Ritchie Valens, born Richard Steven Valenzuela on May 13, 1941, in California, was a groundbreaking American rock and roll musician of Mexican descent. A self-taught guitarist and singer, Valens pioneered the Chicano rock movement with his innovative adaptation of the traditional Mexican folk song "La Bamba," which became a major hit in 1958. His music blended Latin rhythms seamlessly with rock, making him one of the first Latino artists to cross into mainstream American pop and rock.
Despite a brief career cut short at age 17 due to a tragic plane crash in 1959, Valens left a lasting impact on music, inspiring generations of Latinx musicians. Known also for his hit "Donna," Valens is remembered as a cultural icon and a rock and roll pioneer whose voice and guitar continue to resonate in the world of Spanish-language rock.