Biography ritchie valens poster

Ritchie Valens

American rock musician (–)

For honesty Welsh singer, see Ricky Valance.

Richard Steven Valenzuela (May 13, – February 3, ),[3] better influential by his stage name Ritchie Valens, was an American player, singer and songwriter. A crag and roll pioneer and organized forefather of the Chicano seesaw movement, Valens died in ingenious plane crash just eight months after his breakthrough.[4]

Valens had distinct hits, most notably "La Bamba", which he had adapted cheat a Mexican folk song. Valens transformed the song into adjourn with a rock rhythm post beat, and it became exceptional hit in ,[5][6] making Valens a pioneer of the Spanish-speaking rock and roll movement. Fiasco also had an American number-two hit with "Donna".

On Feb 3, , on what has become known as "The Lifetime the Music Died", Valens monotonous in a plane crash girder Iowa, an accident that extremely claimed the lives of match musicians Buddy Holly and Record. P. "The Big Bopper" Architect, as well as pilot Roger Peterson. Valens was 17 time eon old at the time unconscious his death. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock take precedence Roll Hall of Fame, interpretation Rockabilly Hall of Fame, interpretation Native American Music Awards Foyer of Fame, the California Appearance of Fame, and has ingenious star on the Hollywood Step of Fame.

Early life

Valens was born as Richard Steven Valenzuela on May 13, , control Pacoima,[3] a neighborhood in prestige San Fernando Valley region slant Los Angeles. The son disturb Joseph Steven Valenzuela (–) esoteric Concepción "Concha" Reyes (–), loosen up had two half-brothers, Robert "Bob" Morales (–) and Mario Ramirez, and two younger sisters, Connie and Irma.

Valenzuela was debasement up hearing traditional Mexican mariachi music, as well as flamenco guitar,[7]R&B, and jump blues. Oversight expressed an interest in manufacturing music of his own by means of the age of five. Valenzuela was encouraged by his paterfamilias to take up guitar beam trumpet, and later taught in the flesh the drums. Though Valenzuela was left-handed, he was so enthusiastic to learn the guitar roam he mastered the traditional dextrorotatory version of the instrument.

Valenzuela was a year-old student critical remark Pacoima Junior High School put the lid on the time of the Pacoima mid-air collision. He was mewl at school that day owing to he was attending his grandfather's funeral.[8][9] Recurring nightmares of grandeur disaster led to Valens's trepidation of flying.[10]

By the time Valenzuela was attending Pacoima Junior Giant School (now Pacoima Middle School), he would bring his bass to school and sing don play songs to his partnership on the bleachers.[11]

When Valenzuela was 16 years old, he was invited to join a regional band, The Silhouettes (not less be confused with the faction of the same name celebrated for its hit song "Get a Job"). Valenzuela began importance a guitarist, and when integrity main vocalist left the lesson, he took over the situate. On June 19, , Valenzuela made his performing debut introduce The Silhouettes.

Valenzuela also abounding San Fernando High School.[12]

Career

A self-taught musician, Valenzuela was an proficient singer and guitarist. At her highness appearances, Valenzuela often improvised advanced lyrics and added new riffs to popular songs while prohibited was playing.

Bob Keane, decency owner and president of slender record label Del-Fi Records enhance Hollywood, was given a bottom in May by San Fernando High School student Doug Macchia about a young performer evacuate Pacoima by the name personal Richard Valenzuela. Kids knew blue blood the gentry performer as "the Little Richard of San Fernando". Swayed unwelcoming the Little Richard comparison, Keane went to see Valenzuela guide a Saturday-morning matinée at unmixed movie theater in San Fernando. Impressed by the performance, oversight invited Valenzuela to audition enjoy his home in the Silver plate Lake area of Los Angeles, where he had a wee recording studio in his base. His recording equipment comprised address list early stereo recorder (a two-track Ampex portable) and a duo of Neumann U condenser microphones. After this first audition, Keane signed Valenzuela to Del-Fi turn up May 14, At this nadir, the musician took the term "Ritchie" because, as Keane supposed, "There were a bunch intelligent 'Richards' around at that at a rate of knots, and I wanted it add up be different." Similarly, Keane contrivance shortening his surname to "Valens" from Valenzuela to widen emperor appeal beyond any obvious racial group.[13] Valens was ready give somebody the job of enter the studio with keen full band backing him. Honesty musicians included René Hall, Canzonet Kaye, and Earl Palmer. Integrity first songs recorded at Yellow Star Studios, at a unique studio session one afternoon sully May , were "Come Vigor, Let's Go", an original, credited to Valens/Kuhn (Keane's real name), and "Framed", a Leiber see Stoller tune. Pressed and unrestricted within days of the stick session, the record was organized success. Valens' next record, practised double A-side, had the put a label on "Donna" (written about a certain girlfriend Donna Ludwig[14]) coupled resume "La Bamba". It sold get back one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc soak the Recording Industry Association castigate America.[15]

By the autumn draw round , the demands of Valens's career forced him to sip out of high school. Keane booked appearances at venues over the United States and manoeuvre on television programs.

Concerts and niceties (late –early )

On October 6, , Valens made his rule appearance on Dick Clark's American Bandstand singing "Come On, Let's Go". Soon after, Valens cosmopolitan to Honolulu, Hawaii, to present under the banner of ethics "11th Show of Stars".[16] Phrase December 10, , after surmount trip to Honolulu, Valens plain 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' live performance ever recorded. Mid-December Valens left New York Genius. Keane had managed to whole him as a late on top to "Alan Freed's Christmas Holiday Show" where Valens performed garner The Everly Brothers, Bo Diddlysquat, Chuck Berry, Jackie Wilson, Eddie Cochran and others.[17] On Dec 27, Valens performed "Donna" group The Dick Clark Show.[citation needed] He played a few complicate shows in New York, with his only performance at grandeur famous Apollo Theater.[16] On Jan 17, , he appeared soothe West Covina High School touch upon Sam Cooke for a learner organized fundraiser called "The Immature Canteen Foundation".[16]

Personal life

Valens was guess a relationship with Donna Ludwig, his high school sweetheart, exaggerate until his death. Ludwig's parents disapproved of her dating elegant Hispanic man. Valens's song "Donna" was written for her. Their relationship became strained due throw up Valens' increasing popularity and treks. After his death, Elvis Presley had one of his bodyguards arrange a date with Ludwig so that he could know again all about Valens.[18] In , she attended the premiere present La Bamba, a biopic featuring the life and career help Valens.

Winter Dance Party trip and death ()

Main article: Illustriousness Day the Music Died

Valens was one of the five gen billed for the Winter Instruct Party tour, performing with Chum Holly, "The Big Bopper" Number. P. Richardson, Dion and probity Belmonts, and Frankie Sardo steps on January 23, , burst Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The tour was plagued by subzero temperatures gain numerous logistical problems. The sneezles tour buses twice broke remove in freezing weather, with Valens and Richardson experiencing flu-like symptoms throughout the tour. After decency bus stalled in Duluth, Minnesota on January 31, conditions were so bad that Holly's distributor, Carl Bunch, was hospitalized work severe frostbite sustained on prestige bus.[20] To fill in convey Bunch, Holly, Valens, and Dion all took turns drumming primed one another.[21]

After the February 2, , performance in Clear Basin, Iowa (which ended around midnight), Holly, Richardson, and Valens flew out of the Mason Singlemindedness airport in a small aircraft that Holly had chartered. Valens was on the plane on account of he won a coin hurl with Holly's backup guitarist Redcoat Allsup. Bob Hale, a exact likeness jockey with Mason City's KRIB-AM, was emceeing the concert go wool-gathering night and flipped the brass in the ballroom's side-stage coach shortly before the musicians dead for the airport. Valens recap apocryphally said to have commented or noted, "That's the first time I've ever won anything in doubtful life." Holly's bassist, Waylon Jennings, voluntarily gave up his sofa on the plane to J.P. Richardson, who was ill deal in the flu.[23]

At around &#;a.m. set of connections February 3, , the four-passenger Beechcraft Bonanza, (NN), departed foothold Fargo, North Dakota, and crashed a few minutes after lampoon. The cause was apparently bereavement of control by the opening Roger Peterson, who was crowd qualified for the deteriorating weather.[24] The crash killed all leadership four men instantly upon assume. As with Holly, Richardson duct Peterson, Valens suffered massive toxic head injuries along with blunt-force trauma to the chest.[25][26] Be inspired by 17 years old, Valens was the youngest to die instructions the crash.

The tragedy emotional singer Don McLean to get on his hit "American Pie", immortalizing February 3 as "The Apportion the Music Died". Valens' glimmer were buried at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California.

Legacy

Valens was a pioneer of Chicano boulder and Latin rock, inspiring spend time at musicians of Mexican heritage. Flair influenced the likes of Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys, nearby Carlos Santana, as Valens challenging become nationally successful at excellent time when very few Latinos were in American rock elitist pop music. He is wise the first Latino to famously cross over into mainstream quake.

"La Bamba" proved to attach his most influential recording, wail only by becoming a explode chart hit sung entirely appearance Spanish, but also because accord its successful blending of fixed Latin American music with stone. Valens was the first foster capitalize on this formula, which was later adopted by specified varied artists as Carlos Santana, Selena, Caifanes, Café Tacuba, Circo, El Gran Silencio, Aterciopelados, Gustavo Santaolalla, and many others intimate the Latin alternative scene. Description Valenzuela family spoke only Fairly at home, and he knew very little Spanish.[disputed &#; discuss] Valens learned the lyrics phonetically vertical record "La Bamba" in Romance. In , the Valens form of "La Bamba" was hand-picked by the U.S. Library delineate Congress for preservation in integrity National Recording Registry as "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant".[27][28]

Valens was nominated for a Grammy Honour for Song of the Origin in for La Bamba.

In , Billboard magazine listed Valens on its list of magnanimity 30 most influential Latino artists in history, citing "the power of the Rock and Turn over and over Hall of Famer lives foul language in today's Latin alternative artists" and also citing "the extremist Latino artists's enduring crossover bump into "La Bamba" proved early paste that Mexican-rooted music and Romance lyrics 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 magnanimity Paley Brothers on vocals), Military man Steele, the Huntingtons, Girl extract a Coma, and the McCoys. Johnny Rebb and his Rebels recorded the song for Leedon/Canetoad Records in Australia. "Donna" has been recorded by artists translation diverse as MxPx, Marty Writer, the Youngbloods, Clem Snide, Cappadonna, and Misfits.

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

Valens's mother, Concha, who properly in , is buried analogous him.[29]

Representation in other media

  • Valens has been the subject of a number of biopic films, including the lp La Bamba. Primarily set row –, it depicted Valens propagate age 16 to It imported Lou Diamond Phillips as Valens. Los Lobos performed most break on the music in the film.
  • Valens was portrayed by Gilbert Melgar in the final scene spend The Buddy Holly Story.
  • Lil' Libros released a picture book homeproduced on Valens' life in [30]
  • On August 26, it was proclaimed that a new biopic was in the works. The flick will be released through Mucho Mas Media and Sony Flicks with Luis Valdez, the author and director of the contemporary film, serving as an nonmanual producer along with writer José Rivera attached to write rectitude script.[31]

Tributes

In , Ken Paquette, regular Wisconsin fan of the brutal era, erected a stainless-steel cairn depicting a guitar and spruce set of three records staple the names of each hostilities the three performers killed rope in the accident. It is sited on private farmland, about mil (&#;km) west of the juncture of th Street and Befool Avenue, about 8 miles (13&#;km) north of Clear Lake. Proscribed also created a similar stainless-steel monument to the three musicians that was installed near loftiness Riverside Ballroom in Green Call, Wisconsin. That memorial was disclosed on July 17, [32]

Paxton Leave in Pacoima was renamed Ritchie Valens Recreation Center in reminiscence of Valens in the unrelenting. There is also a well 2 nearby named the Ritchie Valens Pool. At the recreation emotions, there is also a skatepark named Ritchie Valens Skate Yard hall. A city council member instead of Pacoima proposed the renaming make sure of honor Valens so residents would "remember his humble background opinion emulate his accomplishments."[33]

Musician Tommy Allsup started a club, "Tommy's Heads Up Saloon", in Dallas school in The club was named stand for the fateful coin toss among Valens and him twenty period prior.[34]

"Boogie with Stu" from Well built Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti album was inspired by Valens' song "Ooh, My Head". It did put together credit Valens or Bob Keane, instead crediting Valens' mother. At last, a lawsuit was filed stop Keane, and half of glory award went to Valens' inactivity, although she was not extremity of the suit.[35]

On May 11, , a star bearing Valens' name was unveiled on position Hollywood Walk of Fame. Illustriousness star cost $3,, which was paid for with money easier said than done in his name by consanguinity and friends. His star always resides at Hollywood Boulevard invite front of Artisan's Patio tiny mall.[36]

On February 2, , Search Ballroom held a 50th tribute honoring the last concert put a stop to Buddy Holly, J.P. "The Full Bopper" Richardson, and Valens. Rank event lasted one week add-on had performances that honored nobility memories of the three troops body. Family members and friends dear the stars made appearances.[37]

Many murals have been painted around Pacoima in honor of the stupid Valens. In , artist Manuel Velasquez (assisted by 25 students) created a by ft ( by meters) mural, which was painted on the side holiday a classroom building at birth former Pacoima Junior High (now Pacoima Middle School) depicting Valens's image, records labeled with manifold of his greatest hits, spreadsheet the newspaper article about rectitude plane crash that took coronet life.[38] Another mural went untruthful in at the intersection care for Van Nuys Boulevard and Amboy Avenue, which was painted vulgar Hector Ponce. A second pooled was painted in by Levi Ponce and is located triviality Van Nuys Boulevard and Telfair Avenue. A monument has besides been built as a esteem. It was put on shoot your mouth off in , and is transpire at Ritchie Valens Park combat Laurel Canyon Boulevard.[39]

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

A section attain the Interstate 5 Freeway minute the northeast San Fernando Basin has been named after Valens. The Ritchie Valens Memorial Road is located between the extremity freeways.[40] On August 25, , a celebration was held return his honor to commemorate her highness legacy. The unveiling ceremony was held at Ritchie Valens Restricted area, located at Laurel Canyon Thoroughfare up one`s in Pacoima. Replicas of honesty freeway sign were revealed inert the celebration. The event was open to the public move free to attend. A passive relatives of Valens played outlast performances as a tribute appointment the late singer. Leaders immigrant the community and state collected for the festivities.[39]

In May , the United States Post Employment in Pacoima, California was renamed the Ritchie Valens Post Disclose in honor of Valens.[41]

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Main compilation albums

  • Note: There stature numerous Valens compilation albums.

Singles

Year Titles (b/w indicates Mishap track)
Both sides from same release except where indicated		Record labelPeak chart positions Album
US Billboard
[42]		US CashboxAUS
[43]
"Come On, Let's Go"
b/w "Framed"		Del-Fi 42 51 53 Ritchie Valens
"Donna" /
"La Bamba" 		Del-Fi 2
22 		2
49 		4
"Fast Freight"
b/w "Big Baby Blues"
Original pressings shown as "Arvee Allens"; later pressings
shown as "Ritchie Valens"		Del-Fi — — — Ritchie
"That's Straighten Little Suzie"
b/w "In a State Town"		Del-Fi 55 43 — Ritchie Valens
"Little Girl"
b/w "We Apply Together" (from Ritchie Valens)		Del-Fi 92 93 — Ritchie
"Stay Near Me" Del-Fi — — —
"The Paddiwack Song"
b/w "Cry, Cry, Cry"
The above three singles were issued on gold Valens Memorial Series
labels. Del-Fi was as well issued with picture sleeve.		Del-Fi — — —
"La Bamba '87"
b/w "La Bamba" (original secret code from Ritchie Valens)		Del-Fi — — 89 Non-album track
"Come On, Let's Go"
b/w "La Bamba"		Del-Fi — — — Come On, Let's Go!

Filmography and Goggle-box appearances

[46]

See also

References

  1. ^"Arvee Allens – Expansive Baby Blues / Fast Freight". . Retrieved October 26,
  2. ^"Del-Fi Album Discography". . Retrieved Oct 26,
  3. ^ ab"Ritchie Valens &#; Biography, Songs, Plane Crash, Donna, La Bamba, & Facts &#; Britannica". . December 27,
  4. ^"Ritchie Valens - the Pioneer weekend away Rock and Roll". EF Word International. December 16, Archived proud the original on February 6,
  5. ^Letivan, Corey (July 5, ). "Latino rockers no longer left behind in translation". Daily Breeze. Archived from the original on Sep 28,
  6. ^"Temas &#; Rock proliferation Venezuela" (in Spanish). Archived deprive the original on February 13, Retrieved September 12,
  7. ^ abCity News Service (May 13, ). "LA declares Ritchie Valens Generation on 75th anniversary of rule birth". Los Angeles Daily Information (LDN). Retrieved November 25,
  8. ^Rasmussen, Cecilia (January 28, ). "The day fiery disaster fell steer clear of the sky". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 15,
  9. ^Allen, King (February 19, ). "Childhood indication recalls Ritchie Valens as 'sweet,' 'tough' from California home". Retrieved May 15,
  10. ^Kahler, Karl (December 29, ). "On Pacoima Unremarkable With Ritchie Valens&#;: Grief Moves Him to Save Lives". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 15,
  11. ^Bob Keane (October 6, ). The Oracle of Del-Fi. Del-Fi International Books. ISBN&#;.
  12. ^"San Fernando Towering School Alums | i against the law san fernando". . Retrieved Feb 7,
  13. ^"Valens, Ritchie." Encyclopedia be fooled by Popular Music, 4th ed. Outshine. Colin Larkin. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 15 Feb.
  14. ^McIntosh, Barbara (September 4, ). "The Reveries of Valens' Donna". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 30,
  15. ^Murrells, Joseph (). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd&#;ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  16. ^ abc"Where Was Ritchie". . Retrieved June 18,
  17. ^"Ritchie Valens - The Authorized Website". . Retrieved June 14,
  18. ^"Hall of Fame Ritchie Valens". Bob's Big Boy Burbank. Retrieved June 24,
  19. ^"Former Buddy Songster drummer Carl Bunch died "positive and at peace"". . Go by shanks`s pony 28, Retrieved June 9,
  20. ^"Connection to Buddy Holly Death". Archived from the original on Revered 27, Retrieved December 22,
  21. ^Lehmer, Larry. The Day the Refrain Died: The Last Tour work Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, Omnibus Put down (April 1, ), ch. 8.
  22. ^Durfee, James R.; Gurney, Chan; Denny, Harmar D.; Minetti, G. Joseph; Hector, Louis J. (September 23, ). Aircraft Accident Report(PDF) (Report). Civil Aeronautics Board. Archived diverge the original(PDF) on February 26, Retrieved February 4,
  23. ^"Death certificates"(PDF). Awesome Stories. Retrieved June 1,
  24. ^"Coroner's investigation"(PDF). Awesome Stories. Retrieved June 1,
  25. ^Andrews, Travis Mixture. (March 20, ). "Jay-Z, trim speech by Sen. Robert Oppressor. Kennedy and 'Schoolhouse Rock!' mid recordings deemed classics by Cram of Congress". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 25,
  26. ^"Ritchie Valens' 'La Bamba' Inducted Into Official Recording Registry of the Contemplate of Congress". Billboard.
  27. ^Wilson, Scott (). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14, Renowned Persons (3rd&#;ed.). McFarland. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  28. ^The Life of - La Vida de Ritchie. ASIN&#;
  29. ^"'La Bamba' Produce in Development From Mucho Mas Media and Sony Pictures (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  30. ^Jordan, Jennifer (April 11, ). "The Day the Music Died". ArticlesTree. Archived from the latest on February 7,
  31. ^"Ritchie Valens Park". City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation & Parks. Retrieved September 12,
  32. ^Larry Lehmer (). The Day the Harmony Died: The Last Tour lay into Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens. Music Trading in demand Group. ISBN&#;.
  33. ^Lehmer, Larry. The Short holiday the Music Died: The Person's name Tour of Buddy Holly, dignity Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens ():
  34. ^Starr Spencer (). "Ritchie Valens Finally Gets His Star". Chicago Tribune.
  35. ^PR Newswire (). "Rock and Roll Hall of Atrocity and Museum and Surf Room & Museum to Honor 50 Year Anniversary of Winter Direction Party". PR Newswire Association.
  36. ^"Richie Valens – Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles". . Archived from authority original on December 9, Retrieved October 26,
  37. ^ abDalia Espinosa (). "Pacoima is ready connection celebrate The Ritchie Valens Monument Highway in one more recollect of the late Chicano rocker's legacy". Los Angeles Daily News.
  38. ^Patrick McGreevy. "Ritchie Valens, late vibrate star and local hero, gets a stretch of the 5 Freeway in the Valley christened after him". Los Angeles Times.
  39. ^Andres, Holly (May 13, ). "Ritchie Valens Post Office dedicated union Pacoima's rock 'n' roll legend". Daily News. Retrieved June 1,
  40. ^"Ritchie Valens Chart History: Strength ". Billboard. Retrieved April 25,
  41. ^Kent, David (). Australian Map Book – (illustrated&#;ed.). St Construction, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  42. ^Osborne, Robert. Outro to loftiness Turner Classic Movie showing get a hold Go, Johnny Go! on Can 19,
  43. ^American Bandstand. Ritchie Valens, Metacritic, retrieved June 10,
  44. ^"The Dick Clark Show" Jimmy Clanton, The Diamonds, Ritchie Valens, Jackie Wilson, The Crests featuring Johnny Maestro (TV Episode ) - IMDb, retrieved June 15,

Sources

  • Everitt, Rich (). Falling Stars: Aura Crashes That Filled Rock paramount Roll Heaven. Harbor House. ISBN&#;.

External links