Richard Steven Valenzuela (May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959), [3] better known by his stage name Ritchie Valens, was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. A rock and roll pioneer …

6 days ago · Ritchie Valens was an American singer and songwriter and the first Latino rock and roll star. His short career ended when he died at age 17 in the 1959 plane crash in which …

1 day ago · Don McLean and Connie Valens tell PEOPLE about their unique experiences on 'The Day the Music Died,' when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper all died in the …

Apr 2, 2014 · Ritchie Valens was a Mexican American singer and songwriter influential in the Chicano rock movement. He recorded numerous hits during his short career, most notably the …

2 days ago · On Feb. 3, 1959, young rock ’n’ roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson died in a small plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. The early morning …

1 day ago · Sixty-six years ago today, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper died when their plane crashed following a show at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. It’s a seminal …

Dec 17, 2024 · Ritchie Valens was rescued from obscurity by a 1987 movie, “ La Bamba,” that finally put the Southern California teen’s story ahead of Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper, the …

Mar 13, 2024 · Today, Ritchie Valens’ legacy continues to live on and there have been various tributes that have commemorated the musician around the country including a stainless-steel …

Jun 11, 2018 · Although his career included just a handful of recording and concert dates, Ritchie Valens attained a place in music history as the first Latino rock-and-roll star.

In a tragically short lifetime, Richard Steven Valenzuela, better known as Ritchie Valens, became the first Latino rock star in the U.S. and a forefather of the Chicano rock movement. Born in …