Liberace Goes Full 1968 Flower Child #Liberace #VintageTV

On March 5, 1968, the legendary pianist and entertainer Liberace appeared on The Red Skelton Hour, performing "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)," originally made famous by Simon & Garfunkel. Rather than simply singing the familiar Simon & Garfunkel song straight through, the production added playful lyrics about Liberace becoming a flower child. Surrounded by singers and dancers, colorful flower-power costumes, and psychedelic decorations, Liberace enthusiastically embraces the swinging spirit of the 1960s. The performers accompanying Liberace were billed as The Youngfolk, also referred to as the Young Folks Singing Aggregation. They weren't simply anonymous background dancers. The result is a wonderfully unusual combination of old-fashioned television variety entertainment and the emerging hippie culture of the late 1960s. In April 2024, Boing Boing published an article revisiting Liberace's unusual interpretation, illustrating how this colorful example of 1960s television continues to entertain modern audiences. • Performer: Liberace • Song: The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) • Television Program: The Red Skelton Hour • Original Broadcast: March 5, 1968 • Songwriter: Paul Simon • Original Recording: Simon & Garfunkel (1966) Born Władziu Valentino Liberace in 1919, Liberace became one of America's most recognizable entertainers. Famous for his extraordinary piano playing, extravagant costumes, sparkling jewelry, and larger-than-life personality, he was a television sensation during the 1950s, 1960s, and beyond. Written by Paul Simon, "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" first appeared on Simon & Garfunkel's 1966 album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. Liberace's version takes the song in an entirely different direction, turning it into a colorful television production complete with singing, dancing, and plenty of showbiz enthusiasm. It's a fascinating little time capsule of American television entertainment in 1968. #ClassicTV #FeelinGroovy #60sMusic #RetroTV #PopCultureHistory