Valens transformed the song into one with a rock rhythm and beat, and it became a hit in 1958, 4 5 making valens a pioneer of the spanishspeaking rock and roll movement. A year later, in 1959, his life came to an abrupt end in a plane crash, along. The valens family now lives in the central california farming community of watsonville south of san jose. The song is very popular with mariachi bands and is often played at weddings. Despite his career being tragically cut short by his death in a plane crash, ritchie valens remains a legend of rock n roll music. Gail smith, ritchies classmate and president of the ritchie valens memorial fan club. On the first anniversary of ritchies death, ritchies mother wanted to honor his memory.
The film stars lou diamond phillips as valens, esai morales, rosanna. My head, the paddi wack song, come on, lets go, donna, i got a gal named sue thats my little suzie music. And the film, directed by chicano theater legend luis valdez, still stands up today. Pacoima middle school as it is now known, takes a lot of pride in ritchie valens being their hometown boy. The ritchie valens story, in concert at pacoima jr. Bob and his wife joanie make their home on the central coast of california. Story of 1950s mexicanamerican rock star ritchie valens lou diamond phillips. He died on february 3, 1959 in clear lake, iowa, usa. I bought two tapes of his music and listened to it all the time.
If you havent seen it in a while get on it and look for some of the not so obvious lessons the movie has to teach. It is best known from a 1958 adaptation by ritchie valens, a top 40 hit in the the u. In 1957 ritchie and donna met at a garage party where ritchie was playing. Phillips is not latino but filipino, with some european and native american ancestry.
People are wondering what happened to ritchie valens brother, and. What happened to ritchie valens brother bob morales. Biographical story of the rise from nowhere of early rock and roll singer ritchie valens who died at age 17 in a plane crash with buddy holly and the big bopper. In reality, phillips is eight months older than morales. Ritchie valens died in a plane crash on february 3, 1959, in mason city, iowa, and the country lost one of its most talented singers. It was the breakout film for young actor lou diamond phillips. Poses with her sons and daughters in front of a mural at pacoima jr.
The first hispanic rock star, ritchie valens will forever be known as one of the two musicians along with the big bopper who perished with buddy. In a careerdefining role, lou diamond phillips played the role of singer ritchie valens in the 1987 rockn. The film follows ritchie from his days in pacoima, california where he and his family make a meager living working on farms to his rise as a star. I really hope you all share my page and music so i will.
They shared two and a half years of memories and hearts forever. None of the music in the movie was performed by ritchie, or by lou diamond philips for that matter. With lou diamond phillips, esai morales, rosanna desoto, elizabeth pena. This is the true story of ritchie valens, a young rock and roll singer who tragically died in a plane crash at age 17. Richard steven valenzuela may, 1941 february 3, 1959, known professionally as ritchie valens, was an american singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Bob also had a special connection to ritchie in that they were both driven people. Buddy holly, ritchie valens and the big bopper duration. Jan 18, 2018 ritchie valens died in a plane crash on february 3, 1959, in mason city, iowa, and the country lost one of its most talented singers. Soundtrack 75 its always sunny in philadelphia tv series 2019 arranger 1 episode britains got more talent.
If you havent seen it in a while, get on it and look for some of. Its so much fun, a little edgy and just a fantastic, though tragic. The guitar player next to the bass player is david hidalgo, who provided lou diamond phillips singing voice. Obsessed with music and full of dreams, ritchie valens lou diamond phillips bursts into the glittering.
It is a recreation of valens first recording session, where his producer constantly. Discover more music, concerts, videos, and pictures with the largest catalogue online at. Hey guys, this is ritchie and here i made a page for all my fans to support me and spread the word of my fame. The first hispanic rock star, ritchie valens will forever be known as one of the two. Because the movie is a celebration of 1950s rock and roller ritchie valens, his music and the. When the movie was originally released, the second half of the end credits.
I never heard ritchie valens music before then, but this movie got me hooked. I fianlly got it up in high definition so please enjoy the video lamba r. His successful career was cut short when he died in a plane crash at age 17. It was a top 40 hit in the us charts at the time and is one of early rockandrolls most wellknown songs. How much of this movie is based from ritchies real life.
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