Richard Steven Valenzuela, known professionally as Ritchie Valens, was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter.
24 Facts About Ritchie Valens
2.
Ritchie Valens had several hits, most notably "La Bamba", which he had adapted from a Mexican folk song.
3.
Ritchie Valens transformed the song into one with a rock rhythm and beat, and it became a hit in 1958, making Ritchie Valens a pioneer of the Spanish-speaking rock and roll movement.
4.
In 2001, Ritchie Valens was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
5.
Ritchie Valens was born as Richard Steven Valenzuela in Pacoima, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles.
6.
Ritchie Valens was encouraged by his father to take up guitar and trumpet, and later taught himself the drums.
7.
Ritchie Valens was not at school that day because he was attending the funeral of his grandfather.
8.
Ritchie Valens began as a guitarist, and when the main vocalist left the group, Valenzuela assumed the position.
9.
Ritchie Valens's recording equipment comprised an early stereo recorder and a pair of Neumann U-47 condenser microphones.
10.
Ritchie Valens was ready to enter the studio with a full band backing him.
11.
Ritchie Valens was in a relationship with Donna Ludwig, his high school sweetheart, from 1957 until his death.
12.
Ritchie Valens was on the plane because he won a coin toss with Holly's backup guitarist Tommy Allsup.
13.
At just 17 years old, Ritchie Valens was the youngest to die in the crash.
14.
Ritchie Valens's remains were buried at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California.
15.
Ritchie Valens was a pioneer of Chicano rock and Latin rock, and inspired many musicians of Mexican heritage.
16.
Ritchie Valens influenced the likes of Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys, and Carlos Santana, as he had become nationally successful at a time when very few Latinos were in American rock and pop music.
17.
Ritchie Valens is considered the first Latino to successfully cross over into mainstream rock.
18.
Ritchie Valens was the first to capitalize on this formula, which was later adopted by such varied artists as Selena, Caifanes, Cafe Tacuba, Circo, El Gran Silencio, Aterciopelados, Gustavo Santaolalla, and many others in the Latin alternative scene.
19.
Ritchie Valens learned the lyrics phonetically to record "La Bamba" in Spanish.
20.
Ritchie Valens was nominated for a Grammy Award for Songwriter of the Year in 1988 for writing La Bamba.
21.
Robert Quine has cited Ritchie Valens's guitar playing as an early influence on his style.
22.
Ritchie Valens inspired Jimi Hendrix, Chan Romero, Carlos Santana, Chris Montez, Keith O'Conner Murphy, The Beach Boys and among others.
23.
Ritchie Valens created a similar stainless-steel monument to the three musicians that was installed near the Riverside Ballroom in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
24.
The unveiling ceremony was held at Ritchie Valens Park, located at 10731 Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Pacoima.