Part 1 Summary

The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love is the story of Cesar and Nestor Castillo, two brothers who come to America from Cuba in 1949 in their quest for a better life and the chance to play their mambo music. As the story begins, it is early in the 1960's in New York City and Eugenio Castillo, Nestor Castillo's young son, is being called in from the street by the landlady because a rerun of I Love Lucy is about to come on the television. This particular episode is special because Nestor and his brother, Cesar, appear with Desi Arnaz on the show and play the parts of two Cuban brothers playing in the imaginary club of Ricky Ricardo, Arnaz' character on the show.

The Castillo brothers perform a song that has made them popular in New York City, "Beautiful Maria of My Soul...