Who died with Ritchie Valens in plane crash?
Buddy HollyThe Day the Music Died: A rock 'n' roll tragedy goes down in flames out of the Midwestern sky. (WVUE) - On Feb. 3, 1959, the careers of three American music legends were unfortunately cut short as a plane carrying Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson (a.k.a The Big Bopper) crashed in Clear Lake, Iowa.03-Feb-2022
How was Ritchie Valens when he died?
He recorded numerous hits during his short career, most notably the 1958 hit "La Bamba." Valens died at age 17 in a plane crash with fellow musicians Buddy Holly and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson on February 3, 1959.27-Apr-2017
Is Ritchie Valens Donna still alive?
Donna now lives in a small community near Sacramento with her third husband. She has two daughters.03-Jun-2020
Who missed the plane when Ritchie Valens died?
Waylon Jennings wasn't the only scheduled passenger on that ill-fated flight who escaped death. Another band member, Tommy Allsup, and the 17 year old Richie Valens tossed a coin to see who would get to fly that night. Valens won the toss and lost his life.02-Feb-2021
What really happened The Day The Music Died?
On this day in 1959, rock stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson were killed in a plane crash along with 21-year-old pilot Roger Peterson. This incident became known as “The Day The Music Died,” after Don McLean coined it in his 1971 song, “American Pie.”03-Feb-2022
What celebrities died in plane crashes?
Buddy Holly and 9 Other Country Stars Who Died in Plane CrashesCountry Singers Who Died in Plane Crashes. MCA Nashville / Frederick Breedon IV, Getty Images. ... Buddy Holly. Geffen Records. ... Patsy Cline. MCA Nashville. ... Cowboy Copas. King Records. ... Hawkshaw Hawkins. Bear Family Records. ... Jim Reeves. ... Lynyrd Skynyrd. ... Ricky Nelson.More items...•03-Feb-2022
Is Bob Valenzuela still alive?
The man rocked a mohawk, wore tattered clothing and leather motorcycle jackets, and almost always had a joint in his hand, but his "tough guy" outer persona belied his true nature: he was all about affection, something he took to heart. He passed away in his home at night in September of 2018 at 81 years of age.03-Aug-2020
Did Donna go to Ritchie Valens funeral?
The woman, Diane Olson, showed up at Valens' funeral and told his family they'd been engaged. She moved in with his sister Connie, but disappeared two months later.04-Sept-1987
Is La Bamba a true story?
The film was based on the life of Ritchie Valens, the Mexican-American teenager (birth name: Richard Steven Valenzuela) who was one of the first Latinos in rock 'n' roll.05-May-2021
Who died on this day in music?
On this day in 1959, rock stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson were killed in a plane crash along with 21-year-old pilot Roger Peterson. This incident became known as “The Day The Music Died,” after Don McLean coined it in his 1971 song, “American Pie.”03-Feb-2022
What female singer died in a plane crash?
Aaliyah Dana HaughtonAaliyahAaliyah in Berlin, Germany, 2000BornAaliyah Dana HaughtonJanuary 16, 1979 New York City, U.S.DiedAugust 25, 2001 (aged 22) Marsh Harbour, Abaco Islands, The BahamasCause of deathAirplane crash17 more rows
Did Waylon Jennings give up seat to Buddy Holly?
Waylon Jennings was a member of Buddy Holly's band on Feb. 3, 1959, when he gave up his seat in a small plane scheduled to take Holly and some other musicians on to the next show. The plane crashed, killing all aboard, including Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson, “the Big Bopper.”21-Nov-1987
How did Ritchie Valens die?
A rock and roll pioneer and a forefather of the Chicano rock movement, Valens was killed in a plane crash eight months into his recording career. Valens had several hits, most notably " La Bamba ", ...
Where is Ritchie Valens Memorial Highway?
A section of the Interstate 5 Freeway in the northeast San Fernando Valley has been named after Valens. The Ritchie Valens Memorial Highway is located between the 170 and 118 freeways. On August 25, 2018, a celebration was held in his honor to commemorate his legacy.
Why was Paxton Park renamed?
Paxton Park in Pacoima was renamed in memory of Valens in the 1990s. A city council member representing Pacoima proposed the renaming to honor Valens so residents would "remember his humble background and emulate his accomplishments.". Musician Tommy Allsup started a club, "Tommy's Heads Up Saloon", in Dallas in 1979.
Why did Valens and Holly fly out of the Mason City airport?
After the February 2, 1959, performance in Clear Lake, Iowa (which ended around midnight), Holly, Richardson, and Valens flew out of the Mason City airport in a small plane that Holly had chartered. Valens was on the plane because he won a coin toss with Holly's backup guitarist Tommy Allsup.
How old was Valens in La Bamba?
Valens has been the subject of several biopic films, including the 1987 film La Bamba. Primarily set in 1957–1959, it depicted Valens from age 16 to 17. It introduced Lou Diamond Phillips as Valens. Los Lobos performed most of the music in the film.
What was the last song that Valens sang?
Valens's next record, a double A-side, the final record to be released in his lifetime, had the song "Donna" (written about a real girlfriend Donna Ludwig) coupled with " La Bamba ".
How much did the Valens star cost?
On May 11, 1990, a star bearing his name was unveiled on the Hollywood walk of fame. The star cost $3,500, which was paid for with money raised in his name by family and friends.
What was Ritchie Valens famous for?
Ritchie Valens was a Mexican American singer and songwriter influential in the Chicano rock movement. He recorded numerous hits during his short career, most notably the 1958 hit "La Bamba.". Valens died at age 17 in a plane crash with fellow musicians Buddy Holly and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson on February 3, 1959.
How old was Ritchie Valens when he died?
Only 17 years old when he died, Valens left behind a few recordings. His first, self-titled album was released shortly after the accident and did well on the charts. A live recording was later released as Ritchie Valens in Concert at Pacoima Junior High.
How old was Valens when he joined the Silhouettes?
He found inspiration from various sources, ranging from traditional Mexican music to popular R&B acts to innovative rock performers like Little Richard. At 16 years old, Valens joined his first band, the Silhouettes.
What was the number 2 song of Valens?
Valens had even greater success with his second single, which featured "La Bamba" and "Donna.". "Donna," an ode to his high school girlfriend Donna Ludwig, became a popular ballad, eventually climbing as high as the number two spot on the pop charts.
What is La Bamba?
While not as big a hit, "La Bamba" was a revolutionary song that fused elements of a traditional Mexican folk tune with rock and roll. Valens was not a native Spanish speaker and had to be coached on the all-Spanish-language song.
How did Otis Redding die?
Known as the voice of soul music, Otis Redding died in a plane crash at 26 years old. His song " (Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay" hit No. 1 in 1968.
Where did the Winter Dance Party take place?
On February 2, 1959, the Winter Dance Party tour played the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. The tour was set to perform the next day in Moorhead, Minnesota. Holly had chartered a plane to get there after experiencing trouble with his tour bus. According to some reports, Valens won a seat on the plane in a coin toss with Holly's guitarist Tommy Allsup. Richardson also traded places with another original passenger, Waylon Jennings.
How old was Ritchie when he died?
Ritchie was only 17 years old when he died. Even in his short career, Ritchie recorded numerous hits and would leave an indelible mark on music for years to come. In 1971, Don McLean penned the song “American Pie,” which immortalized the crash as “the day the music died.”.
Where did Buddy Holly fly to?
The To escape the freezing cold bus for the trip to their next gig in Moorhead, Minnesota, Buddy Holly hired a local plane to take him to nearby Fargo, North Dakota. There was room for two additional passengers on the plane.
Where was the Winter Dance Party?
At the Winter Dance Party, the Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, Iowa. On the Winter Dance Party Tour. Of Ritchie, Buddy, Big Bopper and Dion from January 25, 1959. This note from Mama was found in Ritchie’s coat pocket at the crash site.
Where did the Winter Dance Party take place?
The singers finished up a performance at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa on February 2nd.
Who won the Allsup seat on the plane?
The two seats were originally intended for members of Holly’s band, Tommy Allsup and Waylon Jennings. Ritchie won Allsup’s seat in a coin toss and the Big Bopper convinced Jennings to let him have his seat on the plane because he was feeling ill. The flight was scheduled to depart the Mason City airport at 12:30am.
When did Mama say God needed him more than we did?
On February 3, 1959, Mama said “God needed him more than we did.”. Three great talents were lost that day. The music lives on, the families remember and tell their stories. Original Poster. From the concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clearlake, Iowa.
How old was Ritchie Valens when he died?
Sadly, Valens is also one of music's biggest "what could have been" stories — he died at age 17 while still a rising success. He didn't have the chance to record all that much music, but what he did make would cement his status as an American musical legend. Here's a look into the tragically brief life of Ritchie Valens.
What was Ritchie Valens famous for?
Ritchie Valens was one of rock n' roll's earliest and most promising stars. A pop music titan while still just a teenager, he emerged in 1958 as a talent to be reckoned with, combining a voice that was at turns soulful and peppy with a preternatural talent for playing the guitar with precision and speed. By early 1959, Valens had shown off his skills with three highly varied singles — the ultra-catchy and breezy "Come On, Let's Go," the restrained torch ballad "Donna," and "La Bamba," a shredding, blistering take on an old folk song the Mexican-American musician learned in childhood that became one of the first and biggest songs not performed in English to hit big in the United States.#N#Sadly, Valens is also one of music's biggest "what could have been" stories — he died at age 17 while still a rising success. He didn't have the chance to record all that much music, but what he did make would cement his status as an American musical legend. Here's a look into the tragically brief life of Ritchie Valens.
What movie was a hit in 1987?
The 1987 Ritchie Valens biopic La Bamba was a hit by any metric, amassing $54 million at the box office, earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture – Drama, and Los Lobos' soundtrack cover of the title song hit No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart.
What song did Ritchie Valens sing in 1959?
In 1959, Ritchie Valens peaked commercially and artistically with two extremely successful singles. One of them was the rollicking, hard-charging folk/rock fusion tune "La Bamba," sung completely in Spanish." The other was completely different — "Donna," a sweetly crooned teen-idol type love song, performed in English, suitable for slow-dancing. The latter now ranks in the pop music canon of songs named after women, alongside Buddy Holly's "Peggy Sue," the Knack's "My Sharona," and Toto's "Rosanna." "Donna" is also about a real person, a teenager named Donna Ludwig, that Valens had dated before he found success as a rock star.
What is the song La Bamba based on?
He did, however, come up with the arrangement of the tune as an energetic, highly crafted single emblematic of the 1950s early rock n' roll sound. "La Bamba" is based on an old piece of folk music from the Mexican state ...
Where is the Big Bopper statue?
In 1989, Beaumont, Texas, near The Big Bopper's hometown of Sabine Pass, unveiled a statue of its local lost figure along with one of the Bopper, Holly, and Valens together. And in 2018, the town of Pacoima — Valens grew up in the area — showed off a large mural depicting the "La Bamba" singer in his prime.
Where did Buddy Holly die?
In February 1959, he died with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper when their small plane crashed into a farmer's field near Clear Lake, Iowa. According to Atlas Obscura, that's still private land, but it's also the site of a modest guitar statue, put up in 1988, shortly after the release of the Valens biopic La Bamba .
What was Richard Valenuela's coat?
The body of Richard Valenuela was clothed in a black wool cloth overcoat containing a label "Harris & Drank, Los Angeles, Cal.", a black wool cloth suit containing inside, the coat label "Sohel's, San Fernando Cal.", a white shirt and underclothing. On the volar surface of the right forearm was a dark tatoo of initials "R.V.".
What was Buddy Holly's body made of?
Buddy Holly. The body of Charles H. Holley was clothed in an outer jacket of yellow leather-like material in which 4 seams in the back were split almost full length. The skull was split medially in the forehead and this extended into the vertex region. Approximately half the brain tissue was absent.
What was the deformity of the left forearm?
The facial features were not identifiable. There was marked deformity of the left forearm due to fracture, a 1-inch laceration on the dorsum of the left hand at its junction with the little finger. The left upper femur had marked deformity with fracture while the right tibia showed a compound fracture.
What was the big bopper's shirt?
The Big Bopper. The body of Jiles P. Richardson was clothed in a red checked flannel shirt and light blue cotton pants. There was no jacket or overcoat on the body. In one hip pocket of his trousers was a billfold containing his name and other identifying information. The head was badly mangled and misshapen.
What side of the brain was eviscerated?
The brain was almost completely eviscerated. The face was flattened and crushed on the right side and not identifiable. There were several deforming fractures of both arms. Across the middle phalanx of the second left finger was a laceration.
Why were internal injuries not appraised?
Internal injuries were not appraised because autopsy was not done. Personal effects are listed on a separate sheet in this report. Fingerprints were taken of the deceased for purposes of identification. (See attached report of investigation) A copy of the transcript of fees has been sent to the County Auditor.
What is the difference between the left upper medial thigh and the left mid-tibial region?
The left upper medial thigh had a transverse laceration 8 inches long, while the left mid-tibial region showed a small laceration at the site of a compound fracture; The consistency of the chest was soft due to extensive crushing of the bony structure. Internal injuries were not appraised because autopsy was not done.
Overview
Death
After the February 2, 1959, performance in Clear Lake, Iowa (which ended around midnight), Holly, Richardson, and Valens flew out of the Mason City airport in a small plane that Holly had chartered. Valens was on the plane because he won a coin toss with Holly's backup guitarist Tommy Allsup. Holly's bassist, Waylon Jennings, voluntarily gave up his seat on the plane to J.P. Richardson, who wa…
Early life
Valens was born as Richard Steven Valenzuela in Pacoima, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles. His parents, José Esteban Valenzuela (1896–1952) and Concepción "Concha" Reyes (1915–1987), were from Mexico. He had two brothers Roberto "Bob" Morales (1937–2018) and Mario Ramirez. His older brother Bob had an alcohol and drug addiction problem. Bob went on a downward spiral after turning to alcohol. After giving up alcohol he succ…
Career
A self-taught musician, Valenzuela was an accomplished singer and guitarist. At his appearances, he often improvised new lyrics and added new riffs to popular songs while he was playing.
Bob Keane, the owner and president of small record label Del-Fi Records in Hollywood, was given a tip in May 1958 by San Fernando High School student Doug Macchia about a young performer from Pacoima by the name of Richard Valenzuela. Kids knew the performer as "the Little Richard of San …
Personal life
Valens was in a relationship with Donna Ludwig, his high school sweetheart, from 1957 until his death. Ludwig's parents disapproved of her dating a Hispanic man. Valens's song "Donna" was written for her. Their relationship became strained due to Valens's increasing popularity and touring. After his death, Ludwig attended his funeral. In 1987, she attended the premiere of La Bamba, a biopic featuring the life and career of Valens.
Legacy
Valens was a pioneer of Chicano rock and Latin rock, and inspired many musicians of Mexican heritage. He influenced the likes of Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys, and Carlos Santana, as he had become nationally successful at a time when very few Latinos were in American rock and pop music. He is considered the first Latino to successfully cross over into mainstream rock.
Representation in other media
• Valens has been the subject of several biopic films, including the 1987 film La Bamba. Primarily set in 1957–1959, it depicted Valens from age 16 to 17. It introduced Lou Diamond Phillips as Valens. Los Lobos performed most of the music in the film.
• Valens was portrayed by Gilbert Melgar in the final scene of The Buddy Holly Story.
Tributes and filmography
In 1989, Ken Paquette, a Wisconsinfan of the 1950s era, erected a stainless-steel monument depicting a guitar and a set of three records bearing the names of each of the three performers killed in the accident. It is located on private farmland, about 1.25-mile (2.01 km) west of the intersection of 315th Street and Gull Avenue, about 8 miles (13 km) north of Clear Lake. He also created a simil…