Ritchie Valens
Pioneering rock and roll musician
Born
Died
1959
66 years ago — 18 years old
Category
Performers & Entertainers
Country
United States
Links & References
An influential figure in the early years of rock and roll, this musician achieved significant success with a string of hits in the late 1950s. The song "La Bamba" became a staple in the genre, blending traditional Mexican music with rock. The artist's career, though brief, left a lasting legacy and contributed to the popularization of Latin rock music. Tragically, a plane crash in 1959 claimed his life at the age of 17, marking the end of a promising career that had only just begun. Despite the short duration of the career, the impact on the genre continues to resonate through subsequent generations of musicians.
Released hit songs like 'La Bamba' and 'Donna'
Pioneered rock and roll music with Latin influences
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