Ritchie Valens - Ritchie Valens Story (1993)

Ritchie Valens (Richard Steven Valenzuela; May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist.

A rock and roll pioneer and a forefather of the CHICANO ROCK movement, Valens' recording career lasted only eight months. During this time, however, he scored several hits, most notably "La Bamba", which was originally a Mexican folk song that Valens transformed with a rock rhythm and beat that became a hit in 1958, making Valens a pioneer of the Spanish-speaking rock and roll movement.

On February 3, 1959, on what has become known as The Day the Music Died, Valens was killed in a small-plane crash in Iowa, a tragedy that also claimed the lives of fellow musicians Buddy Holly and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson....

Although The Ritchie Valens Story contains four of Valens' hits ("La Bamba," "Donna," "Come On, Let's Go," "That's My Little Suzie") some famous tracks, like "Ooh! My Head," are not here. The bulk of the disc consists of seven demos that were previously unavailable in America and a 21-minute narration by Valens' producer Bob Keane, who also compiled the album. Hardcore fans will need this for the demos...

01. Narration of Ritchie Valens' Story - As Told By Bob Keane, Producer And Manager Of Ritchie Valens.
02. Boney Maronie
03. Come On, Let's Go (Demo)
04. Come On, Let's Go
05. That's My Little Suzie (Demo)
06. Rock Little Darlin' (Demo)
07. Bluebirds Over The Mountain (Demo)
08. La Bamba (Gold Star Recording Session)
09. Let's Rock & Roll (Demo)
10. Donna (Demo)
11. Summertime Blues (Live)
12. In A Turkish Town (Demo)
13. Paddiwack Wong
14. Big Baby Blues (B-Side)
15. Malaguena (Demo)
16. Stay Beside Me
17. Ritchie Doing Commercial For Winter Dance Party, Followed By Radio Announcer From Des Moines, Iowa, February 4, 1959, The Day After The Fatal Plane Crash
18. La Bamba (B-Side of "Donna")