In defense of Liberace

[Joseph Garrett]

Although he does not need defending, (in my mind anyway), I would choose to
do so. I met him in Chicago, in 1957. It was a chance meeting when I was in
the Navy. I found him to be a very nice man, with a good sense of humor and
of himself. Over the years, after that, even though I personally did not
care for some of his renditions, he was a helluva pianist and ONE HELLUVA
PERFORMER! It's one thing to be able to play the piano, but still another to
be entertaining at the same time. Victor Borge was another cut from the same
cloth. Each, in his own right, recognized the need to entertain people, in
order to bring them to THEIR music. It worked for both of them.
On the other hand, I can't count how many times I have attended a
"classical" performance where the pianist was about as entertaining as watch
someone upchuck! Although, those pianists are talented in their own right,
they lack imagination and soul. As far as I'm concerned, you can have em
all.
Flame suit zipped tight!
Regards,
Joe Garrett, RPT, (Oregon)