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The Birth
This was the day Richie Valens was born. Without this event, none of this would have happened. -
The Silhouettes
At 16 years old, Valens joined his first band, the Silhouettes. The group played local gigs, and Valens was spotted at one of these performances by Bob Keane, the head of the Del-Fi record label. -
Being noticed
Valens was noticed by Bob Keane and was signed to his Del-Fi label. This was the start of his music career. -
Donna
By the end of 1958, Valens had quit high school in order to focus on his career, which had skyrocketed after his second single, "Donna," climbed to number two. This got his name out there and helped him become the first Mexican rock star. -
The Day The Music Died
American rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper" J. P. Richardson were killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, together with pilot Roger Peterson. The event later became known as "The Day the Music Died", after singer-songwriter Don McLean referred to it as such in his 1971 song "American Pie". -
La Bamba
Valens released his song "La Bamba" which originated from a Mexican folk song. This song blew up because it was the first Spanish song to reach charts in the U.S. It reached #1 when it was recreated by Los Lobos
