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Ritchie Valens Born Richard Steven Valenzuela in 1941
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The life of Ritchie Valens.
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January 8, 1952 Ritchie's father Joseph Steven Valenzuela died from diabetes-related complications.
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April 20th1957 Ritchie accepted The Silhouettes invitation to join the band as guitarist and singer.
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On May 9th 1958 Keane took Ritchie to his 'Gold Star Studios' in Hollywood, to record several songs including "Come On, Let's Go", also shortening the singer's name from “Valenzuela” to “Valens” and adding the "t" to “Richie”.
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On July 9th 1958 "Come On, Let's Go" was released and which climbed to number 42 on the national charts, selling over 750,000 copies.
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On January 23rd 1959 Ritchie begins the now-infamous "Winter Dance Party” tour along with Buddy Holly, Dion and The Belmonts, and J. P. Richardson.
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The plane, a three-passenger Beechcraft Bonanza, departed for Fargo, North Dakota, and crashed shortly after takeoff in a snow storm. The crash killed rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson.
