I think he just might have cone back, see Emily "Lee" Bear ace...young virtuosic from Rockford IL, born 2001, same smile, love, heart, and music genius unmatched....working with Quincy Jones now...
Mom Mary had me watch Liberace as a kid of the 70’s till his passing. I often wish I could accomplish Liberace’s talent and skills. Look at any piano 🎹 to make it play so well.
Thank you Mr. Liberace for such a tribute to Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona...Liberace's best friend was the piano and he loved to show him off to all...Though he was mean to my dad, I'm sure Liberaci and I would have gotten along wonderfully...RIP Sir and thank you for sharing such a wonderful talent with all of us...Blessings to all...Happy 2022....
I have only seen this magnificent piece played by one other pianist as the solo instrument, and that was the great Stan Kenton. I had the pleasure of performing with Mr Kenton a few times and to see him play this live was absolutely mesmerizing. I would have loved to see Mr Liberace perform this live, maybe in my next life!
@@beegee1960 Carnegie Hall?sold out, Radio City Music Hall? Sold out, Queen Elizabeth,The Royal Family Command Performance? Liberace is there,what else can you say about the guy?
I saw his performance at the Riviera in Las Vegas back in the early sixties and thought it was the best on the strip. His talent as a showman was amazing. He played the piano, sang and verbally connected with his audience. A talent for the ages!
Holding a mic in one hand and Mime whilst scratching ones balls with the other is a prerequisite to being on stage these days I remember Liberace's shows on tv in the 70s pure talent
Liberace introduced music via the piano to an audience that normally would have not ever heard such wonderfully classic melodies. The way he was able to bring this to another level is shear talent and genius!
