Władziu Valentino Liberace was an American pianist, singer, and actor. He was born in Wisconsin to parents of Italian and Polish origin and enjoyed a career spanning four decades of concerts, recordings, television, motion pictures, and endorsements. At the height of his fame from the 1950s to 1970s, he was the highest-paid entertainer in the world with established concert residencies in Las Vegas and an international touring schedule. He embraced a lifestyle of flamboyant excess both on and off stage.
Portrait by Allan Warren, 1969
Liberace's early-1980s Christmas costume, worn at the Las Vegas Hilton and Radio City Music Hall: Designed by Michael Travis, with fur design by Anna Nateece, the costume was one of many at the Liberace Museum.
Liberace with actress Maureen O'Hara during a court hearing in 1957
Liberace performing in 1983
A concert residency is a series of concerts, similar to a concert tour, but only performed at one location. Pollstar Awards defined residency as a run of 10 or more shows at a single venue. An artist who performs on a concert residency is called a resident performer. Concert residencies have been the staple of the Las Vegas Strip for decades, pioneered by singer-pianist Liberace in the 1940s and Frank Sinatra with the Rat Pack in the 1950s.
The venue of Britney Spears's concert residency at the Planet Hollywood Las Vegas
The Sands Hotel and Casino (1959), where Frank Sinatra was its headlining resident performer.
Celine Dion's residencies at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace generated $681 million, more than any other acts in history.
