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Ritchie Valens


Guitarist, singer and song writer Richard Steven Valenzuela was born in Los Angeles, California on May 13, 1941 and grew up hearing traditional Mexican mariachi music, flamenco music and rhythm and blues. By 15 he would take his guitar to school with him, and sing to his friends. He was self taught but a very accomplished musician. He dropped out of high school in 1958 to take up music full time.

La Bamba, Come on Lets Go and other songs had been recorded for test purposes in a basement studio but the versions for issue were all taped in a session at Los Angeles’ famed Gold Star Studios for the Del-Fi label.

He died in a plane crash on February 3, 1959 along with Big Bopper, Buddy Holly and others. He had been afraid of flying ever since there was a local plane crash near where he lived.

Image: California Museum

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