She rocks to the left, and rocks to the right described her. Another, Hurry Up, came from an expression that Valenzuela said she used to get her kids to do chores. . The marriage only lasted a year. Rumors abounded that one of the stars had run out of drugs and feigning for a fix. He has American. At age 16, he got an invitation to be part of a local band, The Silhouettes, where he was a guitarist, and later the main vocalist. Rising American rock stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson are killed when their chartered Beechcraft Bonanza plane crashes in Iowa a few minutes after takeoff. Twenty-nine years later, Donna Ludwig is back in the spotlight. Laboe never listened to me. I was devastated. Over the July 4 weekend, La Bamba had a hometown preview for Valens family and neighbors at the Fox Theater here, a typical Art Deco-styled movie house from the 30s that usually plays Spanish-language films today. 1959. Later, when he started going out to play at different places, I would worry. Use what you have. Concepcion Valenzuela was an actress and the mother of the late guitarist, singer, and songwriter Richard Steven Valenzuela, known professionally as Ritchie Valens. Ritchie Valens is interred in the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, California. I will definitely be recommending you to friends and calling you in the future. she says. Concepcion Valenzuela is not alive as of 2022. The house was heavily damaged by fire in 1967 and Ritchies gold record for Donna and one of his guitars were destroyed, along with other mementos. We were so happy we were referred to Abby. Concepcion Valenzuela is the mother of five children. licensing the rights to Ritchies name and image. Includes 1 print + interactive copy. Ritchie Valens was born Richard Steven Valenzuela on May 13, 1941, and grew up in the San Fernando Valley suburb of Pacioma, California. I still remember the first time we heard Ritchie sing on the radio, the mother of the late Latino rock n roller Ritchie Valens recalled about that distant day, almost 30 years ago. Greenbambinis posted 12 years ago. They always met between classes in the hallways at school. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In reality, Fox-Coots says, "I was something of a little rebel. Ritchie Valens (born Richard Steven Valenzuela; May 13, 1941 - February 3, 1959) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. Connie Valenzuela said: Ritchie never spoke in Spanish because his dad never did. THE REVERIES OF VALENS' DONNA. Before the report is released, Richies distraught mother decided to pursue legal action and filed a $1.5 million lawsuit against the owner of the aircraft, Jerry Dwyer. A few days before the Aeronautics Board investigation report came out, Dwyers insurance company settled with Richies mother for $75,000 $25,000 each for Richie Valens, Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. Her big date with Elvis Presley came a year after her high school graduation while she was working as a nightclub hostess in Los Angeles. When the Aeronautics Board investigation report came out, it attributed the cause of the crash to pilot error. Valens played guitar and sang with a local high school band until he was discovered in 1958. While in high school, he used an electric guitar made in shop class to front a band and came to the attention of Bob Keane, owner of Del-Fi records, who produced the sessions at Gold Star Recording Studios that resulted in Valenss hits. They dont have to be macho or mean or cuss or take drugs to be a man. At the time of the interview, Connie was a customer service rep for a local insurance company and the mother of two. He was 17 years old when he died. He recorded such hits as, "Come On Lets Go," "La Bamba" and "Oh Donna." He died in a plane crash on February 3, 1959, at age 17. Ritchie Valens mother shook her head. Connie was a child when her big brother lost his life in a plane crash, only hours after performing at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake with a group of musicians that included Buddy Holly and J.P. The Big Bopper Richardson. With that, several people nearby broke again into the familiar chorus: Donna . But away from the excitement of the screening, Connie Valenzuela, 72, sat in one of her daughters homes, surrounded by her several children and grandchildren. Also on board were Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. "Sleep Walk" is an instrumental steel guitar-based song recorded and released in 1959 by brothers Santo & Johnny. His father wasn't around at the outset . He was accompanied by other big-name artists such as J.P. Richardson and Buddy Holly, as well as pilot Robert Peterson but they never made it to their destination. Ritchie's mother died in 1987, and is buried alongside him. The masters of Valens recordings are owned by Keane in perpetuity, according to Keane, and he has licensed the rights to Rhino Records. The men in her office describe her as just one of the boys, a down-to-earth career woman with a ready, throaty laugh. Childhood & Early Life. ", Fox-Coots cooperated with screen writer and director Luis Valdez in researching "La Bamba," but says she was "grossly offended" when she read the first draft of the screenplay. I got an insurance policy on his life. (Later, she collected double indemnity on that policy. My experience working with her was by far the best experience Ive had in working with an attorney. Ritchie Valens died in the crash alongside fellow musicians Buddy Holly and J. P. The Big Bopper Richardson, and pilot Roger Peterson. Failed to subscribe, please contact admin. ", Nevertheless, both times she's seen "La Bamba," she's had to run out to the lobby to cry. Our relationship was a very, very short part of his very short life. Joe died at his residence at 13058 Filmore Street. He was a mechanic by profession with no certified license of driving for 25 years of his career. After all, this 16-year-old kid was often out until midnight. He may be dead, but hes still alive to me, said 46-year-old Rudy Ortega of Norwalk. That created more rumors that someone had gotten shot on the plane, namely the pilot. Name: Ritchie Valens (birth name: Richard Stephen Valenzuela) Ritchie was nicknamed "The Little Richard of the San Fernando Valley". In those days, before son Ritchie became a star, the family lived in the San Fernando Valley. You know in the movie, some of the kids call him Hi Tone, but that wasnt actually his nickname. He was raised listening to traditional Mexican mariachi music, flamenco guitar, R&B, and jump blues. His parents, Joseph Steve and Concepci n (Reyes) Valenzuela, were working at a munitions plant at the time of his birth. Her niece, Diane Amezquita of San Jose, said she had been hospitalized since Friday. She feels strongly that Valens' recording company took financial advantage of the family after his death. She listened to our concerns, made great suggestions, and was an absolute pleasure to work with. Mamas strength and dignity are beautifully portrayed by Roseana DeSoto, "I still remember the first time we heard Ritchie sing on the radio," the mother of the late Latino . In what could be viewed as an ominous portent of future tragedy, Valens avoided an airplane-related death two years earlier. "I think you can safely say that Ritchie Valens did not die a virgin," says Mandheim, who spent 10 years researching his life for her book "Ritchie Valens: The First Latino Rocker," to be released this month by Bilingual Press at Arizona State University. It took them eight days to send Ritchies body back from Iowa. . It had been released in those eight days since his death. After the film was over I just wanted to hold on to both of them. You had to be from L.A. to really know what he was all about. Richard Steven Valenzuela was born May 13, 1941 in Pacoima, California, says Biography. Dealing with Ritchies former manager and promoter Bob Keane (who spelled his last name Keene until 1970) hasnt been so simpatico, either. Just before her passing in 1987, she formed Hi-Tone Five Corporation for Oh, I get a bit of money now and then. Bob made a sufficient earnings throughout his professional life as a mechanic based in California. 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Many claim that Richie didnt read the agreement he signed with Keane that stated how the royalties from his music were to be handled. After their February 2, 1959, performance inClear Lake, Iowa, Holly, Richardson, and Valens flew out of theMason Cityairport in a small plane that Holly had chartered. Contains printable sheet music plus an interactive, downloadable digital sheet music file. . But whenever Id call up and ask to speak to Jerry Wallace (of Primrose Lane fame), hed see that Ritchie would be back before I knew it. As she remembered, Connie Valenzuela, seated by the kitchen table, smiled. He later attended San Fernando High School. Ritchie Valens was just 17 years old when he changed the course of pop music in the late 1950s. Her memories are those of a 15-year-old. After his father's death, Lou was adopted by his mother's second husband and he took his surname, Phillips. "As far as I know, Ritchie died a virgin. He isn't built for playoff hockey . Although she had lived in Watsonville since 1962, Valenzuela sometimes spent time in the San Fernando Valley house north of Los Angeles that her son bought for her with his music earnings in 1958, Amezquita said. When the Beechcraft Bonanza carrying Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper crashed outside Clear Lake, Iowa, in the early morning hours of February 3, 1959, it struck the ground with such . Siena Natasha Ponce & Savanna Ala Ponce: Who Are Carlos Ponces Twin daughters? I was a little nervous the first time I saw the film. Mother of 1950s legendary Rock 'n' Roll singer, Ritchie Valens. After many family difficulties and some trouble with the law, he finally matured and settled down. Ritchie Valens died at age 17 in one of the most famous aviation accidents in American history the Feb. 3, 1959, small plane crash in Iowa that also killed fellow rock stars Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. CONNECT. He didn't swear. As with Holly and Richardson, Valens suffered massive and unsurvivable head injuries along withblunt-force traumato the chest. Richard Steven Valenzuela was born outside of Los Angeles in 1941. I never knew all the problems poor Bob went through or all my mother had to put up with him at the time. Ritchie Valens was an immediate sensation: "Come On, Let's Go," his first single, soared on the national pop charts. SAN JOSE, CALIF. CONNIE VALENZUELA, 72, the mother of 1950s rock singer Ritchie Valens whose overnight climb to fame was chronicled this year in the hit movie La Bamba, died Sunday of an. He was in a relationship with his high school sweetheart, Donna Ludwig from 1957 until his death. Instead, they sent him on a train to San Fernando. Arguably, since Richie entered into the contract as a minor the contract should have been void. Valens died on 3 February 1959 at the age of 17. A number of the performers caught colds and one was even hospitalized for frostbite. And they said, Well, more or less, but its a story about two brothers now.. Valens, of course, was the pioneering Chicano rocker who managed to write and record "La Bamba," "Come On, Let's Go" and "Donna" as a high school sophomore during a career that lasted only eight. I was not sweet and innocent, I was more of a hell-raiser. My brother was blond. Valens was only 17 years old. When he was younger, a freak accident occurred over his school playground in which two planes collided, killing and injuring a number of Richies friends. Concepcion's son Ritchie Valens was a rock and roll pioneer and a forefather of the Chicano rock movement. Unfortunately, death interrupted his promising career after he was killed in a plane crash. Ritchie Valens - La Bamba. While the demand for Valens records has grown, his fans and relatives have been clamoring for greater recognition of his accomplishments. Organizers said Ludwig-Coots had been invited to attend the ceremony. The plane crashed five miles outside of the airport. I never knew all the problems poor Bob went through or all my mother had to put up with him at the time. She was 72. That crash also killed two Texas rockers, Buddy Holly and J. P. (The Big Bopper) Richardson. She worked as a waitress, a farm worker, a bartender and a house cleaner. CITRUS HEIGHTS, CALIF. -- The first hint Donna Ludwig had that she might become a rock 'n' roll legend came on a bright October day in 1958. the movie, La Bamba. 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Although totally unprepared to enter the world of contracts and music rights, she claims that one day Herb (Keanes partner) called me and said to sign a contract just in case anything might happen to Richie Valens; otherwise, I wouldnt get anything. Valens grew up in suburban Los Angeles in a family of Mexican and possibly Native American descent. I ran with a pack of girls and I was their leader.". Her children listened to her recollections, some for the first time. By GREGG BARRIOS. Dated 3 February 1959 Immediate cause of death is listed as "(a) Gross trauma to brain due to (b) Crash of airplane." Other significant conditions are described as "Multiple fractures, left foream and both legs." Nature of injury: "Thrown from plane when it . But I never really promised him one.. After her date passed out from drinking too much beer, Valens began singing "We Belong Together" directly to her. At school, he played guitar and sang songs to his friends. Ritchie Valens was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was named for the late singer Ritchie Valens, after his mother watched the movie La Bamba. The body wasnt too good, but I paid $50 for each tire and I bought five. She has two daughters who grew up bragging to their friends that their mother was the actual Donna. If you find that some photos violates copyright or have unacceptable properties, please inform us about it. Connie Lemos father, Joe died at age 56 on 8 January 1952 in Los Angeles County, California. She also got married to Robert Morales in 1952. Richie won the toss. My Head in the film Go, Johnny, Go! Richie's mother filed a $1.5 million lawsuit against the owner of the aircraft, Jerry Dwyer. Ritchie Valens Wiki Biography. Ritchie January 1959, The Winter Dance Party Tour, MN. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. February 3, 1959, has gone down in history (and a Don McLean song) as "the day the music died."Rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper" J.P Richardson were killed in a plane crash alongside pilot Roger Peterson on this fateful day.Eerily, singer Ritchie Valens, who perished in this accident, had an intense fear of flying and suffered from recurring . It was a nice, easy date.". Donna couldnt be found Friday. They began a drive to get Valens a star on the Walk of Fame as the ultimate recognition of his success. "God, it was so long ago," she says. And whenever she laid her head on his shoulder, he always smelled so clean, like soap and water. "See his hair in this picture?" Corrections? As of 2022, she is 71 years old. He called her regularly from the road, sometimes mentioning marriage, but she never really believed they would wed. "I thought he'd get really really famous and that would be that. Also Read: Connie Lemos: Facts About Ritchie Valens sister. The Valens family now lives in the Central California farming community of Watsonville (south of San Jose). Valens, of course, was the pioneering Chicano rocker who managed to write and record "La Bamba," "Come On, Let's Go" and "Donna" as a high school sophomore during a career that lasted only eight. Use what you have. "We used to argue about that. Valens was born Richard Steven Valenzuela in Pacoima, California in 1941. His story is told in the film La Bamba (1987). Though his career and life were short, Ritchie Valens' influence on culture has been . Deejays began playing a sappy spinoff song about her loss, "Letter to Donna" by a group called the Kittens.