Biografía

He was attending Pacoima Junior High School in Pacoima, California, on January 31, 1957, when a mid-air collision occurred between an Air Force fighter plane and a civilian passenger plane high above the school. Debris from the crash fell on the school, killing three students--one of whom was Valens' best friend. He developed an intense fear of flying after that, and would fly only when absolutely necessary. Ironically, he died in an airplane crash two years after the incident.

The date of his death (February 3, 1959) was forever immortalized as "The Day the Music Died" in the song "American Pie" by Don McLean.

Despite having his most popular hit with "La Bamba", an adaptation of a Mexican folk song with a rock rhythm and beat, Valens did not speak Spanish.

Early in his career, Bruce Johnston, later of The Beach Boys, was a fellow band member. The Beach Boys have credited Ritchie as one of their influences.

At the time of his untimely death, he had a two-sided hit, "Donna" (US #2) / "La Bamba" (US #22)--the only time a singing star, in the rock era, had a top 10 hit at the exact time of his/her death.