Ritchie Valens

Ricardo Valenzuela (May 13, 1941 - February 2, 1959), better known as Ritchie Valens, was a Mexican-American rock music performer. Valens hits include "Donna" and "La Bamba". The latter became the title of a 1987 movie about his life[?], which introduced Lou Diamond Phillips[?] as Ritchie and co-starred Esai Morales as his older half-brother Bob Morales.

- Ritchie Valens -

Valens was a pioneer of hispanic rock and influenced the likes of Chris Montez[?] and Carlos Santana.

He died on in a late-night plane crash that also took the lives of Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. The next day, when the crash was widely reported, became known as "The Day The Music Died".

Ritchie Valens is interred in the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, California.

Ritchie Valens has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6733 Hollywood Blvd.