I definitely would recommend her if you are looking for someone to help with your estate planning needs. Ritchie Valens' mom, Connie Valenzuela, passed in 1987. Mrs Valens is the mother of the late Ritchie Valens, whose 1959 track Ooh My Head 'inspired' Boogie With Stu. Her employes never realized she was the Donna until she announced she was taking a day off to attend the movie's premiere. 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This caused major anxiety for Dwyer, especially since Dwyer was operating his air transport business without being incorporated, meaning his personal assets could be taken to satisfy any potential judgment. She and six of her . The Big Bopper talked Jennings out of his seat, and Valens flipped a coin with Allsup for the final seat. Each additional print is $2.99. In what could be viewed as an ominous portent of future tragedy, Valens avoided an airplane-related death two years earlier. The excited screams of her friends drowned out the rest of the tune, but she had already recognized it. I remember calling New Visions one day and asking if the film was still about Ritchie. In the 70s, the Valenzuela families were approached by Walter Ulloa, who was preparing a screenplay of Ritchies life. It's Ritchie you knew, not Lou Diamond!' Ironically, Richie Valens had a fear of flying. ", In the wake of "La Bamba," some people have questioned just how big a role Fox-Coots really played in Valens' life. The family gave him two years to come up with something. The marriage only lasted a year. . Its brought us all so much closer., Irma, 35, nodded in approval of her sisters evaluation. Contacting us via this website does not create a confidential or attorney-client relationship. 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. Oh Donna, oh Donna . Ritchie Valens, born Richard Steven Valenzuela, passed away at the young age of 17 in 1959 on February 3rd {The Day The Music Died}. "I mean, because he was a nice boy. Thursday at 8:47 PM #1,189 GM Sutter chimes in: (Lol, what a snipe at Treliving) Reactions: DarksideGhost, Sanchez . She showed her strength and dedication to family at an early age when At the time of the interview, Connie was a customer service rep for a local insurance company and the mother of two. who played her in He was eight months into his music career. Looking back, she suspects she was trying to replace Valens. Another theory claimed that a fight broke out between the performers and one shot another. Hes my own little Ritchie, Connie Jr., his aunt chortled, as she hugged the embarrassed youngster. According to the Los Angeles Times, Connie Lemos and her sister Irma Padillaappeared in their brothers biopic. "Here's my scrapbook," she says, pulling out a thick brown album from behind her desk. His parents, Joseph Steve and Concepci n (Reyes) Valenzuela, were working at a munitions plant at the time of his birth. Not only were the steamy encounters between her and Valens deleted, but he is portrayed by actor Lou Diamond Phillips as a sensitive, caring young man who is constantly teased by his older brother Bob about his sexual innocence. Although totally unprepared to enter the world of contracts and music rights, she claims that one day Herb (Keanes partner) called me and said to sign a contract just in case anything might happen to Richie Valens; otherwise, I wouldnt get anything. "The sex scenes between me and Ritchie were my big thing," she says. She was buried at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, Los Angeles County, California. Her brother Bob passed in 2018. Concepcion Valenzuela is not alive as of 2022. ), When Valens died, his first album hadnt even been released yet (though the film shows Keane giving them out at record hops). Advertisement. Corrections? . However as the heirs of Richie's estate . Valens, of course, was the pioneering Chicano rocker who managed to write and record "La Bamba," "Come On, Let's Go" and "Donna" as a high school sophomore during a career that lasted only eight months. The film stars honorary Latino Lou Diamond Phillips as Ritchie Valens (born Richard Valenzuela), an American singer/songwriter/guitarist who broke through the rock 'n' roll ranks to become one . The ceremony was laced with cheers and shouts at the mere mention of links to Valens past--San Fernando, Pacoima or even the word Chicano., Listen, I grew up with Ritchie on the radio, recalled Joe Alvarez of Downey. She has never forgiven him for his "bigoted" rejection of Valens or for the recording deal he pressured her into after the singer's death. You know in the movie, some of the kids call him Hi Tone, but that wasnt actually his nickname. Start where you are. "I liked it better that way.". Net Worth: $500 . Valens was only 17 years old. I put up over $7,000 so theyd ship the kids body back and put him in a decent coffin. Ritchie Morales' elder brother, Bob had a decent net worth of $100,000 at the time of his death. In 1987, a biographical movie of his life and times entitled 'La Bamba' was released, both the film and soundtrack became a worldwide smash hit with Los Lobos covering his songs on the soundtrack. I liked Ritchie a lot, I really cared, but I can't say I loved him. Valens, whose real name was Richard Valenzuela, was a Mexican American who lived in a shack on the wrong side of town. Call (480) 699-7992 today! Valens purchased the home for his mother in 1958 and resided here until his death in 1959, which was the most productive period of his professional career. Asked why her personalized license plates on her late model Cadillac bear the words Hi-Tone, Mrs. Valenzuela confessed it came from one of Ritchies songs by the same name. Organizers said Ludwig-Coots had been invited to attend the ceremony. As a result, Keane controlled Richies music for years. He was never too busy for us. Omissions? "They got the Coke glasses just right. Yet hardly anyone in the Valenzuela family had met her before he died, and one of Valens' former business associates recently stated that Fox-Coots was little more than a casual acquaintance of Valens. Failed to subscribe, please contact admin. Connie Valenzuela said she plans to return soon to the Million Dollar Theater with her now grown daughters. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. She opens it to a glossy studio photograph of Valens. She died on 18 October 1987, in Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, California, USA. Richard Steven Valenzuela (May 13, 1941 - February 3, 1959), known professionally as Ritchie Valens, was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Mama lived to see her dream realized, that Ritchie We didnt want the memories brought back. As with Holly and Richardson, Valens suffered massive and unsurvivable head injuries along withblunt-force traumato the chest. While in high school, he used an electric guitar made in shop class to front a band and came to the attention of Bob Keane, owner of Del-Fi records, who produced the sessions at Gold Star Recording Studios that resulted in Valenss hits. My wife and I were thinking about our family and how we could help our two boys if anything were to happen to us. After checking the guns registration, it was discovered that he gun was registered for Buddy Holly. she says, totally absorbed. They began a drive to get Valens a star on the Walk of Fame as the ultimate recognition of his success. He did not abuse alcohol or smoke.. Stinky! He signed a record deal and soon dropped out of high school to pursue his music career. It was the same song Valens had sung to her over the telephone a year before, after they had decided to date other people. Ritchie's death left the world in shock. Estate Planning Frequently Asked Questions, Powers of Attorney & Healthcare Directives, Terminate Joint Tenancy With Survivorship, How Starting a New Job Can Affect Your Estate Plan, Estate Planning For Unmarried Couples: Why They Should Care, Estate Planning for Unmarried Partners: What You Need to Know, Creditors Threat Inherited Retirement Accounts: What You Need to Know, Protecting Your Retirement Accounts: Five Reasons to Do So Now, Pros and Cons of a Family Limited Partnership, Estate Planning Awareness Week: Having a Conversation with Your Family About Their Estate Plan, Estate Planning Lessons We Can Learn from Encanto. Connie Valenzuela said many of Ritchies early songs came from things around his barrio when the family lived in the San Fernando Valley community of Pacoima. Ritchie's mother, Concepcion "Connie" Valenzuela already had another son from a . (Note: this is a big lesson as to why everyone doing business should form an LLC or corporation!). Ritchie Valens In an all too brief career, Ritchie Valens was the first Chicano rock and roll star, having his best remembered hit, "La Bamba," just one month before his untimely death with Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper on February 3, 1959. . My husband and I hired Abby to prepare our estate plan. Youngest of all was a rising star of Chicano rock Latin Rock and Roll Ritchie Valens. His father was a crew chief in the U.S. Marine Corps. She says she'd love to tell the world what it's like to be a living legend, but says she's never really felt like one. a professional manager, a decision she would live to regret. "She's certainly got a story to tell. He saved many animated gels from Walt Disneys Buena Vistas studios when he worked briefly as a garbage collector, he said. He died of Prostate Cancer. But they could not explain her absence. At age 15, Ritchie Valens was a student at Pacoima Junior High School, now Pacoima Middle School. Ritchie Valens Registered User. Gil Rocha, leader of a rock group that Valens joined before going solo, said the singer was a pioneering influence on the many Latino musicians who came after him. She was the wife of Joseph Steven Valenzuela (18961952). Many claim that Richie didnt read the agreement he signed with Keane that stated how the royalties from his music were to be handled. 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. Ritchie Valens, original name Richard Stephen Valenzuela, (born May 13, 1941, Pacoima, California, U.S.died February 3, 1959, near Clear Lake, Iowa), American singer and songwriter and the first Latino rock and roll star. She and six of her friends were cruising the main drag in downtown San Fernando, in the white convertible her daddy had bought her, top down, radio blaring. 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 . Mark Montalbn: Who is Ricardo Montalbns son? My experience working with her was by far the best experience Ive had in working with an attorney. Her brother Bob passed in 2018. I was devastated. That crash also killed two Texas rockers, Buddy Holly and J. P. (The Big Bopper) Richardson. . His family is poor, and he works as a farm worker after school. An unveiling of the Ritchie Valens Memorial Highway will take place on Aug. 25 at Ritchie Valens Park in Pacoima. She feels strongly that Valens' recording company took financial advantage of the family after his death. We still have pictures in an album of the kids posed with a typical donkey. This was before CNN and all news radio, and before most newspapers . Although she had lived in Watsonville since 1962, Valenzuela sometimes spent time in the San Fernando Valley house north of Los Angeles that her son bought for her with his music earnings in 1958, Amezquita said. It took them eight days to send Ritchies body back from Iowa. With one legal battle behind them, Richies family soon faced another. Oh, I get a bit of money now and then. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. Alternate titles: Richard Stephen Valenzuela. Other pilots also recalled that Peterson also became confused easily and would have been a dangerous flight for Peterson. Unprepared for the sudden fame that Ritchies music generated, Connie Valenzuela was also completely unaware of the world of contracts and music rights. Our main focus is to keep you informed and updated with the latest trending issues. There are Bob Morales, Irma Norton, and Mario Ramirez. Connie Lemos father, Joe died at age 56 on 8 January 1952 in Los Angeles County, California. In the summer of 1986, New Visions (Taylor Hackfords film production company) began filming the story of Ritchies life, as written by Luis Valdez. I ultimately told him to forget about it, she said. And he was also a role model, Rocha said. After all, this 16-year-old kid was often out until midnight. licensing the rights to Ritchies name and image. ", Her name is Donna Fox-Coots now, and she manages a Cal Fed Mortgage branch in this Sacramento suburb. As there were several Richards around at that time, he took the name "Ritchie" for him. He was left-handed and eager to learn the guitar so he mastered the traditionally right-handed version of the instrument. I was not sweet and innocent, I was more of a hell-raiser. In the mid-1950s, the family moved to the Los Angeles suburb of Pacoima, where the teen-ager attended high school and began playing in a rock band. In the 1987 Ritchie Valens biopic La Bamba, Howard Huntsberry plays R&B singer Jackie Wilson and performs "Lonely Teardrops. "I was attracted to him because he was a nice man, er " She stops herself. Thank you to family friend Peterson David for his assistance in writing the biographies for the family. Many people couldnt believe that mere pilot error caused the death of three rock superstars. The absurdity of Fox-Coots' situation doesn't escape her. Ritchie signed the contract with the record label after his audition on May 27, 1958. He has American. Eddie Velez drove all night from Salt Lake City two nights ago to get a glimpse of Donna Ludwig-Coots at Fridays ceremony--as promised by the events organizers. She worked as a waitress, a farm worker, a bartender and a house cleaner. Her mother, Connie Valenzuela, had an unbilled role as Elderly Lady at Party.. 60. ALSO, READ; Anne Robin Morrison- Truth About Jim Morrisons sister. 2 minutes 37 seconds 20.5M. Just before her passing in 1987, she formed Hi-Tone Five Corporation for He didn't swear. His remains were buried at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California. . I had a 1950 Olds then. I got an insurance policy on his life. (Later, she collected double indemnity on that policy. Valens was only 17 years old. I feel kind of silly. Having seen the film several times now, both sisters have mixed emotions about the movie. At age 16, he got an invitation to be part of a local band, The Silhouettes, where he was a guitarist, and later the main vocalist. ", Fox-Coots cooperated with screen writer and director Luis Valdez in researching "La Bamba," but says she was "grossly offended" when she read the first draft of the screenplay. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. By GREGG BARRIOS. Watching bits of her youth flash onto the big screen has even brought back the old dreams. Richard Steven Valenzuela was born on 13 May 1941, in Pacoima, California, USA, of Mexican descent. The conversation seemed to have put her in a jovial mood. Another real-life incident handled differently in the film is when Morales takes Valens to a Tijuana brothel where Ritchie pays little attention to the ladies, but is fascinated by the musicians performing the traditional Mexican folk song, La Bamba. Valens was later to electrify and immortalize La Bamba in 1959 as the first Spanish-language song to make it onto the top 10 pop charts. He never was able to sell it. The tour conditions were miserable. . Pale and thin, she clutched a framed 8-by-10 picture of Valens hard against her chest. ALSO, READ; Isabella Patricia Phillips, Lou Diamond Phillips daughter. After many family difficulties and some trouble with the law, he finally matured and settled down. Bob Morales died on 15 September 2018, in Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, California, US, at age 81. But do you know that Keane presented me with a bill of $4,000 for Ritchies funeral? He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 2001. Her mother, Concepcion died on 18 October 1987in Santa Cruz, Californiaat the age of 72. I never knew all the problems poor Bob went through or all my mother had to put up with him at the time. Her memories are those of a 15-year-old. 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. Ritchie knew her, he said. He had four siblings, most notably his older brother, Bob Morales, who was portrayed as a bike riding enthusiast in the 1987 movie, La Bamba. Valens, whose real name was Richard Valenzuela, is considered to be the first Chicano to make it big in rock music. Connie Lemos: Facts About Ritchie Valens sister, Anne Robin Morrison- Truth About Jim Morrisons sister, Anita H Wisbey: Facts About Larry Lambs Ex-wife, Stella Huston: Facts About Danny Hustons Daughter, Alexandra Danielle Yeaggy: Facts About Melody Thomas Scotts Daughter, Emilia Merkell: Everything About Patsy Palmers Daughter. Ritchie Valens Wiki Biography. I had an excellent experience working with her and would recommend her enthusiastically to anyone I know. Ritchie Valens Collection Album 2021- The Best Of Thomas Anders - All Time Songs List Ritchie Valens. . Mamas strength and dignity are beautifully portrayed by Roseana DeSoto, A year later, at age 19, she married a musician who sang and played the guitar. Even the very young--who only know Valens music from oldies radio stations--professed their love. In a span of less than 18 months in 1958 and 59, his songs Donna, Come On, Lets Go, Thats My Little Susie and his rollicking version of La Bamba, the traditional Mexican folk song, made him a star. On the volar surface of the right forearm was a dark tatoo of initials "R.V." Deejays began playing a sappy spinoff song about her loss, "Letter to Donna" by a group called the Kittens. Connie was a child when her big brother lost his life in a plane crash, only hours after performing at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake with a group of musicians that included Buddy Holly and J.P. The Big Bopper Richardson. Well, he kept it in his garage after I lost Ritchie. She feels the film will be an inspiration for todays Latino youth. Ritchie Valens, original name Richard Stephen Valenzuela, (born May 13, 1941, Pacoima, California, U.S.died February 3, 1959, near Clear Lake, Iowa), American singer and songwriter and the first Latino rock and roll star. I originally wasnt going to play the album because it was too painful. Valens grew up in suburban Los Angeles in a family of Mexican and possibly Native American descent. 40th Anniversary of Buddy Holly's death and the 20th annual Buddy Holly Tribute. He asked his manager if a plane could be chartered to the next show in Fargo, North Dakota. Siena Natasha Ponce & Savanna Ala Ponce: Who Are Carlos Ponces Twin daughters? Also, he shortened his surname from Valenzuela to Valens. He often improvised new lyrics and added new riffs to popular songs while he was playing. I was pleased with your expertise, speed, and professionalism. I cried all the time and everyone pointed their finger at me. It was a nice, easy date.". When they (Keane and associates) came in to the mortuary, they brought copies of the album. 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. "I really can't believe this is happening again," the 45-year-old business executive says. Ritchie Valens mother shook her head. He was eight months into his music career. Only this time they're a little different. "No one has seen her since but everyone is looking for her," Mandheim says. So Id call up one of the deejays, because at that time they would sponsor dances. she left school in the sixth grade to help support her brothers and sisters. While we try to make this information as accurate and useful as possible, you should always consult a lawyer to discuss the application of the law to your specific circumstances. Birthdate: May 13, 1941 Family: Parents: Joseph Steve and Concepcion (Connie) Reyes Valenzuela, brothers Robert (Bobby) and Mario, sisters, Connie and Irma. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. She was reflective, if a little dim, about memories of her son, who died Feb. 3, 1959 in a plane crash during a snowstorm in Iowa. He was on tour with singer Buddy Holly and Texas disc jockey J. P. (The Big Bopper) Richardson when their small plane crashed in a frozen Iowa cornfield on Feb. 3, 1959, killing them. . In 1990, he posthumously . The masters of Valens recordings are owned by Keane in perpetuity, according to Keane, and he has licensed the rights to Rhino Records. He worked as a counselor in a drug/alcohol abuse program in the 70s and today is married with eight children and is self-employed as an upholsterer-mechanic. . She said his mentor and uncle Dickie Cota taught the boy how to strum a guitar and how to sing it in Spanish. They would date other people, but whenever he was in town they would be together. I hung up the phone and called my attorney. He made several hits, most notably "La Bamba" and "Donna". can still lift themselves up with willpower, a positive attitude, hard work, "It was a 360-degree shift from the first draft," she says. BMI sends me a statement. We bring to you daily trends in Ghana and all around the world. When Ritchie died, it broke their mother's heart, Lemos said. They sang her name anyway: . Ritchie was a singer, guitarist, and songwriter, best known for being one of the pioneers of rock 'n' roll. Donna remembers being summoned out of class to the principal's office at James Monroe High School, where the press snapped photographs of her. Richie didnt have a Will. He died ina plane crasheight months into his music career. When Fox-Coots reminisces about Valens it can seem as if a teen-ager is talking through an adult body. Legacy. They will also see that its OK to be sensitive, tender and care for their families, too., Connie Jr., a customer service rep for a local insurance company and the mother of two, summed up how she will always remember her brother Ritchie. I always thought you had really arrived when a film made it to that theater, she remembered. Theres a beat to it and you can sing along with the song. Ritchie Valens's Death Certificate. I guess thats good enough.. Once, I called Art Laboe and told him it was time to get the guys home. . Kelley James Donoho: Facts About Holly Marie Combs Son. "Of course," she says, "no one believed them. Ritchie, who was a native of San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, hopped on a plane from an airport in Mason City, Iowa on February 3, 1959. "We used to argue about that. BOB MORALES - Ritchie Valen's Older Brother Full interview by Sal Guitarez at Pacoima Jr. High 1985 Show more Show more Donna And Peggy Sue, Buddy Holly & Ritchie Valens Volk 2.6M views 16. ", In "La Bamba," actress Danielle Von Zerneck portrays Donna as a giggly, rather demure schoolgirl. Ritchie January 1959, The Winter Dance Party Tour, MN. Her mother, Concepcion died on 18 October 1987 in Santa Cruz, California at the age of 72. He signed a record deal and soon dropped out of high school to pursue his music career. Donna . . . He was raised hearing traditional Mexican mariachi music, as well as flamenco guitar, rhythm and blues, and jump blues. 1 on the Billboard pop chart. owner of several businesses. That created more rumors that someone had gotten shot on the plane, namely the pilot. February 3, 1959, has gone down in history (and a Don McLean song) as "the day the music died."Rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper" J.P Richardson were killed in a plane crash alongside pilot Roger Peterson on this fateful day.Eerily, singer Ritchie Valens, who perished in this accident, had an intense fear of flying and suffered from recurring . Ritchie Valens was born Richard Steven Valenzuela on May 13, 1941, and grew up in the San Fernando Valley suburb of Pacioma, California. You know Bob Keane has controlled Ritchies music for all these years. Instead, they sent him on a train to San Fernando. It's no accident that Fox-Coots doesn't list her father among her dear ones. and amazing insight. However, others believe that the candy bars were just for a singers sweet tooth. When did Connie Valenzuela pass away? She rocks to the left, and rocks to the right described her. Another, Hurry Up, came from an expression that Valenzuela said she used to get her kids to do chores. Concepcions son Ritchie Valens was a rock and roll pioneer and a forefather of the Chicano rock movement. "See his hair in this picture?" After his father's death, Lou was adopted by his mother's second husband and he took his surname, Phillips. "I had a girl," Ritchie Valens crooned, "Donna was her name ". Connie Lemos is the sister of Ritchie Valens. Just before her passing in 1987, she formed Hi-Tone Five Corporation for View the original document, from of findadeath.com. I really dont understand the things that they say in todays music.. Robert and Ritchie. Finally, Buddy Holly had enough. She doesn't believe she rates a place in pop history. We had gone to Tijuana several times on a family trip with all the kids. But how did Valens end up on this plane? He later attended San Fernando High School. By age five Ritchie Valens had an interest in making his own music. Not all of the Valenzuela familys memories are quite as pleasant. She moved in with his sister Connie, but disappeared two months later. While quoted fees are appropriate for many clients, some may require additional services. Their tragic death is known as The Day the Music Died. She listened to our concerns, made great suggestions, and was an absolute pleasure to work with. "Sleep Walk" is an instrumental steel guitar-based song recorded and released in 1959 by brothers Santo & Johnny. Rumors abounded that one of the stars had run out of drugs and feigning for a fix. Name: Ritchie Valens (birth name: Richard Stephen Valenzuela) Ritchie was nicknamed "The Little Richard of the San Fernando Valley". . Also on board were Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. He is also the father of the Chicano rock movement, and all of his efforts helped put his net worth to . He was something special. Bob Morales, Ritchies older stepbrother, interrupted. She grew up to be a strong, intelligent woman with great perseverance The woman, Diane Olson, showed up at Valens' funeral and told his family they'd been engaged. Along with Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens was one of the first guitarists to play on a Fender Stratocaster. Music sheet with photo of Ritchie, "Donna" She was 72 years old when she died. Though his career and life were short, Ritchie Valens' influence on culture has been . I wanted to see more about my brother Ritchies career. She's only consented to a few interviews, she says, and then only because she wanted to promote "La Bamba" for the Valenzuela family, which is receiving a percentage of the film's profits. Over the July 4 weekend, La Bamba had a hometown preview for Valens family and neighbors at the Fox Theater here, a typical Art Deco-styled movie house from the 30s that usually plays Spanish-language films today. Ritchie Valens was pure, Rocha said. When Keanes partner, the late Herb Montie, contacted her about a managing contract for her son, Ritchie was already playing clubs and being recorded by Keane. 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. Apart from Ritchie Valens, Connie had three other siblings. Their daughters, Gloria and Kristin, play their own mothers (Ritchies sisters) as young girls in other scenes. So why would Peterson make the flight? The demands of his career forced him to drop out of high school. He performed the Little Richard-inspired Ooh! A rock and roll pioneer and a forefather of the Chicano rock movement, . Ritchie Valens made his performing debut with The Silhouettes on October 19, 1957. And you can understand what hes saying. The performers were shuttled from venue to venue on school buses that lacked heat in the bitterly cold Midwest weather. The release of "La Bamba," the summer movie celebrating Valens' short life, assures her a permanent footnote in the history of pop culture. We just sat there looking at each other amazed.. In fact, songs still reference "The day the music died" even today, leaving Valens' family to carry on his legacy.