Died On This Date (December 2, 1986) Desi Arnaz / World Famous Bandleader and TV Star
themusicsover Desi Arnaz
March 2, 1917 – December 2, 1986
Desi Arnaz was a world famous Cuban-born singer, musician, band leader, television actor and producer who became a household name thanks to his starring role in the 196os sitcom, I Love Lucy. Arnaz was playing guitar for Xavier Cugat when, in 1940, he was cast in the film version of the Broadway musical, Too Many Girls. It was there that he met future wife and I Love Lucy co-star, Lucille Ball. The weekly comedy program premiered in October of 1951 and went on to become one of television’s most beloved shows. Besides the show’s world famous theme song, Arnaz and his orchestra performed many Latin jazz numbers on the program, most of which have been released on album. The show’s success lead to the couple forming their own production company which developed several groundbreaking techniques that have become standard in the industry. Desilu Productions went on to produce such shows as the Andy Griffith Show, Star Trek, The Untouchables and the Danny Thomas Show. After I Love Lucy went off the air in 1960, Arnaz mostly retreated to behind the scenes to run the studio. On December 2, 1986, Desi Arnaz died of lung cancer at the age of 69.
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