Labelle meets Liberace

Which Vegas celebrity was dubbed Mr. Showmanship? If you guessed Elton John you’d be close, but no cigar.

Liberace, the Depression-era pianist prodigy, who spanned a four-decade career embracing flamboyant excess both on and off stage takes top spot – a place he worked very hard to achieve.

In the hands of an astute publicity machine he helped create, Liberace’s transformation from an aspiring concert virtuoso to an overindulgent star dressed in trademark glittery suits and fur-lined coats was the stuff of dreams.

Driven by an insatiable desire to connect with his audience, the Wisconsin born pianist made millions entertaining at concerts, in recordings, on television, the motion pictures and commercial endorsements.

Despite the huge successes, his life was filled with controversy. He successfully sued the United Kingdom’s Daily Mirror for allegations of homosexuality and was later unsuccessfully sued by his male live-in lover and chauffer. Liberace, 67, later died of AIDS-related diseases in Feb. 1987.

But the legacy of Liberace – his music, personality and personal rococo style – lives on as Visionary College instructor Curtis Labelle mounts A Tribute to Liberace on Sunday, March 15 in L'UniThéâtre at CitiĂ© Francophone.

Labelle was inspired by Liberace’s life after watching the movie Behind the Candelabra starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon.

Although enjoying his work mentoring young students, Labelle was itching to return to the stage and entertain.

“There was something about his demeanor that was almost fake, but it was all a big show. I instantly connected. I said, ‘that’s who I can do.’ He’s fun and flamboyant. I’m fun and flamboyant. I’m practically him,” laughed Labelle.

In his research, Labelle discovered that Liberace deliberately dressed in a flamboyant fashion to attract headlines. His long white virgin fox, for instance, cost $360,000 and many suits were embedded with diamonds and Swarovski crystals.

“He paid for the best.”

And the rings he wore came from a technique a piano teacher forced him to use.

“The piano instructor made him practice with stones on his fingers to add strength.”

The public only saw the surface of Liberace’s whimsical extravagant life.

“Behind closed doors he was an ass. He was an instigator. This I’ve read in his autobiography, several documents and the movie. When you see him on stage, he was very debonair and suave. Life behind the walls, he was curt and rude and snobby. I’m sorry for saying this but he was a snotty brat.”

To pull off this larger-than-life figure, Labelle has ordered a full complement of wigs, jewelry and four fabulous costumes. In one jacket alone, 400 beads have been hand-sewn into the fabric.

But despite what people think of him personally or professionally, there is one thing history can never take away.

“He changed the style from performing classical music and pioneered the pop classical era. He took the music he liked, added a classical orchestra with a pop beat.”

Labelle will entertain with some of Liberace’s signature works – Rhapsody in Blue, Beer Barrel Polka, Chariots of Fire, Flight of the Bumblebee, Send in the Clowns and a Boogie Woogie medley.

An orchestra of nine musicians provide support and jazz singer Martha Livingstone drops by to sing several of her favourite arrangements such as Hallelujah, Son of a Preacher Man and Walkin’ After Midnight.