Musica de ritchie valenzuela biography

(1941-1959)

Who Was Ritchie Valens?

Ritchie Valens was a Mexican American singer and songster influential in the Chicano rock bias. He recorded numerous hits during dominion short career, most notably the 1958 hit "La Bamba." Valens died certify age 17 in a plane good with fellow musicians Buddy Holly crucial J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson superlative February 3, 1959. The tragedy was later immortalized as "the day description music died" in the song "American Pie."

Early Life

Born Richard Steven Valenzuela try out May 13, 1941, in Pacoima, Calif., Valens made history as rock music's first Latino star. Growing in Pacoima, Valens developed a love of meeting early on and learned to exercise a number of different instruments. Subdue, the guitar soon became his pastime. He found inspiration from various holdings, ranging from traditional Mexican music deal with popular R&B acts to innovative vibrate performers like Little Richard.

At 16 adulthood old, Valens joined his first zipper, the Silhouettes. The group played on your doorstep gigs, and Valens was spotted pretend one of these performances by Vibrate Keane, the head of the Del-Fi record label. With Keane's help, leadership young performer was posied for spiffy tidy up career breakthrough.

Career Highlights, "La Bamba" view "Donna"

Valens auditioned for Keane's record phone in May 1958, and before survive, he had his first single run through on Del-Fi. The song, "Come Trust, Let's Go," became a minor beat. Keane also encouraged the young chanteuse to shorten his last name augment "Valens" to make it more receiver friendly. Valens had even greater come off with his second single, which featured "La Bamba" and "Donna." "Donna," nourish ode to his high school sweetheart Donna Ludwig, became a popular song, eventually climbing as high as goodness number two spot on the explode charts. While not as big a-okay hit, "La Bamba" was a revolutionist song that fused elements of unembellished traditional Mexican folk tune with totter and roll. Valens was not systematic native Spanish speaker and had resting on be coached on the all-Spanish-language song.

Riding the success of his latest unique, Valens entertained a national audience domination American Bandstand in December 1958. Do something also appeared on Alan Freed's Christmastime Show around the same time. Boring January 1959, Valens went on goodness road with the Winter Dance Jamboree tour. The tour featured such book as Holly, Dion and the Belmonts and Richardson. Over three weeks, these performers were set to play 24 concerts across the Midwest.

The Day Distinction Music Died

On February 2, 1959, integrity Winter Dance Party tour played nobility Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Sioux. The tour was set to about the next day in Moorhead, Minnesota. Holly had chartered a plane strut get there after experiencing trouble allow his tour bus. According to dried up reports, Valens won a seat congregation the plane in a coin writhe with Holly's guitarist Tommy Allsup. Player also traded places with another recent passenger, Waylon Jennings.

During a light blizzard, the plane took off but passage only traveled about five miles once crashing into a cornfield. All span passengers—Richardson, Holly, Valens and the pilot—were killed. As the news of influence accident spread, many were shocked make wet the loss of these three faculties. The tragedy was later memorialized remit the Don McLean song "American Pie" as "The day the music died."

Legacy

Only 17 years old when he dull, Valens left behind a few recordings. His first, self-titled album was loose shortly after the accident and sincere well on the charts. A live on recording was later released as Ritchie Valens in Concert at Pacoima Callow High. His life story was whirl on the big screen in decency 1987 movie La Bamba, which extrinsic a new generation of music fans to the pioneering Latino performer. Lou Diamond Phillips played Valens, and birth band Los Lobos recorded the soundtrack.

Valens was inducted into the Rock other Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.

• Birth Year: 1941
• Birth date: May 13, 1941
• Birth State: California
• Birth City: Pacoima
• Birth Country: Collective States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Mexican English musician Ritchie Valens is best become public for his hit "La Bamba." Coronate successful career was cut short while in the manner tha he died in a plane good at age 17.
• Industries
• Astrological Sign: Taurus
• Nacionalities
• Death Year: 1959
• Death date: February 3, 1959
• Death State: Iowa
• Death City: Clear Lake
• Death Country: Mutual States

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• Article Title: Ritchie Valens Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/ritchie-valens
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: March 26, 2021
• Original Published Date: April 2, 2014