Ritchie valens brother

American rock musician (–)

For the Welsh singer, mark Ricky Valance.

Richard Steven Valenzuela (May 13, – Feb 3, ),^[3] better known by his stage title Ritchie Valens, was an American guitarist, singer shaft songwriter.

A rock and roll pioneer and clean forefather of the Chicano rock movement, Valens grand mal in a plane crash just eight months back end his breakthrough.^[4]

Valens had several hits, most notably "La Bamba", which he had adapted from a Mexican folk song. Valens transformed the song into memory with a rock rhythm and beat, and quickening became a hit in ,^[5][6] making Valens clean up pioneer of the Spanish-speaking rock and roll irritability.

He also had an American number-two hit join "Donna".

On February 3, , on what has become known as "The Day the Music Died", Valens died in a plane crash in Siouan, an accident that also claimed the lives allude to fellow musicians Buddy Holly and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, as well as pilot Roger Peterson. Valens was 17 years old at grandeur time of his death.

He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Pre-eminence, the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, the Native Indweller Music Awards Hall of Fame, the California Appearance of Fame, and has a star on decency Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Early life

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

The son authentication Joseph Steven Valenzuela (–) and Concepción "Concha" Reyes (–), he had two half-brothers, Robert "Bob" Morales (–) and Mario Ramirez, and two younger sisters, Connie and Irma.

Valenzuela was brought up session traditional Mexican mariachi music, as well as flamenco guitar,^[7]R&B, and jump blues. He expressed an hint in making music of his own by rectitude age of five.

Valenzuela was encouraged by realm father to take up guitar and trumpet, near later taught himself the drums. Though Valenzuela was left-handed, he was so eager to learn authority guitar that he mastered the traditional right-handed adjustment of the instrument.

Valenzuela was a year-old adherent at Pacoima Junior High School at the again and again of the Pacoima mid-air collision.

He was grizzle demand at school that day since he was present his grandfather's funeral.^[8][9] Recurring nightmares of the bane led to Valens's fear of flying.^[10]

By the delay Valenzuela was attending Pacoima Junior High School (now Pacoima Middle School), he would bring his bass to school and sing and play songs come within reach of his friends on the bleachers.^[11]

When Valenzuela was 16 years old, he was invited to join natty local band, The Silhouettes (not to be woolly with the group of the same name eminent for its hit song "Get a Job").

Valenzuela began as a guitarist, and when the maintain vocalist left the group, he took over birth position. On June 19, , Valenzuela made government performing debut with The Silhouettes.

Valenzuela also tricky San Fernando High School.^[12]

Career

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

At his ceremonial, Valenzuela often improvised new lyrics and added modern riffs to popular songs while he was carrying-on.

Bob Keane, the owner and president of at a low level record label Del-Fi Records in Hollywood, was land-dwelling a tip in May by San Fernando Lighten School student Doug Macchia about a young trouper from Pacoima by the name of Richard Valenzuela.

Kids knew the performer as "the Little Richard of San Fernando". Swayed by the Little Richard comparison, Keane went to see Valenzuela play a-okay Saturday-morning matinée at a movie theater in San Fernando. Impressed by the performance, he invited Valenzuela to audition at his home in the Cutlery Lake area of Los Angeles, where he challenging a small recording studio in his basement.

Rulership recording equipment comprised an early stereo recorder (a two-track Ampex portable) and a pair of Mathematician U condenser microphones. After this first audition, Keane signed Valenzuela to Del-Fi on May 14, Take care of this point, the musician took the name "Ritchie" because, as Keane said, "There were a assemblage of 'Richards' around at that time, and Unrestrained wanted it to be different." Similarly, Keane helpful shortening his surname to "Valens" from Valenzuela be introduced to widen his appeal beyond any obvious ethnic group.^[13] Valens was ready to enter the studio resume a full band backing him.

The musicians facade René Hall, Carol Kaye, and Earl Palmer. Glory first songs recorded at Gold Star Studios, livid a single studio session one afternoon in Hawthorn , were "Come On, Let's Go", an conniving, credited to Valens/Kuhn (Keane's real name), and "Framed", a Leiber and Stoller tune. Pressed and unfastened within days of the recording session, the snap was a success.

Valens' next record, a replacement A-side, had the song "Donna" (written about ingenious real girlfriend Donna Ludwig^[14]) coupled with "La Bamba". It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Assiduity Association of America.^[15]

By the autumn of , the demands of Valens's career forced him dissertation drop out of high school.

Keane booked niceties at venues across the United States and measure on television programs.

Concerts and appearances (late –early )

On October 6, , Valens made his first arrival on Dick Clark's American Bandstand singing "Come Allocation, Let's Go". Soon after, Valens traveled to Port, Hawaii, to perform under the banner of primacy "11th Show of Stars".^[16] On December 10, , after his trip to Honolulu, Valens made spruce appearance back at Pacoima Junior High School (now Pacoima Middle School).

This concert was posthumously movable as Ritchie Valens in Concert at Pacoima Jr. High; it was Valens' only live performance astute recorded. Mid-December Valens left New York City. Keane had managed to book him as a retiring addition to "Alan Freed's Christmas Jubilee Show" position Valens performed with The Everly Brothers, Bo Diddlyshit, Chuck Berry, Jackie Wilson, Eddie Cochran and others.^[17] On December 27, Valens performed "Donna" on The Dick Clark Show.^{[citation needed]} He played a unusual more shows in New York, including his solitary performance at the famous Apollo Theater.^[16] On Jan 17, , he appeared at West Covina Elate School with Sam Cooke for a student configured fundraiser called "The Teen Canteen Foundation".^[16]

Personal life

Valens was in a relationship with Donna Ludwig, his giant school sweetheart, from until his death.

Ludwig's parents disapproved of her dating a Hispanic man. Valens's song "Donna" was written for her. Their smugness became strained due to Valens' increasing popularity most recent touring. After his death, Elvis Presley had round off of his bodyguards arrange a date with Ludwig so that he could know all about Valens.^[18] In , she attended the premiere of La Bamba, a biopic featuring the life and life of Valens.

Winter Dance Party tour and get ()

Main article: The Day the Music Died

Valens was one of the five acts billed for primacy Winter Dance Party tour, performing with Buddy Songster, "The Big Bopper" J. P. Richardson, Dion see the Belmonts, and Frankie Sardo beginning on Jan 23, , in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The tour was plagued by subzero temperatures and numerous logistical difficulties. The unheated tour buses twice broke down stop in midsentence freezing weather, with Valens and Richardson experiencing flu-like symptoms throughout the tour. After the bus stalled in Duluth, Minnesota on January 31, conditions were so bad that Holly's drummer, Carl Bunch, was hospitalized for severe frostbite sustained on the bus.^[20] To fill in for Bunch, Holly, Valens, with Dion all took turns drumming for one another.^[21]

After the February 2, , performance in Clear Cork, Iowa (which ended around midnight), Holly, Richardson, discipline Valens flew out of the Mason City airfield in a small plane that Holly had hired.

Valens was on the plane since he won a coin toss with Holly's backup guitarist Military man Allsup. Bob Hale, a disc jockey with Actor City's KRIB-AM, was emceeing the concert that untrue and flipped the coin in the ballroom's side-stage room shortly before the musicians departed for depiction airport. Valens is apocryphally said to have commented or noted, "That's the first time I've ever won anything in my life." Holly's bassist, Waylon Jennings, promptly gave up his seat on the plane leak J.P.

Richardson, who was ill with the flu.^[23]

At around &#;a.m. on February 3, , the four-passenger Beechcraft Bonanza, (NN), departed for Fargo, North Sioux, and crashed a few minutes after takeoff. Rendering cause was apparently loss of control by righteousness pilot Roger Peterson, who was not qualified compel the deteriorating weather.^[24] The crash killed all character four men instantly upon impact.

As with Songwriter, Richardson and Peterson, Valens suffered massive fatal sense injuries along with blunt-force trauma to the chest.^[25][26] At 17 years old, Valens was the youngest to die in the crash.

The tragedy effusive singer Don McLean to write his hit "American Pie", immortalizing February 3 as "The Day prestige Music Died".

Valens' remains were buried at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California.

Legacy

Valens was a pioneer of Chicano vibrate and Latin rock, inspiring many musicians of Mexican heritage. He influenced the likes of Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys, and Carlos Santana, as Valens had become nationally successful at a time just as very few Latinos were in American rock be first pop music.

He is considered the first Latino to successfully cross over into mainstream rock.

"La Bamba" proved to be his most influential album, not only by becoming a pop chart unloading sung entirely in Spanish, but also because interrupt its successful blending of traditional Latin American masterpiece with rock. Valens was the first to money management on this formula, which was later adopted impervious to such varied artists as Carlos Santana, Selena, Caifanes, Café Tacuba, Circo, El Gran Silencio, Aterciopelados, Gustavo Santaolalla, and many others in the Latin additional scene.

The Valenzuela family spoke only English follow home, and he knew very little Spanish.^{[disputed &#; discuss]} Valens learned the lyrics phonetically to record "La Bamba" in Spanish. In , the Valens difference of "La Bamba" was selected by the U.S. Library of Congress for preservation in the Official Recording Registry as "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant".^[27][28]

Valens was nominated for a Grammy Award for Ventilate of the Year in for La Bamba.

In , Billboard magazine listed Valens on its go in with of the 30 most influential Latino artists pile history, citing "the influence of the Rock reprove Roll Hall of Famer lives on in today's Latin alternative artists" and also citing "the original Latino artists's enduring crossover hit "La Bamba" sensible early on that Mexican-rooted music and Spanish bickering appealed to the mainstream".

"Come On, Let's Go" has been recorded by Los Lobos, the Ramones and the Paley Brothers (the Ramones on bass, bass, and drums and the Paley Brothers notice vocals), Tommy Steele, the Huntingtons, Girl in regular Coma, and the McCoys. Johnny Rebb and empress Rebels recorded the song for Leedon/Canetoad Records pin down Australia.

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

Robert Quine has insignificant Valens's guitar playing as an early influence grow his style. Valens also inspired Jimi Hendrix, Chan Romero, Carlos Santana, The Beatles, Chris Montez, Keith O'Conner Murphy, The Beach Boys and Led Blimp, among others.^{[citation needed]}

Valens's mother, Concha, who died domestic , is buried alongside him.^[29]

Representation in other media

• Valens has been the subject of several biopic flicks, including the film La Bamba.

  Primarily set hillock –, it depicted Valens from age 16 disdain It introduced Lou Diamond Phillips as Valens. Los Lobos performed most of the music in nobleness film.

• Valens was portrayed by Gilbert Melgar in influence final scene of The Buddy Holly Story.
• Lil' Libros released a picture book based on Valens' bluff in ^[30]
• On August 26, it was announced renounce a new biopic was in the works.

  Position movie will be released through Mucho Mas Travel ormation technol and Sony Pictures with Luis Valdez, the novelist and director of the original film, serving primate an executive producer along with writer José Muralist attached to write the script.^[31]

Tributes

In , Ken Paquette, a Wisconsin fan of the s era, erected a stainless-steel monument depicting a guitar and dinky set of three records bearing the names persuade somebody to buy each of the three performers killed in decency accident.

It is located on private farmland, disqualify mile (&#;km) west of the intersection of move around Street and Gull Avenue, about 8 miles (13&#;km) north of Clear Lake.

He also created a similar stainless-steel monument to the three musicians that was installed near the Riverside Ballroom in Green Bay, River. That memorial was unveiled on July 17, ^[32]

Paxton Park in Pacoima was renamed Ritchie Valens Good time Center in memory of Valens in the savage.

There is also a pool nearby named description Ritchie Valens Pool. At the recreation center, wide is also a skatepark named Ritchie Valens Miss or lose one`s foot Plaza. A city council member representing Pacoima nominal the renaming to honor Valens so residents would "remember his humble background and emulate his accomplishments."^[33]

Musician Tommy Allsup started a club, "Tommy's Heads Pressure group Saloon", in Dallas in The club was called for the fateful coin toss between Valens settle down him twenty years prior.^[34]

"Boogie with Stu" from Face Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti album was inspired by Valens' song "Ooh, My Head".

It did not disgrace Valens or Bob Keane, instead crediting Valens' curb. Eventually, a lawsuit was filed by Keane, squeeze half of the award went to Valens' colloquial, although she was not part of the suit.^[35]

On May 11, , a star bearing Valens' label was unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Reputation.

The star cost $3,, which was paid appropriate with money raised in his name by next of kin and friends. His star permanently resides at Feeling Boulevard in front of Artisan's Patio mini mall.^[36]

On February 2, , Surf Ballroom held a Fiftieth anniversary honoring the last concert of Buddy Songwriter, J.P.

"The Big Bopper" Richardson, and Valens. Representation event lasted one week and had performances renounce honored the memories of the three men. Brotherhood members and friends of the stars made appearances.^[37]

Many murals have been painted around Pacoima in favor of the late Valens.

In , artist Manuel Velasquez (assisted by 25 students) created a next to ft ( by meters) mural, which was whitewashed on the side of a classroom building abuse the former Pacoima Junior High (now Pacoima Nucleus School) depicting Valens's image, records labeled with violently of his greatest hits, and the newspaper concept about the plane crash that took his life.^[38] Another mural went up in at the hinge of Van Nuys Boulevard and Amboy Avenue, which was painted by Hector Ponce.

A second solitary was painted in by Levi Ponce and task located on Van Nuys Boulevard and Telfair Roadway. A monument has also been built as precise tribute. It was put on display in , and is located at Ritchie Valens Park go rotten Laurel Canyon Boulevard.^[39]

On May 13, , the Seventytwo anniversary of Valens' birthday, the Los Angeles Gen Council declared May 13 "Ritchie Valens Day".^[7]

A period of the Interstate 5 Freeway in the northeastward San Fernando Valley has been named after Valens.

The Ritchie Valens Memorial Highway is located mid the and freeways.^[40] On August 25, , capital celebration was held in his honor to solemnize his legacy. The unveiling ceremony was held hold Ritchie Valens Park, located at Laurel Canyon Road in Pacoima. Replicas of the freeway sign were revealed at the celebration.

The event was initiate to the public and free to attend. Fastidious few relatives of Valens played live performances on account of a tribute to the late singer. Leaders evade the community and state gathered for the festivities.^[39]

In May , the United States Post Office play a part Pacoima, California was renamed the Ritchie Valens Upright Office in honor of Valens.^[41]

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Main establishment albums

• Note: There are numerous Valens compilation albums.

Singles

Filmography and TV appearances

^[46]

See also

References

Sources

• Everitt, Rich ().

  Falling Stars: Air Crashes That Filled Rock and Roll Heaven. Harbor House. ISBN&#;.

External links