Ritchie Valens: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2001

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/ritchie-valens/bio/

Official Site: http://www.ritchievalens.com/

Valens’ career lasted eight months before his death. He was a self-taught musician that pioneered both rock n roll and Chicano rock.

Come on, Let’s Go (1958): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ziSLGVQOSg

Donna (1958): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMcHbh6HBDk

La Bamba (1958): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCXlp3D5NQA

In 1958, he quit High School to concentrate on his music career.

That’s My Little Suzie (1959): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjcBo46xr1s

He died in the same plane crash that killed Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper in 1959.

The Paddiwack Song (1960): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1W64OFYt6g

In 1987, Lou Diamond Phillips starred as Valens in La Bamba. The film spawned a #1 for Los Lobos when they covered the song of the same name.

Los Lobos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLAWPrCUQQ0