Biography of Ritchie Valens

A singer/guitarist of mixed Mexican-American and Native-American descent, Valens was the first Hispanic rocker of any consequence. During an effective career of barely a year (until his death in the same plane crash that killed Buddy Holly in 1959), Valens emerged with a basic high-energy rock sound that, at its most raucous, became an influence on performers up through The Kinks and Jonathan Richman. He delivered two classic songs, "Donna" and "La Bamba." ~ Bruce Eder