Liberace And Elvis

by Kay Novy

Title

Liberace And Elvis

Artist

Kay Novy

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Wladziu (or Vładziu) Valentino Liberace (/lɪbərˈɑːtʃi/ lib-ər-ah-chee; May 16, 1919 February 4, 1987), best known simply as Liberace, was a famous American pianist and vocalist.
In a career that spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, motion pictures, television and endorsements, Liberace became world-renowned. During the 1950s1970s he was the highest-paid entertainer in the world and embraced a lifestyle of flamboyant excess both on and off the stage.
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Liberace, known as "Lee" to his friends and "Walter" to family, was born in West Allis, Wisconsin to Frances Zuchowska (August 31, 1892 November 1, 1980), who was of Polish descent, and Salvatore ("Sam") Liberace (December 9, 1885 April 1, 1977), an emigrant from Formia, Italy. He had a twin who died at birth. He was born with a caul, which in his family, as in many societies, was taken as a sign of genius and an exceptional future. Liberace's father was a musician who played the French horn in bands and movie theaters but sometimes was a factory worker or laborer. While his father encouraged music in the family, his mother was not musical and thought music lessons and a record player were unaffordable luxuries, causing family disputes. Liberace later stated, "My dad's love and respect for music created in him a deep determination to give as his legacy to the world, a family of musicians dedicated to the advancement of the art".
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Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. A cultural icon, he is commonly known by the single name Elvis. One of the most popular musicians of the 20th century, he is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King".
Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, Presley moved to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family at the age of 13. He began his career there in 1954, working with Sun Records owner Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring the sound of African-American music to a wider audience. Accompanied by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, Presley was the most important popularizer of rockabilly, an uptempo, backbeat-driven fusion of country and rhythm and blues. RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who went on to manage the singer for over two decades. Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel", released in January 1956, was a number-one hit. He became the leading figure of the newly popular sound of rock and roll with a series of network television appearances and chart-topping records. His energized interpretations of songs, many from African-American sources, and his uninhibited performance style made him enormously popular and controversial. In November 1956, he made his film debut in Love Me Tender.
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Presley is regarded as one of the most important figures of 20th-century popular culture. He had a versatile voice and unusually wide success encompassing many genres, including country, pop ballads, gospel, and blues. He is the best-selling solo artist in the history of popular music. Nominated for 14 competitive Grammys, he won three, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36. He has been inducted into multiple music halls of fame.

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January 5th, 2013

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