Liberace was an American pianist and entertainer. His Las Vegas residencies were the stuff of legend. We discuss them in the article below.
When people think of Vegas residencies, minds tend to wander to the big names in the last 40 years of rock and pop. From Kiss to Celine Dion, Vegas residencies are a lucrative payout and a great way for fans to come and see the biggest stars. Yet one man blazed a trail before all others, making Vegas his home and becoming just as much a part of it as the casinos and neon signs themselves. That man was Liberace.
Who Was Liberace?
Władziu Valentino Liberace was originally from Wisconsin. The son of an Italian musician and a Polish mother, he began playing piano at the age of four. By the age of seven, he could internalise long pieces of music and was akin to a child prodigy. However, the depression era was tough on the family, and he began playing piano in the dirtiest of joints, hawking jazz classics to support the family.
During the early forties, he changed his act from a classical one to a more pop-focused set and started playing at more upmarket hotels around the country. Audience interaction was a major part of his success, as he spoke with the crowd and took requests. This popularity soon led him to television, and before long, he even had his own show.
Liberace in Vegas
Liberace had numerous appearances in Vegas and became synonymous with the town. His first appearance was at the Hotel Last Frontier as early as 1944. From here, his popularity rose, and in 1955, the Riviera Hotel paid him an estimated $50,000 a week to have a residency there. Back in the fifties, this was a huge sum of money.
In later Vegas residencies, he would earn a quarter of a million per week playing at the Hilton. It was here that he really played upon his theatrical flair and became Mr Vegas. In his Dancing Waters show, he would fly on stage suspended by wires. The costumes were camp and outlandish, involving furs, sequins, blingy jewellery and the most expensive cars available in the United States. He would tour these shows around the globe. However, at the heart of the glitz and glamour remained music, and he would interperse his evenings with some unique and obscure acts from ballet and folk music.
By this point, he was almost a permanent fixture in Vegas, and inevitably, he bumped into a host of stars. There are pictures of him playing guitar with Elvis, and even Barbara Streisand was a warm-up act for him at one point.
The New Face of Gambling and Music
In today’s modern era of gambling, things have changed once more. Las Vegas is still the gambling mecca of the US and most of the Western world. Yet online casinos play a huge part in how people gamble, and they don’t have to go to designated spots in Nevada to do it. It is simply a case of turning on a mobile device and opening the app or browser.
Casinobonusca is one website that reviews these operators, rating them on everything from game selection to the payment method choice. With bonuses, people can even play without using their bankroll. All of this has drastically changed gambling and Vegas itself.
Its impact on music has been minimal, but there have been some stars who have embraced this modern online gambling culture. Drake is one artist that springs to mind, particularly as he has even begun to endorse some companies on his social media. He is often quite open about his casino gaming and sports betting, telling fans what he has won and lost.
There have also been rumours that Bruno Mars has gambled so much, he owes money to Las Vegas casinos. He has been on an extremely long residency, which sees him earn around $90 million a year. Sources have said he then has to pay this back to the casinos after taxes. He has even joked about it on social media, with performers such as Lady Gaga pitching in.
The Legacy of Liberace
There was a Liberace Museum in Las Vegas, which was, of course, founded by the man himself. But this has unfortunately closed. However, the Liberace Foundation continues to uphold his legacy. Many of his props and costumes can be found at Resorts World and in other separate locations. You can also follow a Liberace trail, which they have posted on their website, if you want to take in the sights and sounds where the famous musician once lived and played.
Liberace was not always a successful entertainer. Some of his times in Vegas were when he was really out of the picture. He had also always hoped for a movie career, which did not take off. However, his lasting impression was cemented in the name of a street in the city. Formerly Karen Avenue, you can now even stroll down Liberace Avenue.
