Before he made history as the first international Latin rock star, Richard Steven Valenzuela was born on May 13th, 1941, in Pacoima, California to a family of munition plant and farm workers.

Growing up bicultural in a post-war era, the Mexican-American prodigy immersed himself in an array of music that resonated on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, from rhythm & blues to traditional Mexican music. Although his family had been living in the U.S. for a few generations — his mother and grandmother were both born in Arizona — they never forgot their Latin roots.

Despite being left-handed, the young musician mastered the right-hand guitar.

Valens’ debut single, the swing-rock party-starter “Come On, Let’s Go!,” instantly cracked the Billboard charts at Number 42. But it was his second single, “Donna,” a timeless tender ballad about the longings of teen love, that became his breakthrough, peaking at Number Two. On the B-side was an even bigger hit — “La Bamba,” an unlikely Latin rock hybrid that became the first Spanish-language track to crack the Top 40.

On the morning of February 3, 1959, Ritchie took Tommy Allsups seat on the plane. Ritchie wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t have played out the tour after another night in the bus. Waylon Jennings, who played in Buddy Holly’s band, gave his seat up to the Big Bopper, J.P. Richardson, who at the time had the flu.

Waylon was best friends with Buddy Holly. Buddy told Waylon, “I hope your bus freezes up”… Waylon responded with, “well I hope your plane crashes”.

Waylon regretted that for the rest of his life.

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