What do you guys think?



Even if some of the younger ones who haven't seen his face, they're most likely fimiliar with his name. And I've always thought that nobody remains even after their death unless they possessed some kind of substance or depth to their talent,,,now mind you, I'm not fimiliar with his musical career AT ALL other than his Vegas extravaganza(I read that he made $2 million a week in 1952. Even after taxes, which were higher then).

Which brings me to this thread's ?uestion; was he a novelty act or was he a genuine artist? And if you think he's the latter, give me an example please.

I don't think I'd call him an artist, but he was a showman. From my understanding he could hold an audience and make lil old grey haired women weep.

A Novelty Act, as his musical ability was more average than prodigal, but he was a tremendous showman, who lived the stage on and off it. Thats what people loved, he was a performer. Going to see Liberace, you couldn't care too much about what he was going to play, but more what he was going to wear, to do and how he was going to interact with you. He had only one 'hit' with September song in 1955. He was the last of kind.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberace

he was a true showman! and a very shrewd man.

cat can play tho'

funkpill said:

Thats why I think there was something behind that "novelty act" facade

TonyVanDam said:

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Don't throw these 1/2 assed one-liners

I wonder what Lisa Coleman thinks of Liberace...I'm gonna ask her on twitter.

lazycrockett said:

Both. The fact that he could play well made him an artist.

vainandy said:

I think he was both also-I think towards the end of his life he was more dramatic/showmanship, but I think he had talent. What degree of talent is the question?

vainandy said:

I agree with Andy.

Artist. He was a badass for his day, dont get it twisted y'all.

TD3 said:

I agree with Andy, too. I think he was a good musician. I also think that he created his stage persona (and off-stage as well!) so he could stand out from the other pianists of the day. He seemed to enjoy it, too!

He was both IMO. He is one of the people always mentioned in all music classes. Can't say the same about many pop artists though.

Harlepolis said:

Liberace played the grand piano very well. But his biggest success was definitely his public persona. That is why I say he was a character.

Lisa Coleman's contribution to this thread: ARTIST with low self esteem. so sad.

via http://twitter.com/wendyandlisa

I checked out some of those other youtube vids. Whether you cared for his act or not, the man could play.

And if money is a measure he was on top of the world.

the emphasis on artist is all hers. I copy and pasted her comment as is.

I think he was an artist, by all definitions. He also had a very quick wit and a finely tuned sense of humor. Moreover, he was a wildly talented pianist. If the Internet had come around about a half-century sooner, no doubt there would have been a Liberace.org, lol.

He was also unabashedly gay and made it work for himself in an era where it was generally NOT accepted.

Anybody have any ideas on how he pulled that off?

DakutiusMaximus said:

...by never admitting it. Never underestimate the power of denial. Seemed to work for Tony Randall as well, lol.

PDogz said:

And whats his name,,,,the cute Italian boy from A Rebel Without A Cause

Liberace sued a UK newspaper BIG TIME for even hinting that he was "gay".

PDogz said:

and Luther

Harlepolis said:

Sal Mineo denied it when he was younger, but in the sixties and seventies, he carried on with homosexual relationships. Most of his later acting roles were of homosexual men.

Timmy84 said:

He got through SO much shit for that "head" picture though,,,,even though, the dude in the pic doesn't look like him.

Harlepolis said:

I think I know what picture you're talking about and I don't even think that was him either. But I do think Sal was unapologetic-ally gay even though he really didn't make it public. Sal basically said it was none of people's business who he slept with.
[Edited 9/7/09 16:20pm]

Entertainer would probably be the best description.


Liberace definitely had musical talent.
I believe at an early stage of his career, he determined that the showmanship component would give him more longevity than straight musicianship.


A similar comment could be made about...




...Victor Borge (another piano prodigy type) who used comedy to augment his musical talents.



tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Trying to say Liberace is an artist is like saying Alan Freed was the "king" of rock and roll.

Art Tatum, that guy Neal posted and Lionel Hampton were more artists than Liberace was. I agree that Liberace was an entertainer, a great one at that tho.