Liberace born 16 May 1919 (d. 1987)Wladziu Valentino Liberace, or Lee to his friends, was a classically trained musician who found a rich vein of record, concert and television success when he left the 'boring parts out'. His blend of campy, extravagant theatricals, flamboyant dress, witty self-deprecation and feather-light classical music made him adored by generations of women who were either oblivious to his blatant flaming, or just didn't care.
He suffered from ill-health in later life including heart and liver trouble, and emphysema from smoking, but it was an AIDS-related illness which finally sent him to his candelabra'ed rhinestone coffin in the sky at the age of 67.Liberace always denied that he was homosexual, and the pretty young men were just his chauffeurs and personal assistants.
The Liberace Foundation