Ritchie Valens

Richard Steven Valenzuela Reyes, more commonly known as Ritchie Valens, was born on May 13, 1941, in Pacoima, California, and died on February 3, 1959, in Clear Lake, Iowa. He was an outstanding musician, composer, singer, and guitarist from the United States, recognized as one of the pioneers of rock and roll and the first to interpret this genre in Spanish. His legacy includes his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and among his most popular songs are We Belong Together, Come On, Let's Go, Donna, and La Bamba.On February 3, 1959, a day remembered as «The Day the Music Died», Valens lost his life in a plane crash in Iowa, along with other musicians such as Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper.

At the age of 17, his promising career was abruptly cut short.In 1987, the film La Bamba, directed by Luis Valdez, was released, recounting the life of Ritchie Valens, played by Lou Diamond Phillips, from his beginnings in music to his tragic death. The film's soundtrack, produced by Los Lobos, revived Valens' songs.Ritchie Valens grew up in Pacoima, a district in Los Angeles County, as the son of Joseph Steven Valenzuela and Concepción Reyes. From a young age, he was surrounded by traditional Mexican music, flamenco guitar, R & B, and blues. At the age of 5, he showed interest in creating his own music. His father encouraged him to learn guitar and trumpet, and later, Valens taught himself to play the drums.