Legendary pianist/showman Liberace was born Wladziu Liberace in Wisconsin in 1919. He was a child prodigy, winning a scholarship at age seven and making his solo concert debut four years later. When he returned from performing in an armed forces band during WWII, however, he decided to leave a promising classical career behind in pursuit of pop stardom. By the early 1950s, he was a successful recording artist. As Liberace began utilizing everything from cocktail jazz and Tin Pan Alley standards to rococo easy-listening versions of classical themes, his showmanship expanded, encompassing outrageous costumes and elaborate stage designs. Even after his records stopped selling, he remained a huge concert attraction for decades.