1969 Liberace Show Tiger Rag (Better Quality)

[marucoLille]

Fabuleux!!!

[Digiman80]

Awesome! You know, if Liberace were alive today, he'd be alive today.

[MrElvis96]

@Digiman80 Ahahaha. ?B^)

[Santosificationable]

I must say, he should've regularly practiced that up. It's really difficult to play stride at near 16th-note speeds; that requires A LOT of energy and accuracy. Liberace isn't a piano great, but I think his technique is probably close to professional.

[BoogleC]

@Santosificationable You dumb JACKASS - are you being serious? Please post a better rendition. Oh my god... some people don't have a clue- Liberace hardly practised and he was among the best in the world. Just because he chose NOT to play in some stupid boring concert does not mean is not as good as anyone else because he was far better than 99.9% of everyone else.... Show me your concert pianist that can play all the styles he could...

[JACKKO25]

This IS talent...this IS Liberace ...and this IS insane!!

[MERISI001]

Whilst having a night out at the Talk of the Town in London we saw Liberace in the audience. He joined us at our table for 10 minutes and I have to say that he was one of the nicest and modest people we have ever met.....totally different off stage. He shook my hand and it was like putting my hand into a vice. A great showman and deserved every penny he earned.

[andy04134]

@MERISI001 I can imagine his handshake would feel like a vice. Just looking at how fast and precise his playing he he must have been solid muscle.

[rmrouch1]

I wonder if he was influenced by Fats Waller?

[okdenny]

Everyone should be this happy. We spend too much time doing things that make us unhappy. You don't have to like this, but for the 5 morons that don't like it, you should be somewhere that makes YOU happy. Don't hang out here and be a minority, there are plenty of idiots who need a leader.

[bored1980]

I wonder if he'd survive in today's market. Today it's all about ego, not talent.

[eastlake93]

@bored1980 so true.

[3dwurli]

@bored1980 Its not even about ego, its all about money. At least back in the day, people were loaded for being talented and entertaining!

[TheCurtissLee]

The creativity of Liberace's piano playing surpasses the virtuosity of some of the world's greatest concert pianists. He was truly, ONE OF A KIND.

[Thrive7]

I agree, Swing; however Paul McCartney will go down as the highest paid entertainer in history even after adjusting for inflation.

[Choccybics]

Does anyone know where I can get sheet music for this? Thanks

[waterwavesandsand]

Love the wink at 18 seconds.

[linkdeas3]

@waterwavesandsand hahaha i didn't notice that the first time i saw it

[sleepingtube]

What I love about Liberace is that he not only clearly loves what he does, he also seems to be inviting us, his audience, in on some private joke. He's not just playing for the sake of playing, he's playing for us, for our enjoyment.

[Santosificationable]

A great number of jazz and classical pianists were, technically and musically, greater than him. However, little get to beat him in entertainment technique...well fuck I guess except Justin Bieber.

[harleywoodeminel]

He's the Buddy Rich of the piano!!

[harleywoodeminel]

He's  the Buddy Rich of the piano!!

[ftjax]

There might be good pianists around, but not the "total package" entertainers like this guy.....he really was the best !

[asil375]

I come here time and time again.....he amazes me! His key stroke is so precise, never misses a beat.

[scrapperdana]

His fingers FLY over those keys, from years and years of practice, amazing! That is so difficult to do!!

[Cersia23]

I'm sure that poor piano was probably worn out when he was done with it! Great music!

[christopher11114]

Wow, how does he hit every key so fast and with such precision? So talented!

[leprincephilippe]

Génial !!!!

[killjoy455]

Talent beyond measure.

[TheUbinator]

No that's what I call TV "SHOW"

[alpop850]

one of the greatest piano player ever! look at his left hand!!

[YouCanSayIt]

This man's gimmicy act with the candlebra, and all the glitz and glam got my attention. Then his talent has made me a fan for life.

[thecodewerks]

I can't keep myself from watching this over and over

[chickennone]

0:15 he winked at me ....

[slayerrules114]

No one can ever beat Art Tatum. He learned to play by listening to a self playing piano that played songs that only a three handed person could play. Art was blind so he didn't know the difference. He played piano like a person with three hands.

[gagalovesgeo]

What kind of suit is he wearing? I love the jacket, considering wearing it for prom

[FW190BK]

@gagalovesgeo

That jacket would be considered a typical and maybe somewhat reserved for Liberace especially during his mid to later fame. A Flashy dresser for his performances would be an understatement. If he ever walked out in a normal suite and tie I think the audience would have thought they were in the wrong place. What a piano player and performer. He said he was in New York one time and someone asked him how to get to Carnegie Hall. His reply, "Practice, Practice, Practice".

[Rocknweb]

Is this the oncle of Brian Setzer ? :)

[Praisegrrl]

Love you, Lee!! 

[auntbecky]

Really like that jacket.

[mrpolaroid123]

i wonder, if he'd wanted, could he have made it a serious classical musician..

[frank47hammer]

@plevanto Not true. Liberace was probably a better pianist than Beethoven. But he was no composer. Beethoven was one of greatest musical composers who ever lived. And great pianists, as good as Liberace,don't grow on trees. They are rare. You are looking through a biased lens, my friend.

[rapperdoom]

Very true.. Love what he did, and it shows wonderfully!!

[Panalunar]

yay!

[nordicprincess1]

He was so  amazing. Pure entertainer

[ITSWTFBOOMTIME]

wait HES GAY?!

[guitboxchicken]

@ITSWTFBOOMTIME And that matters... why?

[ITSWTFBOOMTIME]

@guitboxchicken you didnt get my joke, sorry bub.

[LadyT165]

His hands look like a humming bird flying around the flowers! Wonderful!!!

[sturdleyburdeux]

What complete command Of a musical instrument! But there is fast and too fast -when the piece loses it's character and becomes a clutter of notes. He was unique.

[vpmitchell]

@sturdleyburdeux You clearly didnt listen to THE master himself Art Tatum's rendition of Tiger Rag...

[malvinstar]

Mi fa pena questa versione !

[markmarshall39]

Art Tatum, incredible musician, but to me, you can't beat Lee, no one has the SHOWMANSHIP that Lee posessed, then and most certainly now!!

mark m

[balto4]

@markmarshall39 Agreed,Lee will NEVER be beat!!!! It's too bad most people my age(28) don't even know who he was

[markmarshall39]

balto4, i loved this guy, but i was not allowed to watch him when dad was home, dad was old school and didnt care for gays, so thank god for YOU-TUBE!!

[balto4]

@markmarshall39 That sucks :( My mother was always a huge fan,my Dad sometimes makes fun though

[ThomasStillbranch]

now this is what music should be, looks like he always had a good time while playing

[balto4]

@ThomasStillbranch Thats why i love him for,he seemed like such a sweet person,how could you not love him?

[balto4]

Amazing,and what a lot of fun Liberace was!!!!! also seemed like a really sweet person as well

[yorksingingsensation]

Sorry got to agree with Plevanto im afraid, though it is a pleasure to watch him, Liberace is not a genius unless you count for his genius in business, where he was the first to really grasp the importance of sponsoring investments in early TV, made him very rich indeed.

[frank47hammer]

@yorksingingsensation No, he was a technical genius. He had prodigious talent as a pianist. I have seen a lot of pianists, and I have not seen one with the technical prowess of Liberace. He was not creative as a composer, but he was a creative intrepreter and master of his instrument. I doubt that many of great composers were as good. And They probably would have loved Liberace playing their compositions.

[PurpDrank100]

I have the dvd set

[SmntCra]

After listening to Art Tatum play, this seems like a joke!

Art Tatum makes any pianist seem like a joke!

[markmarshall39]

art taum, he's bland!

[Sniper1968]

He ranks right up there with Bach and Beethoven as far as I am concerned. He was truly a master of his art.

[Choccybics]

Mindblowing

[mrpossibilities]

Goddamn that son of a bitch can play the stride

[markmarshall39]

is it me or is he shaking the piano with his playing, now thats playing the piano, pretty cool to me!

[L02T]

It's the pedals. You press and release at some frequency the whole thing shakes. Not the playing lol.

[homerboy488]

Say what you want,,,that girl can PLAY!

[pianodan10]

Yea, cause the Godowsky transcriptions really get the people back home groovin'

entertainment is entertainment.... and I don't think the rest of the world is as entertained by left hand etudes as you are.

I'd rather see someone improvise with a little feeling than hear the same ridiculous etudes played by every pianist with technique to burn.

[cky12qxz]

He winked at meh ;/

I LOVE LIBERACE!!! DON'TWEALL?

[smithrayvincent]

I disagree. If one has this talent, it is given by god, no strings attached. The individual has no responsibility to any one at all. Liberace turned the dusty piano in the front room into a source of joy and entertainment for all to embrace. Musical purism and elitism do no good. Music is for people, period. 99% of the world doesn't care about etudes or studies. They care about listening to something that makes them feel good. Liberace used his talent to make people feel better.

[brickman73]

i have to admit he looks like a kid in a candy store playing the piano. Quite refreshing to see someone take that much enjoyement in his work.

[StrawberryBigMac]

@brickman73 it's his job to make it look like that.

[werksdesign]

Nonesense?? cvalkan1, can you play the piano as well as Liberace could?

[spudweiser0]

I've never heard such rubbish! Surely if someone has a gift like this then it shouldbe shared with the public! This guy did a lot to introduce everyday folks to classical music. Granted it was light and granted he favoured the showy side of things, but he shared his gift with a very broad audience and here we are talking about him 24 years after he died! Not bad for "nonsense" eh?

[badfan3]

cvalkan1: Liberace was a concert pianist at one time. He chose this type of entertainment because it was far more profitable. Can you blame him?

[keyboardmagic]

Simply amazing! What remarkable speed and clever chording on this number. I like how he even manages to know when to glance and 'wink' at certain moments for the TV audience. He was, and still is sensational!

[cuttock]

Badfan3 rocks, dude.

[busterkeys25]

Badfan3, can have his own opinions. I'm also a professional pianist. I think Liberace is a genius cause he created his brilliant own style. Liberace was also a great marketer.

[badfan3]

Im a professional pianist, and I still believe the cleverness of Liberace is untouched. Regardless of what amateurs think.

[sibman77]

This remarkable man was, and always will be....SIMPLY FABULOUS!

[BRazor78]

That aside... He's still pretty amazing.

[Thrive7]

I wish there was his "Flight of the Bumble Bee Boogie" on YouTube.

[keyboardmagic]

@Thrive7 You can find "Bumble Boogie" by Liberace on YouTube. Just put Liberace and Bumble Boogie in the "search" spot, and it will come up. It's from his 1950's TV series but still fantastic! Enjoy!

[badfan3]

Art Tatum is a technical wizard, but Liberace improvisational skills and cleverness is untouched.

[IntelInside2020]

I'm a fan of Liberace; he was a top notch professional, showman and entertainer. To say that Liberace had creativity and improvisational prowess over the man that basically invented bebop is just madness! Hell you can search of YT video of Art doing on the spot improv to Chopin and making "Chopin's Valse" swing on the spot. Liberace was great, but totally incomparable to Tatum.

[SHRINKINGBASSIST]

You're an idiot

[busterkeys25]

i want his coat

[1oo8jm]

WOW!

[Thrive7]

He, and Dino Kartsonakis are the best...

[keyboardmagic]

Yes, Liberace was one of the BEST. Although I've never seen Dino Karsonakis. You might also check out pianist, David Lomascola. He also appears in Branson and is on YouTube. He's GREAT, too.

[thenewrapstyle]

greatest pianist ever. hands down

[eccentricXXX]

Art Tatum tore up this song so bad.. it still sends a chill down pianist's/musicians' spine.

[IntelInside2020]

Great playing but this goes to show you how daunting this piece is- Art Tatum doesn't need accompaniment and his interpretation sound like an entire band - L.O.L.!!!

[Bjornieman]

Wladyslaw! He definitely had as much fun playing it as I had listening!

[markmarshall39]

always a smile!

[charlietray]

Liberace was the most. His piano dexterity and skill in this song was just fantastic. It it weren't for him I never would've enjoyed piano as much.

[trabant66666]

i feel the same thing dude :), i never like piano too much but since liberace i luv it so much

[swingmusic001]

Same here!!! Malaguena is by far one of the pieces with the most feeling for me!! 24 years after his untimely death, Liberace taught me to love the piano!!! God Bless him and rest his soul!! There will NEVER, EVER be another like him!!! A true gift from God!!!!

[swingmusic001]

Anyone can say anything thing they want, bur......Liberace will always hold the record for the highest paid entertainer in history!!!! And he earned every penny that came his way!!!!! I wish he was around today. He cared more about his fans than themoney!! The money was secondary....his passion was first!!!

[hugleberthumperdink]

@swingmusic001 I always thought it was Ray Charles, who at the time was paid more than Elvis.

[sarsky9]

@swingmusic001 and his facial expressions in this video prove it!!!!

[sarsky9]

@swingmusic001 and his facial expressions in this video prove it!!!!

[sarsky9]

@swingmusic001 and his facial expressions in this video prove it!!!!

[keyboardmagic]

@swingmusic001 That was beautifully said, swingmusic. I totally agree and this comes from a longtime fan beginning the in the early 60's when I first met him in person. In that first performance and meeting, he just captured my imagination with his charm and talent. A truly kind and gifted person who loved his fans.

[wrighty205]

Brilliant. The title of that DVD is so apt. He certainly was the Ultimate Entertainer!