Valens auditioned for Keane’s record label in May 1958, and before long, he’s having having his first single out on Del-Fi 👍 The song, “Come On, Let’s Go,” became a minor hit 🤓 Keane encouraged Valens to change his name to Valens to be more easily radio-friendly 😉 The second single that Valens released, featuring “La Bamba” as well as “Donna,” was even better. His second single, “La Bamba” and “Donna”, was a hit, with Valens’ song becoming a pop classic. Even though it was not as well-known, La Bamba was an innovative song. It combined elements of traditional Mexican folk music with rock and rolling. Valens did not speak Spanish fluently so had to be taught how to sing this all-Spanish song. [1]
Valens was raised in Los Angeles, in the suburbs of Los Angeles by a Mexican-Indian household. While in high school, he used an electric guitar made in shop class to front a band and came to the attention of Bob Keane, owner of Del-Fi records, who produced the sessions at Gold Star Recording Studios that resulted in Valens’s hits. His first hit, “Come On, Let’s Go” (1958), was followed later that year by “Donna,” a ballad written for an ex-girlfriend, and “La Bamba,” Valens’s best-remembered recording, a rock and roll reworking of a traditional Mexican wedding song, sung in Spanish (though Valens hardly spoke the language). He performed the Little Richard-inspired “Ooh! My Head” in the film Go, Johnny, Go (1959). Last modified by Laquesha Rhoades, Kananga (Dr Congo), 2 weeks ago [2]
Ritchie Valens, the first Hispanic rock superstar, will always be remembered as Buddy Holly’s friend and one of two victims of an airplane crash during a Midwest tour in 1959. Valens, a promising new talent, had just reached the top with “Donna,” which was a number-two hit. The single also featured a unique blend of Latin and rock, with its almost identical flip, “La Bamba”. It’s hard to judge his potential, as he was just 17 years old at the time. He had had only recently begun making records. Valens’ music endures for many decades. Milana Costajal (South Africa), last revised this 99 days ago [3]
Richard Steven Valenzuela (later known as Ritchie Valens) was an American rock & roll star who introduced Mexican music into the mainstream. Valens had a remarkable talent as a musician. He learned how to play guitar while he was still young. He’s having actually shown great interest to creating music since he was just five years old. Years old. Valens was a student musician who joined a band while still at school. Music producers were constantly on the lookout for talent and Valens’ rare talents made him a visible talent. Ritchie Valens went on to record his first album when he was only 16 years old and some of his most famous songs are ‘La Bamba’ and ‘Donna.’ Though Valens started off as a guitarist, it was not long before he was able to write and compose his own songs. As a teenager, Valens was often invited along to established musicians to attend music festivals. Valens died at a very young age due to an accident and the day of his death has been known as ‘The Day the Music Died.’ (revised by Carl D. From Lome, Togo on October 24, 2020) [4]
Windy McCain reports at newworldencyclopedia.orgHe was born Richard Steven Valenzuela, Pacoima (California), a Los Angeles suburb, on Mother’s Day in 1941. Ritchie was raised by Connie Reyes Valenzuela and was exposed to flamenco as well as traditional Mexican mariachi music. Ritchie is also inspired by Steven Joseph Valenzuela who instilled his interest flamenco, R&B and the jump blues. Ritchie was surrounded by relatives, who would come together on weekends to sing and share songs. He had grown up in an extremely rough area, but he wasn’t affected by it. Steve Valenzuela, a World War My father was a veteran and I had had a very strict home. Ritchie was the picture of the perfect boy. He seemed mature and older than he really was. Buddy Holly called Ritchie “old man” during their tour. [5]
The pros are from encyclopaedia.comAlthough his recording and concert career was limited, Ritchie Valens earned a spot in history for being the first Latino rock/and-roll superstar. The had musician had a number of hits behind him when he was seventeen years old. However, his future ended in tragedy after he and a group including Buddy Holly (“The Big Bopper”), died in a plane accident. Although February 3, 1959 was known as the “day the music died”, rock history has made it a defining date. However, Valens’s fame grew following his death. The 1987 biographical film La Bamba (which took its name after Valens’s most well-known hit song) made him a legend. Los Lobos provided the soundtrack to the movie, and the song reached the top spot on the pop charts. This film introduced new generations of music lovers to the works of the teenage rockstar. Lori Brito of Bamako in Mali recommended the song. [6]
Article references
- https://www.biography.com/musician/ritchie-valens
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ritchie-Valens
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ritchie-valens-mn0000279141/biography
- https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/ritchie-valens-6821.php
- https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Ritchie_Valens
- https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/historians-miscellaneous-biographies/ritchie-valens