Welcome back to Living Pianos, I’m Robert Estrin! Today, we’re diving into the world of one of
the most iconic, flamboyant, and controversial figures ever to sit at a piano—Liberace! This man
wasn’t just a pianist; he was a phenomenon! He turned the classical world on its head with his
dazzling costumes, crystal-studded pianos, and showmanship that left audiences breathless.
Growing up, all my friends knew one name when it came to the piano: Liberace.
For many, he was the greatest pianist in the world—Horowitz, Rubinstein? For most of my friends, Lieberace
was the only pianist they knew! That’s the kind of cultural influence he had. He transcended
classical music and brought it to the masses, not with stuffy concert halls, but with the glitz and
glamour of Hollywood. He wasn’t just a famous pianist, he was the highest paid entertainer in
the world!
But beneath the sparkle and charm, Liberace’s life was filled with controversy and personal drama.
He worked hard to craft his public image, but his personal life was far more complex. Liberace faced rumors about his sexuality for decades, and this was a time when these types of things were hidden from the public. Although he adamantly denied being gay and even sued tabloids for such claims, his relationships, especially with men, were well-known behind the scenes. Yet, Liberace managed to maintain his public persona as the ultimate entertainer, creating a wall between his on-stage charisma and his private struggles.
Growing up, I remember some people believed that Liberace’s showmanship was somehow denigrating classical music.
They felt his over-the-top performances detracted from the seriousness of the art. But here’s the reality—Liberace did something no one has managed to do since: he made the piano a mainstream phenomenon! Today, we have no one in the public eye who captivates people with the piano in the way Liberace did. He helped to popularize the instrument, bringing it into living rooms across America and beyond. And that’s a loss for the piano world today. We’ve seen virtuosos come and go, but none have blended musicianship and entertainment like Liberace. Whether people loved or criticized his flamboyant performances, no one can deny that Liberace put the piano front and center in the entertainment world.
Liberace was more than just a performer—he was a warm and nurturing teacher.
In fact, I’m fortunate to currently teach one of his former protégés. She often tells me how Liberace wasn’t just a mentor on stage; he was genuinely caring, always taking the time to nurture his few students. This compassionate side of Liberace is something you don’t always hear in the headlines, but it shows that even in the midst of his glittering lifestyle, he never lost touch with the people around him.
His performances were jaw-dropping, his lifestyle scandalous, but Liberace’s legacy is unmatched.
Whether you loved him or criticized him, there’s no denying that Liberace changed the game for piano performers and entertainers alike. He turned every concert into a spectacle—complete with dazzling costumes, giant candelabras, and his signature crystal piano. So, what do you think? Was Liberace a genius, an entertainer, or both? Let me know in the comments here at LivingPianos.com and on YouTube! And don’t forget to subscribe to Living Pianos, Your Online Piano Store, for more amazing stories from the world of music.
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13 thoughts on “Liberace: The Piano Showman Who Changed Entertainment Forever”
I recall that Liberace claimed that the rings were used as weights to increase control and agility. He claimed this as part of abusive teaching practices which he claimed to have endured.
Having fallen victim to an abusive teacher at my college and later encountering other former students who could no longer stand the idea of playing, I have always felt sympathy for Liberace.
That said, I cannot see much good coming from pop-star marketing in classical music. One of the obvious failings of popular music being the notion that you attain musicianship without much knowledge or practice. Like ballet, music requires an irrational amount of time and effort.
There are certainly some genres of pop music that are not technically oriented. However, Liberace certainly exhibited technical mastery of the piano in his playing.
100% in agreement. My apologies if it read as registering any disrespect for Liberace. His technical skill was phenomenal.
Seems like Liberace was following a long tradition of showmanship to advance their careers, and coincidentally public interest in piano. That would include the likes of Mozart and Liszt who wowed the crowds in their day.
His museum in Vegas was a treat!! Awesome entertainer!! Who ever got his baldwin pianos are blessed!
Sadly, the museum in Vegas closed a number of years ago. However, many of his artifacts are in Nevada State Museum in Las Vegas.
Thank you for this excellent article factually addressing this great musician.
My piano teacher took all five of us to Liberace’s show the one time he toured Albany, N.Y., and though we sat in the last row, we were just amazed by his music, interpretations, and wizardry. It was pure musical entertainment.
Lastly, Jazz artist and teacher Dave Frank, still giving lessons in NYC, currently offers online a master class on Liberace, and offers the following to all smug classically trained pianists unwilling to concede Liberace’s stellar technique: TRY to emulate his astounding ability to raise his hands a mile high off the keys and come back down unerringly on the precise beat. TRY! It cannot be done. And bear in mind Liberace was classically trained.
Thanks, Robert, for another great video, and I hope one day you will feature a review of the only jazz artist that both Rachmaninoff and Horowitz held in great esteem, Art Tatum.
Be well!
Art Tatum was a phenomenon not just in jazz, but in piano playing!
My mother and I always questioned how on earth he could play piano with all those enormous rings! A great and fun entertainer, but I keep thinking of how many animals were killed for his spectacular fur coats! I also wonder how many pieces of classical music he really knew, I don’t recall him playing any of Beethoven’s sonatas or concertos.
He actually had a very good technique. But his thing wasn’t playing the standard classical repertoire. It was taking piano to another level of entertainment!
The main thing, to me, is that he brought out and ‘popularized’ classical music to our boomer generation and that was a gift beyond imagination. Thanks to Liberace.
When I was a teenager I found Liberace appalling but when I became an adult I discovered the charm in his artistry and ended up playing a few Liberace transcriptions publicly in my 20s. I think Liberace can move us all to consider how we might make the music our own and reach our audience by highlighting what we love about the music instead of limiting ourselves to whatever is on the printed page.
P. S. I was surprised you didn’t put a plug for Baldwin pianos in there! I know Lee loved those pianos, too.
Liberace was a Baldwin artist and his pianos sounded spectacular!