Historical Figures Codexery

Desi Arnaz

Cuban-American actor, musician, producer, and bandleader who co-starred with his wife Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy.

Desi Arnaz was a Cuban-American actor, musician, producer, and bandleader who co-starred with his wife Lucille Ball on the television sitcom I Love Lucy.[1] Desilu Productions, the television production company, was established by both Arnaz and Ball, and they are recognized for pioneering the syndicated rerun format.[1][2] Arnaz gained fame for his conga drum performances and is credited with making the conga line dance widespread across the United States.[2]

Quick Facts

Birth name
Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III
Born
2 March 1917
Birthplace
Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Died
2 December 1986
Place of death
Del Mar, California, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actor
  • musician/bandleader
  • studio executive
  • comedian
  • producer
Years active
1934–1983
Political party
Republican

Facts from the source article.

Life and work

The Cuban Revolution of 1933 forced his family to flee Cuba after a mob destroyed their property and livestock.[3] He lived with his father in a rat-infested garage in Miami and attended Saint Leo Prep in 1934 to improve his English.[4] After finishing high school, he joined the Siboney Septet and later Xavier Cugat hired him to play conga drum and sing.[5][6] He was cast in the Broadway musical Too Many Girls in 1939 and went to Hollywood the next year for its movie version, where he met Lucille Ball.[7]

Arnaz and Ball eloped on November 30, 1940, and he appeared in several 1940s movies including Bataan.[7][8] He received his draft notice on April 27, 1943, became a naturalized US citizen later that year, and was assigned to direct USO programs at a hospital in the San Fernando Valley.[9][10] Arnaz co-starred in the premiere of I Love Lucy on October 15, 1951, playing a fictionalized Cuban orchestra leader.[11]

What the cited sources add

A 2019 article notes that biographer Geoffrey Mark would title Arnaz's story "The Prince of Cuba" because he was born into incredibly good circumstances.[12] The same source states that Arnaz's family had mansions, ranches, yachts, livestock, and sports cars before the revolution.[12] The National WWII Museum account explains that Arnaz was drafted while still a Cuban citizen and that his enlistment form used the name Desiderio while his discharge form used Desi.[13] The same source notes that Arnaz was declared medically unfit for overseas duty and used his musical abilities to entertain service members.[13]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Desi Arnaz" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music", Virgin Books, 1997, p. 54; "The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music", Virgin Books, 1997, p. 54; "Desi Arnaz & Lucille Ball: The Geniuses Who Shaped The Future Of Television", October 8, 2009 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Desi Arnaz" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "'I Love Lucy': Lucie Arnaz Revealed Her Father Introduced 'Conga Line' Dance to United States in 2011 Interview", Outsider.com, March 24, 2021 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Desi Arnaz" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Here's What Happened to 'I Love Lucy' Star Desi Arnaz", November 5, 2019; Gross, "'I Love Lucy' Star Desi Arnaz Went From 'Prince of Cuba' to King of Hollywood — and Risked it All", Closer.com, November 5, 2019 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Desi Arnaz" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Gross, "Desi Arnaz: 'I Love Lucy' Biographer Remembers 'The Prince of Cuba' (EXCLUSIVE)", Woman's World, February 15, 2024; "Here's What Happened to 'I Love Lucy' Star Desi Arnaz", November 5, 2019; Horgan, James J. (1990). Pioneer College: The Centennial History of Saint Leo College, Saint Leo Abbey, and Holy Name Priory. Saint Leo College Press. p. 463. (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Desi Arnaz" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Desi Arnaz - Children, Death & Show", Biography, December 7, 2021 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Desi Arnaz" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Here's What Happened to 'I Love Lucy' Star Desi Arnaz", November 5, 2019; Arnaz, Desi. A Book. New York: William Morrow, 1976. (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Desi Arnaz" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Here's What Happened to 'I Love Lucy' Star Desi Arnaz", November 5, 2019 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "Desi Arnaz" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Bosley Crowther, "' Bataan,' Film of Heroic Defense of Peninsula, Starring Robert Taylor, Robert Walker and Thomas Mitchell, at Capitol", The New York Times, June 4, 1943 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  9. Wikipedia, "Desi Arnaz" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Martin, "Desiderio or Desi? What's In a Name and Why It Matters In Research", The National WWII Museum New Orleans, August 15, 2018; "Archives.gov", April 13, 2021 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  10. Wikipedia, "Desi Arnaz" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "SSGT Desi Arnaz, U.S. Army (1942-1945)", Together We Served, February 26, 2021 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  11. Wikipedia, "Desi Arnaz" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Richard Denning", Variety, October 21, 1998 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  12. "Here's What Happened to 'I Love Lucy' Star Desi Arnaz", November 5, 2019. facts only, no text reused. closerweekly.com
  13. Martin, "Desiderio or Desi? What's In a Name and Why It Matters In Research", The National WWII Museum New Orleans, August 15, 2018. facts only, no text reused. nationalww2museum.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Desi Arnaz (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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