Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens

Ritchie Valens

Known for: Acting
Born: 1941-05-13
Died: 1959-02-03
Place of birth: Los Angeles, California, USA

Biography

Richard Steven Valenzuela (May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959), known professionally as Ritchie Valens, was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. A rock and roll pioneer and a forefather of the Chicano rock movement, Valens was killed in a plane crash eight months into his recording career. Valens had several hits, most notably "La Bamba", which he had adapted from a Mexican folk song. Valens transformed the song into one with a rock rhythm and beat, and it became a hit in 1958, making Valens a pioneer of the Spanish-speaking rock and roll movement. He also had an American number 2 hit with "Donna". On February 3, 1959, on what has become known as "The Day the Music Died", Valens died in a plane crash in Iowa, an accident that also claimed the lives of fellow musicians Buddy Holly and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, as well as pilot Roger Peterson. In 2001, Valens was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

On Peekr: Ritchie Valens

Ritchie Valens is best known for work in Acting. The Peekr community tracks 7 credits from Ritchie Valens, including movies and TV series you can rate, discuss, and add to your own Peeklists.

Read the full filmography article

Also known as

Richard Steven Valenzuela Reyes

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