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Liberace (also known as "Lee"; Walter Valentine Zuchowski-Liberace) -- pianist

Walter Valentine Zuchowski-Liberace was born in West Allis, Wisconsin (b. May 16, 1919, d. February 4, 1987). From the age of four he began his musical education which eventually carried him to international recognition and acclaim as one of the foremost pianists of the world. He graduated from West Milwaukee High School having already received, at age seven, a musical scholarship to Wisconsin College of Music. This scholarship was available to Liberace for seventeen years - the longest scholarship ever granted by this college. By age 14, Liberace was playing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He quickly matured into a superstar in the field of entertainment, bringing joy and pleasure to an international audience, via concerts, movies, recordings, and later in his TV Specials, he became known as "Mr. Showmanship," a star of stars for forty years. In 1979, Liberace established a Museum - a 3 building complex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Museum became the funding arm for the Liberace Foundation for the Performing Arts. The Foundation, by 1993, has given more than 1,200 scholarships in the arts, with grants going to 33 national schools and colleges.

From: Wally West

Also see: "Liberace: The True Story" by Bob Thomas; St. Martin's Press, New York, 1987
ISBN: 0-312-01469-4

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