Liberace plays and talks on "The Tonight Show" (1986)

The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Co-host Bill Cosby from Sept. 23, 1986

[@barryjacobs8524]

Playing so beautifully a year before he died. Such a wonderful man and performer. But he is still with us because of the videos. Thankyou.

[@nolancain8792]

Not even that, 5 months.

[@user-wt1jd4rc9n]

but the tone of his music already had sadness and he was no longer heard with the joy of before and also his clothing was totally different. a great talent.

[@wilmamcphail4686]

I remember watching him play so many times on TV. Such a great talent and always had a warm smile.

[@autocrow]

He had such a great smile. You could tell it was genuine and he was thankful to all his fans for his success.

[@SASA-il3wt]

Class, manners, style and talent.

[@JLNeis]

This man was one of the most humble,normal, talented genius' this nation ever will see. There is only one LIBERACE, rest in peace Lee, you and your talent are soooo missed.

[@wesdo77]

I took my mother to see him inLas Vegas in 1986, a month before she died. Other than my children, the greatest gift I ever gave her. She marveled about his performance until her last day. He was truly a musical genius!

[@HugoVargas-yk9up]

I love Liberace. Very sweet soul. Very noble.

[@jeanbaumgartner4052]

Liberace Is on JOHNNY CARSON!HIS SMILES 😃😊🙂😀😄IS SO CUTE WHEN HE SMILES AT THEM ALL THAT WAY 😍☺💖💗💕😄!Just 😍☺💖💗💕😄Love The Way He Plays HIS Piano 🎹💖❤💗💕💙!

[@scretching08]

Masterful pianist!

[@filmmekker]

How can anyone say he wasn’t a great pianist? His playing had feeling and great, great technique.

[@heartofglass7235]

Great clip. I'm in love with Liberace, never got to experience his show, so I watch these and read everything I can about him. Hard-working, talented, and just plain nice. There will never be another one like him.

[@liberacegirl1865]

heartofglass 72 * Yes, he was wonderful. I'm a great Liberace fan, love his music so much. Please visit Liberace Girls "Liberace Photo Album" on facebook. You'll find lots of albums full of great photos. So far, I've uploaded over 2500!

[@dianeferre1273]

My sentiments exactly... As a little girl, I wasn't paying attention. June 2020, I'm stunned& in awe!

[@lorivattes5475]

He treated everybody like he was entertaining them in his living room. I miss him and that era. All the greats are leaving this world. I wish I had seen him live.

[@DreamsSketcher]

Yes there was a lovely civility, manners...decorum.

[@wesleymcjunkin687]

He was incredibly handsome even in his later years. Talented too. Liberace Forever. 4-17-2021

[@markarnold8014]

Awesome as always. People forget how lovable he was and how personable. Just a joyous person with a lovely heart.

[@markarnold8014]

@TheDodicat I followed him closely during his life. Just a huge fan. I have all his books and most of his albums. A true Showman. I took up the piano at age 4 because of his influence and studied for over 14 years.

[@pete25901]

he was set up. It was all about a bunch of woman getting their revenge because he lied to them about helping their careers. he was no angel but he was not guilty of the crimes he was charged with.

[@olivelane7903]

I agree list my husband in 2018 watching lee Liberace and his healing music helps me so much and us getting me through parademic. Wish they would stop slagging. Him off and stop bleiving Scott's. Exaggerated. Storied if lee had never nmeg Scott he would still be alive today happy new year to i

[@alyssabria]

@@olivelane7903 Lee died of complications from AIDS and Scott never had HIV so no he wouldn’t be still alive today even if he never met Scott so obviously it was someone else and who knows it might have been Cary. Plus I doubt even without AIDS, he still wouldn’t be alive today since he would be 101 years old (102 in May). He probably would have lived another 10 to 20 years longer if he had practice safe sex but he wouldn’t still be alive today.

[@odowdfan]

Such a kind and gifted man.

[@PhillipLWilcher]

Liberace, God bless you, may you rest in the Lord's love and peace.

[@ManuelGuzman067]

Liberace would be 100 years old now 🎹 🌟 rip

[@michaelglenn367]

Liberace was a one of a kind. There are so many wonderful real(and NOT reality star)true talents who have passed. Liberace was bigger than his illness. Sad to see he was somewhat short of breath here. But...he still looked like a star and played magnificent. If I had to choose Liberace last greatest moment ...it would be the 1982 Academy Awatds-The Sincerely Yours intro is beyond beautiful.

[@williammorales8204]

The original bling king. Nobody can make an entrance like this guy.

[@johnsheldon7716]

Those rings man! How many Super Bowls did he win?? I didn't even know he played football! 😂

[@timredfern1282]

He was just brilliant 🥰👍🇬🇧

[@faithmapstone9982]

This v hard working, giving,generous & so much more human being. Didn't have long on this earth at this time of interview. Yet as always Lee, you put on a wonderful show. RiP Liberace ❤⭐🎼

[@BillKing8888]

Saw him in Hamilton, Canada in 1973 and never forgot him!

[@sylvestercoffee7212]

My father took me to one of his shows at the NY state fair back in the seventies. I'm so glad he did!!

[@ztuedeutz]

Luv to watch Libarace play.

[@pompom11]

We saw him at the South Shore Music in Cohaset Mass the year 1986. I’d never seen him, the best performance! I have his autograph, who would think the next year in February his health would fail and he’d be dead. Love the guy.

[@kathyh7215]

We will forever be thankful that this genius was generous enough to share his God-given talents with us. Beautiful, gracious and joyous man.

[@HatersWorld]

I just ❤️him and that smile! He was so amazing.

[@katherinesage]

a musical genius.

[@scottbrandon6244]

Liberace was always a good interview. It was sad he died a year later at age 67.

[@stellertonybeller1972]

he passed away just 5 months after this ....there is also a video of him on Opera doing a interview and Christmas songs and that was just 6 weeks before he passed away .......kind of a Swan song because he knew he was dying .

[@stephaniealexander3314]

We Miss you sooo much Lee💜🎹❤️🎹💗🎹🦋💕💕💕💕

[@GroundsForDivorceCoffee]

I was very fortunate to have seen him live in the 70's here in Vancouver, B.C., Canada at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. I was a big fan of his music & on stage presence, so my parents bought us tickets! I was about 12yrs old & it was an incredible performance, we had fantastic seats in the balcony on the wings overlooking the stage. I still remember his entrance wearing that beautiful, long white fur coat - it was truly a sight to be seen! I was telling my wife about it today & how Liberace is to piano, as Yngwie Malmsteen is to guitar. The flair, the technical precision & the incredible flow of musical notes blows my mind!

[@DGonz-dr1fl]

The bow tie he's wearing here is now in my collection, and I wore it regularly when I was playing. 😀

[@dalemmmm]

Amazing!

[@motivationandtravelchannel4575]

What a showman! 2 of the best people forget how talented Bill Cosby was and Liberace

[@billyshead1339]

He was styling like crazy. Look at those rings. Dude was like a king.

[@RADIUMGLASS]

The first King of Bling.

[@GodsFavoriteBassPlyr]

Beautiful Music... Beautiful Man.

[@rosiemckinzie8608]

I love love love when he plays "Sophisticated Lady"!!!

[@bohemialite6371]

🎼🎵🎶🎹 love Liberace💖

[@djs2356]

I do recall the last few years of the Tonight Show, Johnny was always on vacation, so he had guest hosts.....Lee is wonderful here.

[@thomaspick4123]

I really enjoyed that piece he played on this show. Very nice.

[@bucklilli9832]

so elegant, so handsome, so striking, so European-looking

[@balto4]

I agree I always thought that too

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

Because his parents were right off the boat from Europe. His father came over from Italy and his mother was from Poland.

[@ssnoc]

A fantastic entertainer and genuinely nice person - 👏🙏

[@neilyoung5116]

There will never be another. It’s nots just the playing or the costumes, it was how he got the piano to almost sing. Those arpeggios are original, full and sexy. God bless you Lee. I was only 16 when he past but was already fascinated with him.

[@barrybrittain6157]

Lee and Bill Cosby! What a delightful and funny interview this was, I could listen to these men talk all day long! Gee, September of '86, this had to be Lee's last time on the Tonight Show! I can imagine Johnny later regretted not being there! Lee Liberace was a true treasure and a wonderful man! I never used to be a big fan but since my love for classical music has grown over time my appreciation for his talent and music has grown along with it! Thank you Lee, for sharing your passion for this fabulous music with the world!

[@g1boy2]

So Silky and Gloriously Smooth Key Work its So Pleasantly Peaceful to My Ears

[@bryanelam7431]

In order to see a true entertainer and a gentleman I've started watching Liberace clips on KZbin!

[@vickyburton2434]

I so wish the current treatment for AIDS was available at this time. We would have had Liberace for so many more years! He seemed to be just a sweet man. What a talented man.

[@MrMelgibstein]

He almost made it to the AZT and the cocktail treatment....Almost.

[@balto4]

I agree he did seem very very sweet

[@_Patton_Was_Right]

The 'treatment' is what kills these people

[@olivelane7903]

I second that

[@Number4lead]

Fauci made sure people with aids didn't get the best treatments. AZT, which Fauci pushed on the public, did more damage than the virus itself.

[@pkrbkr01]

I am so happy to see this performance. I had only see pictures up until now. I figured with Bill Cosby hosting, i might never get to see it. Thank you soooo much for putting this up. Made my day.

[@liberacegirl1865]

pkrbkr01 * YOU made my day! I'm happy when Liberace fans like the clips. I love to share them!

[@divox9pqr]

Listen to that right hand...the command of style..the variation of melodic elements...the man was just the best....FABULOUS!

[@chriskourlos4407]

Fats waller was the best, get it straight man!!!

[@swampyfox1]

@@chriskourlos4407 never come close to Liberace!

[@sophieseeker6620]

@@swampyfox1 Never did, never will. Angels broke the mold when LEE was born . Now they play n sing with him constantly .....

[@DHuhnCatMom]

Beautiful music. Toward the end, his playing took on a quality that was rich in feeling and emotion... beyond his tremendous technical ability.

[@ShaKimono]

Absolutely exquisite

[@patbyrne3076]

Love to watch his face while he’s playing.

[@BobK5]

Pat Byrne yes he was playing he wasn’t messing around, he was fully focused and developed his smile and wink to show how effortless his playing was but in reality he was very well practiced and the look on his face when he’s playing is one of a genius at work 🧛‍♂️👍

[@albertpeterson5585]

...even through the museum and Italian restaurant in Las Vegas is closed, you can still visit the warehouses where both his piano and costume collections are held.

[@AbandonedMines11]

I thought I read somewhere that his Italian restaurant moved to Henderson or something like that. Good to know that the warehouse is available to see his stuff. Are you actually referring to the Liberace Garage?

[@albertpeterson5585]

@@AbandonedMines11 ...yes, the Garage; Carluccio's did move to Henderson, but the quality has suffered ever since.

[@patbyrne3076]

Just beautiful. God bless.

[@edmundpower1250]

One of a kind

[@richardsoderkvist6383]

It's so sad when Liberace and Rock Hudson passed away back in 1985and1987. Both very nice guys one a very great actor and the other a very great piano player.

[@chazinko]

Such a beautiful Ellington melody and a nice, easy swing feel interpolated with a free, rhapsodic solo style.

[@SmilinJackAccordion]

MEMORIES ... I had been to see Lee at Caesars Palace in August. I went backstage after the Midnight Show, to say hello. On stage he was perfect ... but as we spoke, I realized he was ill and that I would most likely never see him, "in person" again. Indeed, that 2 week engagement in Aug. ... was the last time he performed in Vegas. It's great to see this, his last appearance on The Tonight Show ... AGAIN ... after all these years ! Thanks, Liberace Girl ...

[@liberacegirl1865]

Smilin' Accordion Jack thank you!!!

[@phaedrabacker2004]

Such flair!

[@mrfrolich]

It´s incredible. On the Tonight Show in september (and he seems fine), and 4 1/2 month later he´s gone.

[@nolancain8792]

He did pretty good hiding any symptoms. Backstage was likely a different story, there’s accounts he’d be heaving for breath and had to sit down for a brief period to regain his strength.

[@daphnenapier1102]

Liberace had a special magic ingredient not meny people have It's brilliance

[@emilianodelacruz3504]

What a genious artist,silky and golden hands.madter of the PIANO.qepd.

[@e3erockstar08]

I am not worthy of watching nor hearing such BEAUTY.

[@asa1973100]

There are no stars like that today, and its sad. #Legend.

[@johnastrup1549]

The World greatest Mr. Showmanship "Lee" Walther LIBERACE. FRANK SINATRA SAID THAT LIBRRACE WAS ONE OF THE FINEST PERSON HE EVER MET. I Saw 1981 show in Tivoli Garden Copenhagen.Never forget.🎤🎹🎼👍 They want him back in 6 years.Sadly He died 4 of Februar 1987.

[@albertpeterson5585]

...the kids keep getting hold of this piano: it's been in several recent music videos, and even made an appearance on the 2019 Grammys with Chloe Flower.

[@dsandusky123]

And with bill Cosby . Those were the good ol days ..

[@sherrillouimette1905]

Someone asked here why he chose the Baldwin piano, in an interview he was asked the same question and he said that he loved the bell like tones, especially on the upper keys, l now know what he meant as l watch him play.❤️

[@victorgrasscourt3382]

Interesting that Liberace always played Baldwin pianos. What was it he liked about them?

[@tomsanders7080]

BALDWIN PIANO IS THE BEST EVER MADE

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

Back in the '50s, when he was making his big break on TV, he struck a deal with Baldwin, that he would travel with a Baldwin piano AND feature a Baldwin on his TV show, at no cost to him. They agreed to that deal, and he played on Baldwin pianos until his death.

[@biggestliberacefan1988]

This was his last appearance on the tonight show

[@CameronEly]

His health was starting to go downhill at this time.

[@liberacegirl1865]

Cameron Ely * His last performances were all outstanding! He made us happy!

[@ixtapavangogh]

Yes, this is painful to watch. RIP LEE! Such a massive talent.

[@sprintbass]

I need to connect with you ppl ASAP. I am a bass player... I play in a style that pays respect... Grew up on 80s new wave..... Went to NC school of the arts.. 45 in may... I've tried to track down lame...it cost a fortune...I'd never go insane with it...more a 50s clean cut style...

[@judithking3436]

he was one of a kind. the Showman. honest and true. knew how to treat people and did it

[@Freedom-IXOYE]

Judith King I don’t think Scott Thorson would think he knew how to treat people well

[@MrMelgibstein]

Scott and Lib screwed up,I think that why things went down hill.

[@themagicaladventuresofliam4615]

a few months later he was dead yet he still came out and entertained, love him

[@Whatt787]

He looks much thinner here than normal, AIDS was destroying him

[@Holidaygirl7]

So beautiful his playing reminds me of Mariah Carey’s voice!!! Can imagine them two collaborating?!!! Heavenly sounds

[@sylvestercoffee7212]

He was my first crush when approaching my teens,sigh. Before I knew anything of his personal life I always wondered why he wasn't married to some beautiful lady.

[@stellertonybeller1972]

go to the A&E bio video on KZbin and it explains he was engaged at one time but broke it off .

[@c.a.schulze1251]

Liberace some month before death. unbelievable.

[@Tracks777]

Good video! Keep it up!

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

Of course, Liberace is superior, however, a comment needs to be said about the incredible sound of that Baldwin grand!! It's rich, warm middle and upper register.. and that full thunderous bass makes for an incredible sound!

[@brucestewart5939]

His private life and the partners who exited his life can say what they want to say, this man was an incredible human and talent this world will never see again. His private life and his relationships are no different from the ins and outs of most of our own lives...the only diff is that my life wasn't world renowned and I wasn't under a microscope! Shame on the leeches that once were part of his amazing life.

[@chriswright1916]

Love his suit

[@abrakadabrah3031]

Tragic there was no one to love....when the spotlight was out and the piano was quiet... He was always searching for love he never found and ultimately evolved into an oddity....and over collection of objects...that couldn't love him, or comfort him... Public loved him...but it was a different type of love.

[@HamburgerHelperDeath]

A lot of people don’t realize that Liberace played linebacker for the Baltimore Colts for 7 years and went to 5 pro bowls.

[@2godless]

Now there’s a man with strong fingers. Beautiful rings.

[@stellertonybeller1972]

on another appearance with Carson he explained he was taught to play with lead weights on his fingers for resistance and strength ..... kind of how a runner wears weights around this ankles ........so he said he has no problem with the rings or heavy outfits .

[@user-vt9sm9yq7c]

Wonder what he was thinking whilst in his dressing room getting ready? Whatever it was, he came out and delivered a class act xx

[@chriswright1916]

Looks so different from the early 86 interview with Carson

[@superdougie10]

He was appearing to show the signs of HIV/Aids at this point and was progressing yes!

[@RADIUMGLASS]

Who would have thought Bill Cosby would end up in prison.

[@MrMelgibstein]

Yeah,I miss him in the Jello pudding commercials.

[@barbraseville8984]

Me.

[@wa798]

WOW, this was only 4 months before he succumbed. He looked great for somebody in that stage of his illness, it must have went really quick & fast when he spiraled down.

[@nolancain8792]

Wa his very last one was on Oprah in December, that is uploaded and he looks way worse.

[@jakeforrest]

Yes, he looked terminal, which he was....

[@jamesclifton5416]

If you look how ill Freddie Mercury looked 6 months before he died, Liberace doesn’t look that ill in comparison

[@MrMelgibstein]

Freddie Mercury looked terrible in the end.These men couldnt keep the weight on.

[@Garrysullivanjones]

@@MrMelgibstein needed wheelbarrows of weed cookies to stimulate appetite . Vape bong munchies. Eat the pantry stoned. Giggling

[@davidr4523]

Real estate is still "the thing" almost 40 years later as it always will be as long as the location is good. The poor guy passed away one year after this appearance on the tonight show.

[@Whatt787]

5 months

[@kona1967]

Sadly, he would pass away less than 5 months later on February 4, 1987.

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

Wladziu Valentino Liberace (West Allis, Wisconsin, 16 de mayo de 1919-Palm Springs, California, 4 de febrero de 1987), más conocido por su apellido, Liberace, fue un showman y pianista. ​ estadounidense de ascendencia polaca e italiana, de gran popularidad. Devoto católico, inspiraba a su público con su cálida cercanía y su inagotable y generoso espíritu pletórico de alegría en sus espectáculos.

[@GK-rw2op]

More of the video Please !

[@TicklerDude]

Excuse me Mr Cosby, please don't touch my drink. Thanks

[@roberteclusier3672]

Grandiose

[@betteurbain7911]

And ain't it grand!

[@judd442009]

Five months after this performance, Liberace was dead. He was 67.

[@user-ww5ui4lo8z]

its like he knew where to hit and how to get the tone, he was romancing the piano

[@larrydelios7325]

You can tell lee was quite ill at this point .

[@andyecheandia8375]

In retrospect you can see his weighing less AND wearing almost regular clothes here which was much lighter, less burdensome at this point.

[@Whatt787]

He's skinny as a rail here, huge difference from January, 8 months big loss of weight

[@ElmoKnowsWhereYouLive5150]

This isn't the one where he looks like his father. This isn't the one where he looks like his father in drag. This isn't the one where he looks like his father in Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte! (Behind the Candelabra reference)

[@Nickbaldeagle02]

A little over 5 months before his untimely departure.

[@phil4977]

5 months after this poor Lee passed away

[@davidralphs4]

She will forever be missed.