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Ritchie Valens

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Who Was Ritchie Valens?

Ritchie Valens was a Mexican American songstress and songwriter influential in representation Chicano rock movement. He authentic numerous hits during his keep apart career, most notably the whack "La Bamba." Valens died distill age 17 in a facet crash with fellow musicians Friend Holly and J.P. "The Capacious Bopper" Richardson on February 3, The tragedy was later immortalized as "the day the penalty died" in the song "American Pie."

Early Life

Born Richard Steven Valenzuela on May 13, , make a way into Pacoima, California, Valens made portrayal as rock music's first Latino star. Growing in Pacoima, Valens developed a love of air early on and learned die play a number of diverse instruments. However, the guitar presently became his passion. He originate inspiration from various sources, ample from traditional Mexican music encircling popular R&B acts to original rock performers like Little Richard.

At 16 years old, Valens connected his first band, the Silhouettes. The group played local gigs, and Valens was spotted attractive one of these performances in and out of Bob Keane, the head disseminate the Del-Fi record label. Tweak Keane's help, the young trouper was posied for a occupation breakthrough.

Career Highlights, "La Bamba" ground "Donna"

Valens auditioned for Keane's transcribe label in May , trip before long, he had potentate first single out on Del-Fi. The song, "Come On, Let's Go," became a minor go around. Keane also encouraged the adolescent singer to shorten his clutch name to "Valens" to false it more radio friendly. Valens had even greater success fellow worker his second single, which featured "La Bamba" and "Donna." "Donna," an ode to his towering absurd school girlfriend Donna Ludwig, became a popular ballad, eventually grade as high as the circulation two spot on the obtrude charts. While not as ample a hit, "La Bamba" was a revolutionary song that amalgamated elements of a traditional Mexican folk tune with rock enjoin roll. Valens was not exceptional native Spanish speaker and confidential to be coached on illustriousness all-Spanish-language song.

Riding the success more than a few his latest single, Valens amused a national audience on American Bandstand in December He along with appeared on Alan Freed's Christmastime Show around the same span. In January , Valens went on the road with description Winter Dance Party tour. Representation tour featured such acts monkey Holly, Dion and the Belmonts and Richardson. Over three weeks, these performers were set respect play 24 concerts across authority Midwest.

The Day The Music Died

On February 2, , the Wintertime Dance Party tour played description Surf Ballroom in Clear Point, Iowa. The tour was inactive to perform the next daylight in Moorhead, Minnesota. Holly abstruse chartered a plane to bamboo there after experiencing trouble discharge his tour bus. According go on parade some reports, Valens won dinky seat on the plane greet a coin toss with Holly's guitarist Tommy Allsup. Richardson too traded places with another fresh passenger, Waylon Jennings.

During a gridlock snowstorm, the plane took be asleep but it only traveled criticize five miles before crashing meet a cornfield. All four passengers—Richardson, Holly, Valens and the pilot—were killed. As the news elder the accident spread, many were shocked by the loss remind these three talents. The ruination was later memorialized in prestige Don McLean song "American Pie" as "The day the strain died."

Legacy

Only 17 years old in the way that he died, Valens left ultimate a few recordings. His twig, self-titled album was released in a minute after the accident and sincere well on the charts. On the rocks live recording was later insecure as Ritchie Valens in Go to the trouble of at Pacoima Junior High. Climax life story was memorialized passing on the big screen in picture movie La Bamba, which external a new generation of strain fans to the pioneering Latino performer. Lou Diamond Phillips la-di-da orlah-di-dah Valens, and the band Los Lobos recorded the soundtrack.

Valens was inducted into the Rock impressive Roll Hall of Fame propitious

  • Birth Year:
  • Birth date: Haw 13,
  • Birth State: California
  • Birth City: Pacoima
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Mexican American jongleur Ritchie Valens is best systematic for his hit "La Bamba." His successful career was intersect short when he died pretend a plane crash at confession
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Taurus
  • Nacionalities
  • Death Year:
  • Death date: February 3,
  • Death State: Iowa
  • Death City: Clear Lake
  • Death Country: United States

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  • Article Title: Ritchie Valens Biography
  • Author: Editors
  • Website Name: The website
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  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: Amble 26,
  • Original Published Date: Apr 2,