Who was the harpist in Ricky Ricardo’s orchestra?

[unknown-user]

Ann,

[unknown-user]

This thread has been a real pleasure to read.

[unknown-user]

Hi everyone –

Had a few friends that wanted to see this thread and had trouble finding it – so I’m just “bringing it up” again for them… Also for Lydia Michel!

Kind regards to all

William

[Sam Westbrook]

The harpist was Mary Alice Robert Pickering, wife of trombonist/arranger Jack Pickering.

[HBrock25]

Hey does nancy have any recordings i could buy or some videos and do you know what harp model she had? she inspred me 2 want 2 play harp with her arrangment in i love lucy “rickys life story”

[Ian McVoy]

The American Youth Harp Ensemble now owns her harp I believe.

[brook-boddie]

I just saw an episode of ILL on the Hallmark Channel where

[eliza-morrison]

I remember the harpist being referred to by first name in one of the episodes: “Nancy.”

[Saul Davis Zlatkovski]

Sam, I don’t know if you can provide more information. Can you? I remember thinking there were two harpists, that there was a slight change in appearance between seasons, so perhaps there was one harpist for the first year or two and then another, both brunettes.

[Sandra Jones]

I loved reading all these threads on Nancy, the harpist. I live in Adelaide, South Australia and I’d like her family to know that she has inspired people down here with her magnificent harp playing. I recently bought all the DVDs of the I Love Lucy show, having watched them as a child in the 60’s. I am now a woman in my 50’s and like to spend time reminiscing of days gone by. Watching the ILL episodes and the beautiful music that came from Desi’s orchestra gives me and others a lot of pleasure. It was wonderful to find out all about Nancy and it certainly very sad to hear that she passed so early in her life. She was an exceptional harpist, and you could tell, a lovely woman.

[laurie-rasmussen]

My student harp ensemble performed at a retirement home in Ventura, CA today and afterwards one of the residents approached to tell me that she grew up with a famous neighbor who was a harpist. She told me,”The girl who lived across the the street from me in North Hollywood was a dear friend and played with Desi Arnaz’s band. Her name was Nancy Youngman.” She didn’t know how long Nancy was with the group. When I get a chance I’ll print out the photos and take them to this woman to get an identification.

[scott-chariton]

It was “Bud” Youngman. When Nancy died in 1968 their son Bill was drafted and Bud wasn’t going toe both of them so they moved to Canada and I have been trying to find Bill or Jack for 45 years.

[Val Youngman]

Hi all,

I am Nancy’s granddaughter. Nancy Youngman, nee Elizabeth [surname unknown], died at a young age due to depression/alcohol addiction after her beloved harp career died out. She was a harpist and not a housewife as culture told her to be. She and her husband Bud had one biological son, William (my dad), and an adopted son, Joseph, who disappeared in early adulthood due to gambling debts.

I was raised with enormous pride and sadness for her. She was a woman ahead of her time. She valued passion of music over family, which was not respected at the time. I am her only surviving descendant. Thank you for your respect and curiosity for her. She would have been honored.

Should you need verification, please email me at valfox808@gmail.com

Love,
Valerie Youngman

[Val Youngman]

Hi,

I am Nancy’s granddaughter. Nancy Youngman, nee Elizabeth [surname unknown], died at a young age due to depression/alcohol addiction after her beloved harp career died out. She was a harpist and not a housewife as culture told her to be. She and her husband Bud had one biological son, William (my dad), and an adopted son, Joseph, who disappeared in early adulthood due to gambling debts.

I was raised with enormous pride and sadness for her. She was a woman ahead of her time. She valued passion of music over family, which was not respected at the time. I am her only surviving descendant. Thank you for your respect and curiosity for her. She would have been honored.

Should you need verification, please email me at valfox808@gmail.com

Love,
Valerie Youngman

[Val Youngman]

Nancy was my grandma. Thank you for this record!

Valerie Youngman Fox
Valfox808@gmail.com

[Author]

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