Rolling Stone: Ritchie Valens Musical in the Works From Los Lobos’ Louie Perez and David Hidalgo
It was described as the “Day the Music Died.” Over 50 years ago, on February 3, 1959, three of the country’s top rock & roll stars — Ritchie Valens, J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, and Buddy Holly — died in a plane crash. The tragedy reshaped the music world and, although Valens was just 17 years old, he’s had a lasting impact on pop music. Along with his hit song “La Bamba,” Valens also had the Billboard Hot 100 hit “Donna,” which peaked at Number Two after his death.
Most people came to know Valens’ story after the La Bamba biopic was released in 1987. Starring Lou Diamond Phillips as Valens and Esai Morales as his troubled half-brother Bob, it helped bring Los Lobos’ cover of his signature song to Number One. And Valens was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Now, a musical is in the works that hopes to bring the doomed Fifties teen rocker’s story to an entirely new generation.