History
Arturo was born Arthur Alfred Skinner to Ethel Rhoda and James Leon Skinner in Brooklyn, New York. Along with his three brothers, James, Jr. (Bucky), Clyde, kenneth and half brother Irving, the family crowded into a small cold flat on the 1700 block of Fulton Street. Eventually his father left the family to return to his native Barbados, where he remained until his death in 1945.
Arturo earned his nickname because of his West Indies background and flamboyant personality. As a child he was a natural entertainer. Growing up in Jewish neighborhoods, he took odd jobs and learned Yiddish fluently, and served as a translator for Jews in the community who only spoke Hebrew. Work aside, Arturo’s real joy and pride came from dancing in the streets. All his creative energy and talent would exude as he tapped his way on busy street corners, eager for the audience, the applause and the coins that came his way at the end of the performance. He was a master of tapping and performing all the latest ballroom dances. In spite of the money he earned, life was extremely hard for the family. So at fifteen he left school to work as a shipping clerk to help maintain the household.
Being a clerk was short-lived. Encouraged by a talent scout, Arturo soon began to frequent Harlem trying to establish his career as an entertainer. Eventually he became caught up in a whirlwind, dancing his way across nightclub strips and even appearing in several Broadway musicals. Money poured in and quickly went out again. He loved fine clothes, jewelry, and even started collecting ceramic dogs (a hobby he maintained for the rest of his life). Arturo became a heavy social drinker and eventually turned to drugs to try to maintain a euphoria that was quickly fading.
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