March 2 - Desi Arnaz (The Musical Birthday Series, 4th Annual Cycle)

Previous entries for March 2nd can be found here: Kurt Weill (2021); Bedřich Smetana (2020);  Kurt Weill and Marc Blitzstein (2019)

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Desi Arnaz (2 March 1917 – 2 December 1986) was a Cuban-American actor, bandleader, singer, conga player, and film and television producer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Family Business

Arnaz's marriage with Ball began to collapse under the strain of his growing problems with alcohol, gambling, and infidelity. – Wikipedia

Ball divorced him in 1960. When Ball returned to weekly television, she and Arnaz worked out an agreement regarding Desilu, wherein she bought him out. - Wikipedia

Lucy Ricardo maneuvered and planned

In ploys to perform with her husband's big band.

Always conniving, and shameless, and tricky,

In schemes for outfoxing her dear husband Ricky.

Of their real-life marriage the gossip was juicy,

As Desi philandered and cheated on Lucy;

But show biz is business and the partners, of course,

Took care of the business, in spite of divorce.

 

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All in a Row

Arnaz and his orchestra became a hit in New York City’s club scene, where he introduced the concept of conga line dancing to the city.  – Wikipedia

There isn’t much design

Behind a conga line.

Complexity enhances

Coupled Latin dances,

But here there is no trick,

Just count to three, then kick.

 

 

 

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