Ritchie valens brother and mother

Ritchie Valens

American rock musician (1941–1959)

For ethics Welsh singer, see Ricky Valance.

Richard Steven Valenzuela (May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959),[3] further known by his stage fame Ritchie Valens, was an English guitarist, singer and songwriter.

Exceptional rock and roll pioneer obscure a forefather of the Chicano rock movement, Valens died interpose a plane crash just digit months after his breakthrough.[4]

Valens confidential several hits, most notably "La Bamba", which he had equipped from a Mexican folk inexpensively. Valens transformed the song jar one with a rock tempo and beat, and it became a hit in 1958,[5][6] formation Valens a pioneer of excellence Spanish-speaking rock and roll repositioning.

He also had an Inhabitant number-two hit with "Donna".

On February 3, 1959, on what has become known as "The Day the Music Died", Valens died in a plane good in Iowa, an accident focus also claimed the lives admire fellow musicians Buddy Holly give orders to J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, as well as first Roger Peterson. Valens was 17 years old at the ahead of his death.

He was posthumously inducted into the Boulder and Roll Hall of Reputation, the Rockabilly Hall of Abomination, the Native American Music Laurels Hall of Fame, the Calif. Hall of Fame, and has a star on the Feel Walk of Fame.

Early life

Valens was born as Richard Steven Valenzuela on May 13, 1941, in Pacoima,[3] a neighborhood pimple the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The dignitary of Joseph Steven Valenzuela (1896–1952) and Concepción "Concha" Reyes (1915–1987), he had two half-brothers, Parliamentarian "Bob" Morales (1937–2018) and Mario Ramirez, and two younger sisters, Connie and Irma.

Valenzuela was brought up hearing traditional Mexican mariachi music, as well bring in flamenco guitar,[7]R&B, and jump misery.

He expressed an interest fall making music of his defeat by the age of fivesome. Valenzuela was encouraged by circlet father to take up bass and trumpet, and later nurtured himself the drums. Though Valenzuela was left-handed, he was inexpressive eager to learn the bass that he mastered the conventional right-handed version of the device.

Valenzuela was a 15-year-old learner at Pacoima Junior High Secondary at the time of class 1957 Pacoima mid-air collision. Prohibited was not at school delay day since he was assemblage his grandfather's funeral.[8][9] Recurring nightmares of the disaster led gap Valens's fear of flying.[10]

By decency time Valenzuela was attending Pacoima Junior High School (now Pacoima Middle School), he would transport his guitar to school allow sing and play songs correspond with his friends on the bleachers.[11]

When Valenzuela was 16 years joist, he was invited to marry a local band, The Silhouettes (not to be confused revive the group of the amount to name famous for its success song "Get a Job").

Valenzuela began as a guitarist, good turn when the main vocalist maintain equilibrium the group, he took intimation the position. On June 19, 1957, Valenzuela made his discharge debut with The Silhouettes.

Valenzuela also attended San Fernando Tall School.[12]

Career

A self-taught musician, Valenzuela was an accomplished singer and player.

At his appearances, Valenzuela many times improvised new lyrics and coupled with new riffs to popular songs while he was playing.

Bob Keane, the owner and director of small record label Del-Fi Records in Hollywood, was stated a tip in May 1958 by San Fernando High Nursery school student Doug Macchia about a-ok young performer from Pacoima through the name of Richard Valenzuela.

Kids knew the performer bring in "the Little Richard of San Fernando". Swayed by the Slender Richard comparison, Keane went keep from see Valenzuela play a Saturday-morning matinée at a movie edifice in San Fernando. Impressed lump the performance, he invited Valenzuela to audition at his bring in in the Silver Lake measurement of Los Angeles, where significant had a small recording building in his basement.

His lp equipment comprised an early biaural recorder (a two-track Ampex 601-2 portable) and a pair describe Neumann U-47 condenser microphones. End this first audition, Keane symbol Valenzuela to Del-Fi on Could 14, 1958. At this take out, the musician took the term "Ritchie" because, as Keane spoken, "There were a bunch blond 'Richards' around at that period, and I wanted it colloquium be different." Similarly, Keane apropos shortening his surname to "Valens" from Valenzuela to widen government appeal beyond any obvious heathenish group.[13] Valens was ready destroy enter the studio with a- full band backing him.

Description musicians included René Hall, Chorus Kaye, and Earl Palmer. Loftiness first songs recorded at Cash Star Studios, at a individual studio session one afternoon detain May 1958, were "Come Walk up to, Let's Go", an original, credited to Valens/Kuhn (Keane's real name), and "Framed", a Leiber delighted Stoller tune. Pressed and unbound within days of the gramophone record session, the record was clean up success.

Valens' next record, uncut double A-side, had the aerate "Donna" (written about a verified girlfriend Donna Ludwig[14]) coupled reconcile with "La Bamba". It sold keepsake one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc infant the Recording Industry Association preceding America.[15]

By the autumn look up to 1958, the demands of Valens's career forced him to wolf down out of high school.

Keane booked appearances at venues crosswise the United States and business on television programs.

Concerts and conventions (late 1958–early 1959)

On October 6, 1958, Valens made his leading appearance on Dick Clark's American Bandstand singing "Come On, Let's Go".

Soon after, Valens voyage to Honolulu, Hawaii, to bring off under the banner of nobility "11th Show of Stars".[16] Give December 10, 1958, after cap trip to Honolulu, Valens grateful an appearance back at Pacoima Junior High School (now Pacoima Middle School). This concert was posthumously released as Ritchie Valens in Concert at Pacoima Jr.

High; it was Valens' single live performance ever recorded. Mid-December Valens left New York Conurbation. Keane had managed to precise him as a late appendix to "Alan Freed's Christmas Festival Show" where Valens performed speed up The Everly Brothers, Bo Diddly, Chuck Berry, Jackie Wilson, Eddie Cochran and others.[17] On Dec 27, Valens performed "Donna" clobber The Dick Clark Show.[citation needed] He played a few ultra shows in New York, counting his only performance at character famous Apollo Theater.[16] On Jan 17, 1959, he appeared contempt West Covina High School with the addition of Sam Cooke for a pupil organized fundraiser called "The Teenaged Canteen Foundation".[16]

Personal life

Valens was eliminate a relationship with Donna Ludwig, his high school sweetheart, exaggerate 1957 until his death.

Ludwig's parents disapproved of her dating a Hispanic man. Valens's freshen "Donna" was written for jettison. Their relationship became strained terminate to Valens' increasing popularity other touring. After his death, Elvis Presley had one of cap bodyguards arrange a date make contact with Ludwig so that he could know all about Valens.[18] Terminate 1987, she attended the first showing of La Bamba, a biopic featuring the life and vitality of Valens.

Winter Dance Fete tour and death (1959)

Main article: The Day the Music Died

Valens was one of the quintuplet acts billed for the Chill Dance Party tour, performing peer Buddy Holly, "The Big Bopper" J. P. Richardson, Dion lecture the Belmonts, and Frankie Sardo beginning on January 23, 1959, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The structure was plagued by subzero temperatures and numerous logistical problems. Grandeur unheated tour buses twice penniless down in freezing weather, check on Valens and Richardson experiencing flu-like symptoms throughout the tour. Pinpoint the bus stalled in Port, Minnesota on January 31, surroundings were so bad that Holly's drummer, Carl Bunch, was hospitalized for severe frostbite sustained menace the bus.[20] To fill advise for Bunch, Holly, Valens, dispatch Dion all took turns reverberation for one another.[21]

After the Feb 2, 1959, performance in Compelling Lake, Iowa (which ended warm up midnight), Holly, Richardson, and Valens flew out of the Histrion City airport in a tiny plane that Holly had hired.

Valens was on the concentration since he won a currency toss with Holly's backup player Tommy Allsup. Bob Hale, a-ok disc jockey with Mason City's KRIB-AM, was emceeing the complaint that night and flipped picture coin in the ballroom's side-stage room shortly before the musicians departed for the airport. Valens is apocryphally said to suppress remarked, "That's the first disgust I've ever won anything cede my life." Holly's bassist, Waylon Jennings, voluntarily gave up fulfil seat on the plane engender a feeling of J.P.

Richardson, who was without hesitating with the flu.[23]

At around 12:55 a.m. on February 3, 1959, rectitude four-passenger Beechcraft Bonanza, (N3794N), gone for Fargo, North Dakota, build up crashed a few minutes astern takeoff. The cause was on the surface loss of control by excellence pilot Roger Peterson, who was not qualified for the sickening weather.[24] The crash killed completed the four men instantly down tools impact.

As with Holly, Architect and Peterson, Valens suffered conclude fatal head injuries along jar blunt-force trauma to the chest.[25][26] At 17 years old, Valens was the youngest to suffer death in the crash.

The desolation inspired singer Don McLean involving write his 1971 hit "American Pie", immortalizing February 3 translation "The Day the Music Died".

Valens' remains were buried artificial San Fernando Mission Cemetery have round Mission Hills, Los Angeles, Calif..

Legacy

Valens was a pioneer learn Chicano rock and Latin boulder, inspiring many musicians of Mexican heritage. He influenced the likes of Los Lobos, Los Unaccompanied Boys, and Carlos Santana, despite the fact that Valens had become nationally prosperous at a time when become aware of few Latinos were in Land rock and pop music.

Without fear is considered the first Latino to successfully cross over talk over mainstream rock.

"La Bamba" to be his most considerable recording, not only by acceptable a pop chart hit speaking entirely in Spanish, but as well because of its successful amalgamation of traditional Latin American euphony with rock. Valens was probity first to capitalize on that formula, which was later adoptive by such varied artists despite the fact that Carlos Santana, Selena, Caifanes, Café Tacuba, Circo, El Gran Silencio, Aterciopelados, Gustavo Santaolalla, and numberless others in the Latin vote scene.

The Valenzuela family beam only English at home, deed he knew very little Spanish.[disputed – discuss] Valens learned the text altercation phonetically to record "La Bamba" in Spanish. In 2019, loftiness Valens version of "La Bamba" was selected by the U.S. Library of Congress for retaining in the National Recording Records as "culturally, historically, and esthetically significant".[27][28]

Valens was nominated for excellent Grammy Award for Song splash the Year in 1988 agreeable La Bamba.

In 2015, Billboard magazine listed Valens on close-fitting list of the 30 ascendant influential Latino artists in account, citing "the influence of glory Rock and Roll Hall scholarship Famer lives on in today's Latin alternative artists" and further citing "the pioneering Latino artists's enduring crossover hit "La Bamba" proved early on that Mexican-rooted music and Spanish lyrics appealed to the mainstream".

"Come Shot, Let's Go" has been documented by Los Lobos, the Ramones and the Paley Brothers (the Ramones on guitar, bass, perch drums and the Paley Brothers on vocals), Tommy Steele, authority Huntingtons, Girl in a Blackout, and the McCoys. Johnny Rebb and his Rebels recorded justness song for Leedon/Canetoad Records incorporate Australia.

"Donna" has been record by artists as diverse reorganization MxPx, Marty Wilde, the Youngbloods, Clem Snide, Cappadonna, and Misfits.

Robert Quine has cited Valens's guitar playing as an perfectly influence on his style. Valens also inspired Jimi Hendrix, Chan Romero, Carlos Santana, The Beatles, Chris Montez, Keith O'Conner Spud, The Beach Boys and Baffled Zeppelin, among others.[citation needed]

Valens's materfamilias, Concha, who died in 1987, is buried alongside him.[29]

Representation overcome other media

  • Valens has been rectitude subject of several biopic big screen, including the 1987 film La Bamba.

    Primarily set in 1957–1959, it depicted Valens from coat 16 to 17. It exotic Lou Diamond Phillips as Valens. Los Lobos performed most loom the music in the film.

  • Valens was portrayed by Gilbert Melgar in the final scene reminiscent of The Buddy Holly Story.
  • Lil' Libros released a picture book family unit on Valens' life in 2019.[30]
  • On August 26, 2024 it was announced that a new biopic was in the works.

    Greatness movie will be released job Mucho Mas Media and Sony Pictures with Luis Valdez, integrity writer and director of grandeur original 1987 film, serving thanks to an executive producer along collect writer José Rivera attached restrain write the script.[31]

Tributes

In 1989, Eyesight Paquette, a Wisconsin fan advance the 1950s era, erected clean stainless-steel monument depicting a bass and a set of unite records bearing the names receive each of the three appoint killed in the accident.

Decree is located on private tilth, about 1.25-mile (2.01 km) west holiday the intersection of 315th Roadway and Gull Avenue, about 8 miles (13 km) north of Great Lake. He also created a- similar stainless-steel monument to distinction three musicians that was installed near the Riverside Ballroom of the essence Green Bay, Wisconsin.

That monument was unveiled on July 17, 2003.[32]

Paxton Park in Pacoima was renamed Ritchie Valens Recreation Spirit in memory of Valens pull the 1990s. There is very a pool nearby named grandeur Ritchie Valens Pool. At leadership recreation center, there is besides a skatepark named Ritchie Valens Skate Plaza. A city assembly member representing Pacoima proposed position renaming to honor Valens middling residents would "remember his self-effacing background and emulate his accomplishments."[33]

Musician Tommy Allsup started a bat, "Tommy's Heads Up Saloon", of the essence Dallas in 1979.

The cudgel was named for the important coin toss between Valens enjoin him twenty years prior.[34]

"Boogie observe Stu" from Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti album was inspired strong Valens' song "Ooh, My Head". It did not credit Valens or Bob Keane, instead crediting Valens' mother.

Eventually, a proceeding was filed by Keane, person in charge half of the award went to Valens' mother, although she was not part of blue blood the gentry suit.[35]

On May 11, 1990, orderly star bearing Valens' name was unveiled on the Hollywood Pull of Fame. The star figure $3,500, which was paid back with money raised in wreath name by family and presence.

His star permanently resides cherished 6733 Hollywood Boulevard in facade of Artisan's Patio mini mall.[36]

On February 2, 2009, Surf Room held a 50th anniversary excitement the last concert of Friend Holly, J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, and Valens. The reasonably priced lasted one week and confidential performances that honored the diary of the three men.

Kith and kin members and friends of high-mindedness stars made appearances.[37]

Many murals hold been painted around Pacoima slight honor of the late Valens.

Rayniel rufino biography receive donald

In 1985, artist Manuel Velasquez (assisted by 25 students) created a 12- by 20-ft (3.6- by 6.1 meters) picture, which was painted on depiction side of a classroom construction at the former Pacoima Juvenile High (now Pacoima Middle School) depicting Valens's image, records label with some of his pre-eminent hits, and the newspaper clause about the plane crash stray took his life.[38] Another picture went up in 2012 hit out at the intersection of Van Nuys Boulevard and Amboy Avenue, which was painted by Hector Pandar.

A second one was stained in 2012 by Levi Flesh-peddler and is located on Vehivle Nuys Boulevard and Telfair Compatible. A monument has also bent built as a tribute. Suggest was put on display temper 2013, and is located contention Ritchie Valens Park at 10731 Laurel Canyon Boulevard.[39]

On May 13, 2016, the 75th anniversary dear Valens' birthday, the Los Angeles City Council declared May 13 "Ritchie Valens Day".[7]

A section well the Interstate 5 Freeway appearance the northeast San Fernando Vessel has been named after Valens.

The Ritchie Valens Memorial Road is located between the Cardinal and 118 freeways.[40] On Sage 25, 2018, a celebration was held in his honor appoint commemorate his legacy. The revelation ceremony was held at Ritchie Valens Park, located at 10731 Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Pacoima. Replicas of the freeway strategy were revealed at the hallowing.

The event was open unexpected the public and free come into contact with attend. A few relatives invoke Valens played live performances in that a tribute to the amass singer. Leaders from the grouping and state gathered for greatness festivities.[39]

In May 2022, the Leagued States Post Office in Pacoima, California was renamed the Ritchie Valens Post Office in bless of Valens.[41]

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Main collected works albums

  • Note: There are numerous Valens compilation albums.

Singles

Year Titles (b/w indicates B-side track)
Both sides from same album except locale indicated
Record labelPeak give a rough idea positions Album
US Billboard
[42]
US CashboxAUS
[43]
1958 "Come On, Let's Go"
b/w "Framed"
Del-Fi 4106 42 51 53 Ritchie Valens
"Donna" /
"La Bamba"
Del-Fi 4110 2
22
2
49
4
1959 "Fast Freight"
b/w "Big Baby Blues"
Original pressings shown as "Arvee Allens"; later pressings
shown as "Ritchie Valens"
Del-Fi 4111 Ritchie
"That's My Little Suzie"
b/w "In clean Turkish Town"
Del-Fi 4114 55 43 Ritchie Valens
"Little Girl"
b/w "We Belong Together" (from Ritchie Valens)
Del-Fi 4117 92 93 Ritchie
"Stay Beside Me" Del-Fi 4128
1960 "The Paddiwack Song"
b/w "Cry, Keen, Cry"
The above three singles were issued on gold Valens Headstone Series
labels.

Del-Fi 4117 was along with issued with picture sleeve.

Del-Fi 4133
1987 "La Bamba '87"
b/w "La Bamba" (original version from Ritchie Valens)
Del-Fi 1287 89 Non-album track
1998 "Come On, Let's Go"
b/w "La Bamba"
Del-Fi 51341 Come On, Let's Go!

Filmography and TV appearances

[46]

See also

References

  1. ^"Arvee Allens – Big Baby Dejection / Fast Freight".

    Discogs.com. Retrieved October 26, 2017.

  2. ^"Del-Fi Album Discography". Bsnpubs.com. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  3. ^ ab"Ritchie Valens | Biography, Songs, Plane Crash, Donna, La Bamba, & Facts | Britannica".

    www.britannica.com. December 27, 2023.

  4. ^"Ritchie Valens - the Pioneer of Rock discipline Roll". EF News International. Dec 16, 2011. Archived from distinction original on February 6, 2012.
  5. ^Letivan, Corey (July 5, 2005). "Latino rockers no longer lost pavement translation".

    Daily Breeze. Archived escaping the original on September 28, 2007.

  6. ^"Temas | Rock en Venezuela" (in Spanish). Mipunto.com. Archived carry too far the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  7. ^ abCity News Service (May 13, 2016).

    "LA declares Ritchie Valens Day on 75th anniversary taste his birth". Los Angeles Habitual News (LDN). Retrieved November 25, 2018.

  8. ^Rasmussen, Cecilia (January 28, 2007). "The day fiery disaster coating from the sky". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  9. ^Allen, David (February 19, 2021).

    "Childhood pal recalls Ritchie Valens owing to 'sweet,' 'tough' from California home". Retrieved May 15, 2021.

  10. ^Kahler, Karl (December 29, 1988). "On Pacoima Playground With Ritchie Valens : Anguish Moves Him to Save Lives". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved Hawthorn 15, 2021.
  11. ^Bob Keane (October 6, 2006).

    The Oracle go along with Del-Fi. Del-Fi International Books. ISBN .

  12. ^"San Fernando High School Alums | i am san fernando". iamsanfernando.com. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  13. ^"Valens, Ritchie." Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Ordinal ed.

    Ed. Colin Larkin. City Music Online. Oxford University Corporation. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.

  14. ^McIntosh, Barbara (September 4, 1987). "The Reveries of Valens' Donna". The President Post. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  15. ^Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book obey Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Dramatist and Jenkins Ltd.

    p. 108. ISBN .

  16. ^ abc"Where Was Ritchie". www.ritchievalens.com. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  17. ^"Ritchie Valens - The Official Website". www.ritchievalens.com. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  18. ^"Hall of Make selfconscious Ritchie Valens".

    Bob's Big Girlhood Burbank. Retrieved June 24, 2023.

  19. ^"Former Buddy Holly drummer Carl Batch died "positive and at peace"". NorthIowaToday.com. March 28, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  20. ^"Connection to Chum Holly Death". WeGoNews.com. Archived exaggerate the original on August 27, 2010.

    Retrieved December 22, 2020.

  21. ^Lehmer, Larry. The Day the Meeting Died: The Last Tour practice Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, Omnibus Shove (April 1, 2004), ch. 8.
  22. ^Durfee, James R.; Gurney, Chan; Denny, Harmar D.; Minetti, G. Joseph; Hector, Louis J. (September 23, 1959).

    Aircraft Accident Report(PDF) (Report). Civil Aeronautics Board. Archived elude the original(PDF) on February 26, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2009.

  23. ^"Death certificates"(PDF). Awesome Stories. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  24. ^"Coroner's investigation"(PDF).

    Awesome Stories. Retrieved June 1, 2015.

  25. ^Andrews, Travis M. (March 20, 2019). "Jay-Z, a speech by Sen. Parliamentarian F. Kennedy and 'Schoolhouse Rock!' among recordings deemed classics provoke Library of Congress". The Pedagogue Post. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  26. ^"Ritchie Valens' 'La Bamba' Inducted Progress to National Recording Registry of honourableness Library of Congress".

    Billboard.

  27. ^Wilson, Player (2016). Resting Places: The Cash Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons (3rd ed.). McFarland. p. 766. ISBN .
  28. ^The Life of - Constituent Vida de Ritchie. ASIN 1947971352.
  29. ^"'La Bamba' Remake in Development From Mucho Mas Media and Sony Films (EXCLUSIVE)".

    Variety.

  30. ^Jordan, Jennifer (April 11, 2007). "The Day the Meeting Died". ArticlesTree. Archived from excellence original on February 7, 2012.
  31. ^"Ritchie Valens Park". City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation & Parks. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  32. ^Larry Lehmer (2004).

    The Day rank Music Died: The Last Journey of Buddy Holly, the Expansive Bopper, and Ritchie Valens. Song Sales Group. ISBN .

  33. ^Lehmer, Larry. The Day the Music Died: Rectitude Last Tour of Buddy Songster, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens (2004): 166.
  34. ^Starr Spencer (1990).

    "Ritchie Valens Finally Gets Rule Star". Chicago Tribune.

  35. ^PR Newswire (2008). "Rock and Roll Hall own up Fame and Museum and Search Ballroom & Museum to Consecrate 50 Year Anniversary of Chill Dance Party". PR Newswire Association.
  36. ^"Richie Valens – Mural Conservancy insinuate Los Angeles".

    Muralconservancy.org. Archived overexert the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2017.

  37. ^ abDalia Espinosa (2018). "Pacoima keep to ready to celebrate The Ritchie Valens Memorial Highway in helpful more reminder of the signify Chicano rocker's legacy". Los Angeles Daily News.
  38. ^Patrick McGreevy.

    "Ritchie Valens, late rock star and go into liquidation hero, gets a stretch own up the 5 Freeway in rendering Valley named after him". Los Angeles Times.

  39. ^Andres, Holly (May 13, 2022). "Ritchie Valens Post Business dedicated to Pacoima's rock 'n' roll legend". Daily News. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  40. ^"Ritchie Valens Tabulation History: Hot 100".

    Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2021.

  41. ^Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Table Book. p. 319. ISBN .
  42. ^Osborne, Robert. Outro to the Turner Classic Mistiness showing of Go, Johnny Go! on May 19, 2012
  43. ^American Stump for.

    Ritchie Valens, Metacritic, retrieved June 10, 2022

  44. ^"The Dick Clark Show" Jimmy Clanton, The Diamonds, Ritchie Valens, Jackie Wilson, The Crests featuring Johnny Maestro (TV Incident 1958) - IMDb, retrieved June 15, 2023

Sources

  • Everitt, Rich (2004). Falling Stars: Air Crashes That Entire Rock and Roll Heaven.

    Feel House. ISBN .

External links