Ritchie Valens

Richard Steven Valenzuela, better known as Ritchie Valens (May 13, 1941 - February 3, 1959) was a Native Latino-American singer-songwriter and musician. He died with Buddy Holly, and "Big Bopper" Richardson in a plane crash in Iowa on 3 February 1959, in an event that would become known as The Day the Music Died. He was 17 years old.

Ritchie Valens
Valens in 1958
Born	Richard Steven Valenzuela (1941-05-13)May 13, 1941 San Fernando Valley, California, U.S.
Died	February 3, 1959(1959-02-03) (aged 17) Grant Township, Iowa, U.S.
Cause of death	Blunt trauma as a result of a plane accident
Resting place	San Fernando Mission Cemetery
Other names	Ritchie Valens, Avree Allens
Occupations	Musician songwriter
Years active	1957–1959

He was born in San Fernando Valley to Native Latin-American parents. Mr. Valens has Yaqui Native Latin-American ancestry from his mom’s side.

Valens most notable work include recordings of “La Bamba” a Mexican folk song which became a hit in the U.S. “Donna” a song dedicated to his friend and the phrase “Come on let’s go”^[1]