Dona Drake | |
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Born | Eunice Westmoreland November 15, 1914 Miami, Florida, U.S. |
Died | June 20, 1989 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 74)
Other names |
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Years active | 1933–1977 |
Spouse | |
Children | 1 |
Dona Drake (/ˈdoʊnə/ DOH-nə; November 15, 1914 – June 20, 1989) was an American singer, dancer, and film actress in the 1930s and 1940s. She was typically being cast in ethnic roles including Latin American and Middle Easterners. Drake often presented herself as Mexican and went by the names Una Novella[1] and Rita Novella. As Rita Rio, she led a touring all-girl orchestra in the early 1940s, also known as "Dona Drake and her Girl Band",[citation needed] among other names for her musical and dance acts.