Ritchie Valens was a well-known American professional guitarist, singer, and songwriter who is credited with bringing Mexican tunes into the mainstream.

Ritchie Valens’s Age, Bio

Ritchie Valens was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter who was born Richard Steven Valenzuela on May 13, 1941, in Pacoima, Los Angeles, California. He lived to be 81 years old and was noted for his distinct musical style. Ritchie was an American citizen who was born under the Taurus zodiac sign and practiced Christianity.

Ritchie was the son of Mexican immigrants José Esteban Valenzuela and Concepción “Concha” Reyes. His siblings included two older brothers, Roberto “Bob” Morales, and Mario Ramirez, as well as two younger sisters, Connie and Irma. Ritchie became interested in music after hearing traditional Mexican mariachi music. Despite being left-handed, he was able to master the right-handed version of the guitar.

Ritchie boarded a plane in Mason City after performing at Clear Lake on February 3, 1959. The jet crashed barely minutes after takeoff, killing all three passengers as well as the pilot. The crash’s cause is yet unknown. Ritchie was only 18 years old when he was killed.

Ritchie Valens’s Height And Weight

Ritchie Valens was well-known for his excellent looks, and he was a tall man for his day, at 5 feet 7 inches (1.7 meters) tall. He weighed approximately 75 kg (165 pounds). He had black hair and grey eyes, which contributed to his distinct and attractive appearance.

Ritchie Valens’s Career

Ritchie Valens began his career as a guitarist and singer, and he was noted for his improvisational abilities and ability to incorporate new riffs into the music he sang. He was extremely popular in high school, earning the nickname “the Little Richard of San Fernando” from his peers.

Del-Fi Records owner Bob Keane recognized Ritchie’s potential after seeing him perform at a cinema theater in San Fernando. Keane, who was impressed by his performance, offered him to audition in his basement recording studio. Del-Fi Records signed Ritchie to a contract. He chose the moniker Ritchie and shortened his surname from Valenzuela to Valens because there were already other artists named Richard.

Ritchie Valens’s Net worth

Ritchie Valens’ net worth was reported to be $500,000 at the time of his death. That he had amassed such a significant sum of money in such a short period of time.

Ritchie Valens’s Girlfriend & Relationship

Ritchie Valens had a love relationship with his high school girlfriend Donna Ludwig. He loved her so much that he created a great song for her called “Donna,” which was released in 1958 and became a big smash.

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