Liberace Gave Elvis Presley His Look | Letterman
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ธ.ค. 2022
- The legendary pianist shows off his bling and plays a holiday medley for Dave.
(From "Late Night," air date: 12/29/83)
#liberace #christmas #letterman
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All you rappers need to bow to this man's bling.
I was thinking that too.
Ditto
...played piano from the age of four; 18 years of training, tried the world of classical music, but found he was a better entertainer mixing classic and popular music; Mr Showmanship; the rest is history. Thank you, Lee.
He once said: "you're probably wondering how I play with all these rings. Quite well, actually."
the OG
Liberace was not just the greatest showman, but also deserves the historic designation as one of the greatest pianists of all time.
Believer.
He put the boogie woogie on any piece of sheet music that he's ever read or performed such a gift and to have his talents be backed with such a once in a lifetime personality is just truly an amazing gift to the world each and every day to know that his life and art was so well documented before his untimely passing up into the big gig in the heavens
He for sure was his piano playing was impeccable. Was always my dream to meet this man he left us way too soon.
He brought classical music closeer to the masses, such an amazin talent Mr Liberace was! An America icon!
The musical skill of this genius is astounding.
I never thought a dude playing Christmas on a piano would bring a tear to my eye... damn, what a talent.
Another great artist stolen by AIDS. 😢
Liberace was amazing !
Was Liberace really light in the loafers?
DITTO. What a delicate and emotional touch on the keys, RIP LIBERACE/LEE
@@johnreidy2804 No sir! "Straight as an arrow. he was just...flamboyant that's all" -My dad Who lived in Milwaukee back then where he was a Polish hero. LoL Yeah man, he could re-lift the Hindenburg.
I got chills from the holiday medley. Liberace was truly an icon!
Liberace playing Christmas songs transports you to fairyland. His sound is ethereal, creating imagery of crystals, chimes, snow falling, gracefully, eloquent. His touch on the keys sparkles as marvelously as his diamond rings. You know you're in the presence of greatness. So glad I watched this. A true master of the Art.
Absolutely.
Yeah, it's really sort of funny - in that, here you have a grown man dressed in jewels like a cheap, tawdry side-show performer, but - when he sat down at that piano - he revealed a truly gifted talent like few could produce.
There was a magic about Liberace. I remember as a child being enthralled watching Liberace on TV. Whatever one thinks regarding his lifestyle, there's no denying his talent, charisma, and impact.
@@johnkaylor8670 Yeah, just got to get past all that bling...
"Fairy land" yeah that sums it up
My mom loved him and I made fun of him as a kid
I didn’t understand the showmanship..
After this clip, I have so much respect for him.
You and I had the same experience. I saw him as a child on live TV back in the 1950s and thought he was exaggerated and ridiculous - although a gifted performer. But this show, which I had never seen before, has changed my viewpoint of him. He really was a decent and gifted performer.
I thought the same my mother loved him too and Wayne Newton
Dont worry my kids made fun of him too, but now appreciate his wonderful talent,..he was a real showman .
yeah..he was gay...wayyyyback in the day...goes to show..we are human...it doesnt matter...what genius this guy was....and a nice person.
I just watched Liberace play white Christmas on letterman 3 days before Christmas in 2022. What a world we live in
Took him for granted when I was younger. Now I realize how lucky we are to have had him during our time.
Me too
I don't quite get it
Never be another
That was amazing
Well said 👍
Letterman easily could have had fun at Liberace’s expense but here he shows respect and warmth.
Because that is was job. Every one of his guests is there as a promotional opportunity, and if Letterman made fun of anyone (unless it was pre-arranged) he would be out of a job. His place was to entertain, and be a promoter in conjunction with promoters.
Most talk show hosts would take care about humor at a serious talented guest's expense.
Carson lost the respect of Raymond Burr and Wayne Newton for this reason.
@@erepsekahs Hmmm, I don't think it was in good taste for Letterman to shame Oliver Reed about his Alcoholism.
@@topsyturvyy4558 Tipsy, Good idea!
I thought the same thing. He could have easily taken shots, even with an old Liberace sort of joking about himslef, but Dave kept it classy. Very cool.
Liberace was one of the great showmen and one of the best talk show guests ever. So funny, charming and personable. I remember seeing him on so many shows back in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Thanks for posting this.
seems legit, omgwtflol.
I loved him! On my walk home from school back in like 1958 I had to pass his house! I peeked over the wall & his swimming pool was shaped like a piano!🎹🎼
His Christmas show with his brother is wonderful. He was one of my favorite entertainers.
I always wanted to go see him
Arrogant , bigot and as genuine as artificial sweetener
I'm a guitarist. But if I had to choose a pianist who would influence me in piano playing it has to be this guy. He is a master.
Everyone has such wonderful things to say about Elvis, you literally can't find someone say a bad word about him.
Ray Charles
Priscilla
@@thatonememer69 out of everyone, she says the most incredibly nice things about him. You’re an idiot.
@brucedavid7231 Just his ex-wife, who shades every compliment about him.
I miss the old days, when there were actual STARS 🌟
My late mother-in-law was herself a child prodigy on piano and Liberace was her favorite pianist. RIP Marty and Lee.
When I was on vacation with my parents in Lake Tahoe in the early 80's my Mom dragged me to the Liberace show. We got seated right at the stage and Liberace talked to my Mom for the whole show and he showed her his rings and being right next to her, I saw all those rings in person, up close. They were amazing. I wound up enjoying the show and glad that I went. I real showman!
Do you know how AIDS got to San Francisco?
IN THE REAR OF A HUDSON !!!
Thanks for sharing your experience I remember being dragged to see stripes the movie I think it was and ended up loving it.
Awe your mom must have treasured that experience
@@Momknowstreasures She did!
I have to admit, in the 50s and 60s i never took this genius seriously. Now I'm a lot older, this incredible musician, is up there with the best of them.🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹
I think he's a great showman but I don't really like the music he plays. Undeniably talented though. I'd be lucky if I could play piano even half as well as him.
My grandfather did lighting and sound at The Palmer House in Chicago. Lee learned everyone’s name - and really hit it off with my grandpa. He signed a mini piano for him. He was just adored.
Comnendable of Dave to treat Lee with such respect.
I saw his show at Radio City Music Hall in '84. Incredible. The Dancing Waters, the Rockettes ... true showmanship. He was also so funny and charming, regaling the audience with stories in between songs.
Sadly I was born in August 84 so I was late to the show. But I do wish I could of seen him.
Yeah I remember reading the review and The New York Times it was funny it said a lot of the audience were men of a certain ilk hahaha totally love that.... I believe he came back in 85 86 87 time frame I wish I could have gone to that concert by the way I am totally heterosexual
Back then before this cultural desert we have to endure today when great artists made history!
He’s incredible and seems like such a nice guy
One of Dave's best guests. It was common that after his concerts, Liberace would take requests from audience members, sometimes lasting up to two hours.
I’m a huge Elvis fan, I eventually became a Liberace fan because of the friendship he had with Elvis
One of THE best pianist to EVER live.
The old NBC Letterman show. Your reward for a hard day at college. And if you didn't have class before 11am, you got up when you wanted to. Them were the days. Liberace was a real card. Always enjoyed his appearances.
Love Liberace! He took simple songs and turned them into masterpieces.
Yeah, he was a great piano player but a genius with arrangements.
A true master at his craft.
Oh how I wish Liberace was still here. To show us his sparkle and charm.
Seriously the way he plays the piano, he deserves to have jewelry in his hands.
Yeah, if there is one person who deserves them it's Lee. But also, his stage persona can incorporate that dazzle with an endearing charm.
He was one of a kind, a brilliant musician and a very nice, sweet man.
I’d have never seen this if not for Dave. Thanks
Such a talented gentleman.
Liberace was such a part of my childhood. He was a great showman and unparalleled talent!
What a warm, loveable. handsome person. His piano playing so crisp like crystal. Dave did a very good job on this interview.
Arrogant, bigot, hypocrite and as genuine as artificial sweetener
Actually, i think he slightly insulted him at one point as I noticed a wince and Lee’s soft sweet voice shows it ever so slightly. He didn’t come there to be insulted, and he hides it well, but talking about his million dollar rings as paperweights was tacky, as Dave isn’t accustomed to THAT kind of wealth. Dave’s used to TV and a few movie stars and the singers. But Lee’s wealth puts Dave in the pool-shed.
Imagine tuning in to this show on March 22, 1984 and seeing Bob Dylan and Liberace as guests. Those were indeed the days.
Wow! that was a beautiful Christmas medley. Liberace was one of a kind!
Mr Liberace was the original in showmanship. Elvis followed with those incredible costumes note the rings (how can you miss them!) which both artists had in spades and adopted as entertainer and personal wardrobe. Saw Liberace live in 1977 as a teenager and to this day have never forgot this iconic under rated performer. Liberace always added his personal touch to whatever he played and has been missed dearly by fans all over the world.
Each time we went to Vegas we'd get tickets to his shows at what was then the Hilton, now the Westgate. Going to his shows was always the highlight of a trip to Vegas regardless of what anything else Sin City has to offer. Television doesn't capture the bigger than life Liberace. The man was a crown jewel.
Most beautiful Christmas Medley I ever heard, so talented, so gifted... Unfortunately the audience clapped way too early at the end and didn't let the music fade out in peace...
Applause sign
Liberace's playing was always amazing!
HE WAS A A DOWN TO EARTH AND A REAL GENTLEMAN. I REALLY MISS HIM. HE WAS SO TALENTED. I HAD THE LUXURY OF SEEING HIM PERFORM. I HOPE PEOPLE WILL NEVER FORGET HIM 🙏
Aside from his astounding talent his personality is very engaging & charming.
And as phoney as artificial sweetener
One of the most truly gifted musicians of all time, whose deeply inspired and impeccable interpretations of his own brilliant arrangements are like diamond chandeliers. There will never be another pianist like him. His gift was from God.
This segment is a treasure. I appreciate the video. I was part of a younger generation that was more Haight-Ashbury than Las Vegas. Liberace was viewed as an ostentatious cartoon figure whose music was too kitschy to be taken seriously. Looking back and seeing him with Letterman here gives me a better appreciation for his wit, intelligence, and talent for being in the gaudy celebrity spotlight.
He played this Christmas melody for his last live performance also in 1986. He was very thin and sickly looking but his playing was still perfect. Look it up it’s amazing and also sad to watch.
When Spotify first came out, I hooked up my tablet to the stereo and hit "Liberace Christmas" and it played for hours.
That performance really broke me down into tears.
I just googled that you’re right,
On Oprah.
This is a beautiful clip. Lee was clearly in a place all his own, when he was at the piano. As an entertainer, I know that place. A talent like his comes around only once in a generation.
He was not only a true master at his craft.. He was a fabulous human being.. Rest well Sir.. Rest well...
The man was sheer magic on the piano. Awesome.
When I was a kid we went trick or treating this is in Las Vegas we went a nice house and Liberace opened the door and gave us a tour of his house I remember the pool was like a piano and he was so nice to us then he had leave we went home and watched tv with our parents and saw him on tv playing the piano my folks couldn’t believe he lived so close life is grand
Liberace could make piano's talk!!! What incredible talent he had, I am sure he spent hours each day perfecting it, but it was well worth it his hands moved with such grace across the keyboard and the sound was heavenly!!
According to his boyfriend he never played at home
@@harryjohnson7128 that’s very interesting.
I know right Scott said he never touched the pianos he had at home
@@harryjohnson7128Apparently he only played the bench seriously when he was getting ready for a new show, and even then it was mostly arrangement tweaking with the orchestra. What a Talent and showman!
@@melatomic lol
Such an amazing piano player. I didn't appreciate him when I was younger, but definitely do now.
Thank you for letting us watch these historical clips again. 😻❤️
❤👍👍👍
I'd have loved to see him perform live.
I saw him and he was fantastic!
Me too, I had the opportunity but I couldn't go and I regret it to this day! 😢
I never saw that, I was working late shift and had no VCR. That was incredible. His TV show ratings in the 1950s were through the roof. Incredible.
It's been sorrowful to see them pass on, for us who remember those great entertainers of all genres.
Beautiful piano playing! Wow! Sounds like bells ringing! 🤗👍🎹🎶🎵🎼🎹
This is what you call an Enterntainer in the very best meaning of the word. He entertained people, made them happy and forget abour the bad things in life for an hour or so. He took it to aother level.
I've never been a big fan of Letterman as I think he built a reputation of being rude to his guests. I love that Liberace shared with him that he has a "letterman" painting in his bathroom that he looks at while sitting. Bravo!
He may also look at it standing up - just saying...
he was beloved by everyone in entertainment.....a class act....so much talent.....this was beautiful....
What a precious sweet man.
Liberace was a wonderful showman he was very versatile in his styles of playing the piano from classical to jazz to pop, it was amazing how he could be given names of songs from the audience, and he would put them together in a beautiful rendition. He was truly one of the greatest pianist, with the likes of Victor Borge. This rendition of white Christmas was very beautiful. Thank you for showing this piece. 15:47
To me, part of his wonderful showmanship was his initial appearance when he comes out. He seems so blatantly gushy and effusive that he immediately disarms you, leading you to drop any attempt to have a serious attitude in your expectation or appraisal of his appearance. He puts you into a completely relaxed, informal mood where you're just ready to be entertained.
@@johnkaylor8670 agreed, that was part of his personality and showmanship.
Arrogant , bigot , hypocrite and as genuine as artificial sweetener
Pure talent!
Yeah. "all he was" was a casual, wonderful, gifted performer ready to brighten you up.
The man was a hell of a musician.
Undoubtedly, One of the modern day masters of our time. Hail Liberace ! How emotional was that ! Bravo 👏
I remember watching Liberace when he would appear on tv shows when I was a child, and I always absolutely appreciated his musicianship and his love for people regardless of what and who they were.
What a treat ❤
Either he has really incredible power in his fingers or
the hammers on the piano are hard AF . So bright but bloody
amazing . The guy's a passionate beast .... and doing it with a million$$$
of heavy jewels on his fingers , gotta respect that ability .
In one interview Liberace said he trained with weights on his fingers in his youth and that as an adult the rings were an extension of that weight training.
@@SmilinJackAccordion wow
Minor note: Elvis never wore the gold suit or a sparkly jacket in a movie. He wore the gold suit in concert a few times and a sparkly jacket in the '68 special.
He wore that good lame coat for appearances, usually with black pants. The full out fit on the 50,000,000 Elvis fans can’t be wrong album. Never a movie.
Terrific , the whole segment.
Never heard Christmas songs play so well before. RIP, Lee
Liberace was a brilliant pianist and a unique performer! In fact, I doubt there has ever been anyone quite like him. Is that true?
No, it is not
@@TNT-km2eg I don't understand. You mean there has been someone like him?
He plays the piano so so beautiful I can see why he's one of the top beautiful soft amazing
What a performer! Love Liberace! 😊
He was so talented! One of the best ever. Anc kind! Also helped Elvis with his new clothing in Vegas! RIP
Liberace was such an incredible talent!
This was about a year after I was born so of course I was too young to see these performances, I'm so glad that Dave has been posting them/
Wow! Beautiful blings to match his beautiful unforgettable music.
Bravos!
Brilliant!
Elegance At It’s Peak.
There Is No Artist To Date, That Can Match This Gentleman.
🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹
⭐️🌷⭐️🌷⭐️🌷⭐️🌷⭐️
Great interview. David Letterman may be the best all around late night host ever.
Carlson would have to take that trophy imo.
@@junglismonk4256: You mean "Carson"?!
@@janishart5128 Hha yes sorry `Carson`
@@junglismonk4256: OK, thanks - just wanted to be sure of what you meant.
What a treat coming here 2 days before Christmas and hearing him, I'll be sure to play his Xmas album for more.
Liberace was a true legend RIP
Beautiful Christmas music! Bravo!
Liberace, is probably the greatest American piano player of ours and our futures, lifetime.
Wow, that was such a beautiful Christmas melody. He certainly was a talent and the interview with Dave was a lot of fun too. :)
What a great friend and entertainer! Miss Lee ❤️ !
First time I've ever payed that much attention to one of his performances... AWESOME!!!
A very special treat thanks to Dave and Lee!
Beautiful!🕯🕯🕯
He's such a lovely guy.
The interview was excellent but the Christmas medley Liberace played was just as beautiful to watch him playing as it was majestic to listen to I’ll try to save this somehow thank you Dave Letterman
He's very cherubic and reminds me of Regis Philbin.
I'm sure Regis would find that hysterical!
@@richj011 I loved & miss Regis so much. His death was one of the few celebrities that actually made me sad.
i think he was the epitome of class. a very gracious and lovely human being. God bless you in heaven lee. rip
Great to see him smiling.
Probably greatest piano player ever
No one could tickle the piano keys Like Liberace
I loved Lee! What a wonderful talented Man! I miss him!❤
I saw him in the round (slowly rotating stage). Great showman. Tickled the ivories with those huge rings. When he got down to playing he gave a clinic.
When I was a boy I had a toy piano and a toy candelabra and I would imitate Liberace…
Incredible talent, never heard anyone better.