So I did. I still remember the first time we heard Ritchie sing on the radio, the mother of the late Latino rock n roller Ritchie Valens recalled about that distant day, almost 30 years ago. 5 quick facts you didn't know about Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti Latin people would say, Eso es hi-tone (thats real fancy). Abby, Thank you for making our estate planning process so easy. Ritchie Valens suffered massive and unsurvivable head injuries along with blunt-force trauma to the chest. CONNIE VALENZUELA, 72, the mother of 1950s - Orlando Sentinel A few minutes after takeoff, the aircraft experienced mechanical problems and it crashed into an Iowa field. Connie Lemos: Facts About Ritchie Valens sister, Milton Augustine Williams jr- Truth About Vanessa Williams father, Nellie Stone Fewings: Facts About Nancy Carrolls Daughter With Jo Stone-Fewings, Isabella Patricia Phillips, Lou Diamond Phillips daughter, Danny Keough: Everything About Lisa Marie Presleys Ex-husband, James Katz- Facts About Jennifer Greys brother, Devin Hervey: Facts About Vanessa Williams son, Emilia Merkell: Everything About Patsy Palmers Daughter. She doesn't believe she rates a place in pop history. Their own daughters, Gloria and Kristin, played their mothers (Ritchies sisters) as young girls. After many family difficulties and some trouble with the law, he finally matured and settled down. She lives in Pollock Pines, a small community in the hills near Sacramento, with her third -- and she says last -- husband. ", For almost 30 years now people have been asking her if Valens was the love of her life. She and Valens had met the summer before their sophomore year at a party for a car club called the Igniters. However as the heirs of Richie's estate . When Danny Valdez (Luis brother and associate producer of the film La Bamba) finally connected with the Valenzuelas, they werent interested in another film project. But whenever Id call up and ask to speak to Jerry Wallace (of Primrose Lane fame), hed see that Ritchie would be back before I knew it. As she remembered, Connie Valenzuela, seated by the kitchen table, smiled. Her big date with Elvis Presley came a year after her high school graduation while she was working as a nightclub hostess in Los Angeles. The Valens family now lives in the Central California farming community of Watsonville (south of San Jose). Twenty-nine years later, Donna Ludwig is back in the spotlight. Significance Statement. Richie Valens' Last Will and Testament: The Day the Music Died Ritchie Valens (born Richard Steven Valenzuela; May 13, 1941 - February 3, 1959) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. A letter from Ritchie's mother was found in his coat pocket: "Be good and I miss you more every day.'' The news trickled out slowly, even in the Valley. He said Valenzuelas charges are ridiculous., She was in worse financial condition than I was, he said in a Sunset Boulevard Mexican food eatery. She prepared a trust, wills, power of attorneys, and healthcare documents for us. You answered all of my questions and made this process easy. Childhood pal recalls Ritchie Valens as 'sweet,' 'tough' from Murrieta He was always there for Irma and I. Thats all we had. Richard Steven Valenzuela was born May 13, 1941 in Pacoima, California, says Biography. Morales, the older brother of famed musician Ritchie Valens, was an icon in his own right. she says. He was 17 years old when he died. "I had a girl," Ritchie Valens crooned, "Donna was her name ". I loved my mother and sister and brother.". She received more than 8,000 lettersafter a fan magazine printed her address. Concepcion Valenzuela got married to Joseph Steven Valenzuela on 15 September 1939 in Los Angeles County, California. He made several hits, most notably La Bamba and Donna. The masters of Valens recordings are owned by Keane in perpetuity, according to Keane, and he has licensed the rights to Rhino Records. At the end of 1987, all music publishing rights to Valens compositions will revert to her. Her mother, Connie Valenzuela, had an unbilled role as Elderly Lady at Party.. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. He was also a very good kisser, but that, she swears, is as far as it went. She feels the film will be an inspiration for todays Latino youth. He called her regularly from the road, sometimes mentioning marriage, but she never really believed they would wed. "I thought he'd get really really famous and that would be that. Although many people seem confused about this, under the laws of most states a person needs to be 18 or older to execute a Will or sign any other legal documents. Still, there was the matter of the elusive Donna. Mama lived to see her dream realized, that Ritchie . Ritchie Valens is interred in the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, California. Advertisement. She respected our wishes and valued our input. They got married on married 15 Sep 1939 in Los Angeles County, California. Instead, they sent him on a train to San Fernando. They interviewed everyone involved and did extensive analysis of the crash site. . RITCHIE VALENS' ROOTS - Los Angeles Times -- Ritchie Valens' sister, Irma Norton, left, made her first. I pulled over to the side of the road when Come On, Lets Go came on the radio. Rock historian Beverly Mandheim says there's no question Valens was involved with Fox-Coots, but that she wasn't his only infatuation. Lou Diamond Phillips was born on February 17th, 1962, to Lucita Umayam Araas and Gerald Amon Upchurch in Subic Bay Naval Station, Philippines. Ritchie Valens passed away on February 3, 1959 at 17 years old. The house was heavily damaged by fire in 1967 and Ritchies gold record for Donna and one of his guitars were destroyed, along with other mementos. He died when I was barely 7. And they said, Well, more or less, but its a story about two brothers now.. It's no accident that Fox-Coots doesn't list her father among her dear ones. Dated 3 February 1959 Immediate cause of death is listed as "(a) Gross trauma to brain due to (b) Crash of airplane." Other significant conditions are described as "Multiple fractures, left foream and both legs." Nature of injury: "Thrown from plane when it . But I finally put on a brave front and said to myself, Im going to play them before I bury him, and I did., The years after Valens death were lean ones. Concepcion Valenzuela is not alive as of 2022. Ritchie Valens was just 17 years old when he changed the course of pop music in the late 1950s. As Richie was only 17 he didn't have a Will - under the laws of most states a person needs to be 18 or older to execute a Will or sign any other legal documents. Hoping to capitalize on the brief romance, her father arranged for her to sing two songs, "Lost Without You" and "Now That You're Gone," on the Pop label. Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month. So Id call up one of the deejays, because at that time they would sponsor dances. Ritchie's mother, Concepcion "Connie" Valenzuela already had another son from a . Donna Is No-Show as Valens Gets Star - Los Angeles Times Another theory claimed that a fight broke out between the performers and one shot another. Her mother, Concepcion died on 18 October 1987in Santa Cruz, Californiaat the age of 72. He called out of the blue one evening and drawled, "Ya wanna go with Elvis tonight? Info. and a strong faith. At school, he played guitar and sang songs to his friends. While quoted fees are appropriate for many clients, some may require additional services. So he had a girlfriend. . The 17-year-old died in a small plane crash in Iowa on Feb. 3, 1959, along with Buddy Holly, J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson and the pilot. Francisco Lopez Reyes and Maria Refugia Lopez Reyes. Scottsdale attorney Abigail Neal is passionate about helping people, focusing on trusts and estates, probate and business law. What Ritchie Valens' Brother, Bob Morales Did For A Living? Explore His People are wondering what happened to Ritchie Valen's brother, and . Rising American rock stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson are killed when their chartered Beechcraft Bonanza plane crashes in Iowa a few minutes after takeoff. I really dont understand the things that they say in todays music.. Ritchie valens . Lou Diamond Phillips Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life Bob made a sufficient earnings throughout his professional life as a mechanic based in California. ", "He wanted to know all about Ritchie," recalls Fox-Coots, who accompanied Presley to a penthouse party at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Mrs. I guess thats good enough.. My husband and I hired Abby to prepare our estate plan. The two-story tract home has a wall devoted to photographs of Ritchie. She moved out of her father's house on her 18th birthday and never visited him again. She grew up to be a strong, intelligent woman with great perseverance They reportedly got separated. What pushes your button more: Navel barers or idiotic promos? The preview was given by Columbia Pictures to herald the nationwide opening of the film in English and Spanish this week. Do what you can. Not all of the Valenzuela familys memories are quite as pleasant. Once, I called Art Laboe and told him it was time to get the guys home. Morales reluctantly admitted, as his younger sisters teased him, that his mom beat him up one night when he arrived home in a drunken state. At the time of the interview, Connie was a customer service rep for a local insurance company and the mother of two. "I was attracted to him because he was a nice man, er " She stops herself. I tire easily from a recent operation I had. (Here are selected photos on this topic, but full relevance is not guaranteed.) And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of Billboard's Top 10 on February 23rd, 1959: At #3. One of Valens favorite songs, Mrs. Valenzuela said, was a childs lullaby he called The Paddi Wack Song, which he sang accompanied by his guitar to his young sisters in the familys backyard. She also got married to Robert Morales in 1952. Rock Icon Dion Recalls 1959 Plane Crash That Killed Buddy Holly In reality, Fox-Coots says, "I was something of a little rebel. Valens was only 17 years old. Updates and news about all categories will send to you. ALSO, READ; Isabella Patricia Phillips, Lou Diamond Phillips daughter. The marriage only lasted a year. . He was left-handed and eager to learn the guitar so he mastered the traditionally right-handed version of the instrument. Youngest of all was a rising star of Chicano rock Latin Rock and Roll Ritchie Valens. Rock and Roll singer Ritchie Valens poses for a photo during the filming of 'Go, Johnny, Go!' on January 20, 1959 in Los Angeles, California. Donna by Ritchie Valens - Songfacts