Ritchie Valens

Ritchie Valens
Valens in 1958
Born	Richard Steven Valenzuela (1941-05-13)May 13, 1941 San Fernando Valley, California, U.S.
Died	February 3, 1959(1959-02-03) (aged 17) Grant Township, Iowa, U.S.
Cause of death	Blunt trauma as a result of a plane accident
Resting place	San Fernando Mission Cemetery
Other names	Ritchie Valens, Avree Allens
Occupation	Musician songwriter
Years active	1957–1959
Height	6 ft (183 cm)

Richard Steven Valenzuela, better known as Ritchie Valens (May 13, 1941 - February 3, 1959) was a Native-Latino American singer-songwriter and musician. He died with Buddy Holly, and "Big Bopper" Richardson in a plane crash in Iowa on 3 February 1959, in an event that would become known as The Day the Music Died. He was 17 years old.

He was born in San Fernando Valley to Indigenous Mexicans parents. Mr. Valens was of ethnic Yaqui.

Valens most notable work include recordings of “La Bamba” a Mexican folk song which became a hit in the U.S. “Donna” a song dedicated to his friend and the phrase “Come on let’s go”

Ritchie Valens Media

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  Donna - La Bamba - Billboard ad 1958

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  Ritchie Valens Promotional Photo for the 1959 film “Go Johnny Go”

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  Grave of Valens and his mother at San Fernando Mission Cemetery

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  Kato Ballroom poster

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  Monument in front of Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa