Bob Monkhouse with Liberace 1956 Hailed as Mr Showbiz Liberace was the personification of hedonism at its most extreme Billing

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Bob Monkhouse with Liberace 1956 Hailed as Mr Showbiz Liberace was the personification of hedonism at its most extreme Billing himself as a pianist Liberace liked to think of himself as a reincarnation of Franz List truly he was exceptionally proficient at the keyboards but he was far more the classic entertainer punctuating his popularized versions of light classics with lively patter and jokes many of which were aimed at himself Music was his bread and butter but Liberace s main passion was for excess and flash Liberace loved rhinestones expensive cars priceless pianos and anything rococo but it was his outrageous costumes and jewellery that immediately spring to mind when you think of him During some performances he wore lavish spangled costumes that weighed over 200 pounds Born Wladziu Valentino Liberace Lee to his friends in Milwaukee he learned much about piano playing from the legendary Paderwski a friend of his mother Though best remembered for his many Las Vegas performances his tours and his long running television series during the 50 s Liberace also appeared in a few films including South Sea Sinner and Sincerely Yours Fame