As many of you may already know, this blog is named Babalú because of Desi Arnaz. Not only because I was always a big fan and because of all of Desi’s accomplishments and fame, and his love for Cuba, but because whenever someone that is not Cuban hears the word “babalú” they usually remember Desi’s Ricki Ricardo – Lucy’s Cuban bandleader husband on I love Lucy – on the congas with his famous “Babalú. Babalúúú“. I knew that once folks heard that name, they would immediately think “Cuban.”
Thus it’s a great honor for me to post the following photograph, taken by my good friend Tom Stepp:
That’s Lucie Arnaz and her husband Laurence Luckinbill with my aunt Amanda and Babalú. And thank you, Lucie, for your graciousness and support.
Wow.
That’s very interesting! I recently read that Desi Arnaz got his start in show business as a drummer in Raleigh Hotel in South Beach in the early ’40s. Always loved his show,
That is too cool.
You’ve come a long way since you started way back when and while you have been widely read and quoted in those years, I think THIS shows that you have made it, Val.
Oddly enough, I was just watching a special on Lucille Ball and Ricky Ricardo just yesterday. WLRN….I think that’s our PBS or something like it?
Have always loved that show….this is fabulous and I’m proud of you.
Val,
I am so proud and happy for you. And I am really thrilled that the child of Desi is continuing to love Cuba and a possible return to a Cuba her father knew, actually one that can become much better if the Commies leave.
Wow,wow,wow Babalu! This is great, so proud.
WOA! She’s a class act! (just like BABALU)
I’ve been meaning to ask… what is that awesome graphic of the eyes that is the logo for babalu? Your Aunt Amanda?
VAL — can you explain more about that image and why you chose it? I’m so curious!
You must be so proud. Love that connection.
That is just FRIGGIN’ AWESOME! LOVE IT!!
Val:
i am passing through (scientific conference) Lexington Kentucky at the University of Kentucky campus general access terminals in the main library. Reading the Babalu log eith enjoyment, do you know that my Uncle Jose Norman, formerly Norman Henderson, wrote “Cuban Pete” which I understand was used on Dezi Arnaz show. It was written about a little dog Uncle Norman once had. BTW I think this is a site used by some idiot who was gving you trouble….this site has public access.
Desi Arnaz not only acted in I Love Lucy he was also its producer. Thanks to him we can still enjoy those wonderful re-runs. It was Desi Arnaz’s innovative idea to film (first TV show to be filmed live) the show as it was aired live. He also had the ingenious idea (still used today) to film with three or four cameras stationed in different locations. “The practice of filming television episodes also paved the way to TV re-runs and syndication. After I Love Lucy was established as a hit, Desilu applied its multi-camera film technique to the production of other shows.”
Wow. That is too cool. That is just FRIGGIN’ AWESOME! LOVE IT!! Wow,wow,wow Babalu! This is great, so proud.
I couldn’t have said it better myself!
Oh Val, that is so SWEET! What a beautiful lady Lucie is! And what a great family of artists they are! I’m really thrilled at this picture!!!!!
I wish I had one of those t-shirts!
I was so touched by this photo it is so awesome, your beautiful aunti amanda being held by a legendary cuban american on the heels of news just annuonced the ass WILL NOT RETURN to power at all. I think that when all this is over they should paint a life size mural of the picture on that T-Shirt and erase the commie crap murals in downtown havana. I really really want a shirt Val.
Manual Trackbackâ„¢. That is just too damned cool, man.
WOW I am so amazed, I had no idea, this so COOL.
BTW I was watching the WLRN documentary on Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz too, it was awesome.
Lucie Arnaz is very pretty, they didn’t show the grown up kids in the documentary.
Congrats Val and Babalu!!!
FANTABULOUS!!
Viva Val!!
Val, no essplaining to do here. This is simply awesome. A result of how far you have come with your great blog.
How fantastic! And how very gracious of Lucie!
Excellent!!
This is such a brilliant salute to Val and his amazing blog. Bravo!!
it’s great to see desidero arnaz celebrated and remembered in cyberspace, he would have loved it. this man had forsight guts and rythm. firefly justly notes his brilliant use of recording live shows and using then cutting edge technology to create and run desilu poductions. he showed the guts to do all this while being a cuban refugee.because of racism he was denied other roles in hollywood so he continued touring with his band around the world,thus bringing babalu to the world first.
Desi ran Desilu Studios while Lucy pretty much received all of the glory. The fact is, after they divorced and Desi let her have the studio, she was unable to run it and eventually sold it to Paramount in 1968.
Desi also had one of my all time favorite quotes: “If you don’t know what to do, don’t do anything.”
Heh, I wish Trenton would follow that advice!