Ritchie Valens

Do you remember Ritchie Valens?

Few weeks ago, I saw the movie “La Bamba” which is deal about Ritchie’s short but succesful biography. I didn’t even know his name. However after I saw that movie, I strongly fall in to his misic’s temptation.

Ritchie Valens (Ritchard Steven Vanezuela) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is well known with “La Bamba” as his most notable song which was originally a Mexican folk song that Valens transformed with a rock rhythm and beat that became a hit in 1958. It makes Valens a pioneer of the Spanish-speaking rock and roll movement. “Donnah” is also famous his music. It was made up for his girlfriend Donnah. He was born on May, 1941 and made his first debut with the group on 1957.

According to the movie, “La Bamba” , his was not that rich and there was rough brother. However he always loved music and guitar. When he had a group concert, Bob Keane casted him and he made his first solo music ; Come on, Let’s go when he was 16. At that time, or even now everybody in the world love his music. Unfortunately, when he just became famous, he was killed in a small plane crash in Iowa on Feburary 3, 1959. He was only 17. On the plane, there was four people include Ritchie and they all died. Don Mclean, Eddie cichran whom were quit famous that day were others and youg pilot. After they died, that day become known as The Day the Music died.

Even though he act as a singer only two years, he made his own music and when he died, the world wept for him. I am thinking that if he didn’t die, then he might probably have become a legendary singer.