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Ritchie Valens' mom, Connie Valenzuela, passed in 1987. Ritchie's death left the world in shock. In fact, songs still reference "The day the music died" even today, leaving Valens' family to carry on his legacy.
Pictured from left to right: Olga Jurado-Zubick, Ritchie’s cousin; Gail Smith, Ritchie’s classmate and president of the Ritchie Valens Memorial Fan Club; Paulina Lozano, sister of Ritchie’s aunt Ernestine; Ritchie’s mother Connie, better known a “Concha”; Donna Ludwig-Fox; and unknown young woman.
Ritchie Steven was born Richard Steven Valenzuela on 13 May 1941 in Pacoima, Los Angeles, California, United States. His parents were José Esteban Valenzuela (father) and Concepción 'Concha' Reyes (mother). Valens' father died in 1952 when the singer was 11 years old, while his mother died in 1987.
The teenager with the short but storied career in the late 1950s is known internationally and throughout history as Ritchie Valens, but that is not the performer's real name. Born and raised in California's San Fernando Valley by Mexican-American parents, his birth name was Ricardo Esteban Valenzuela Reyes.
Ritchie was Connie’s everything – her father figure, her brother, and her friend. She idolized Ritchie and his death devastated the quiet eight-year old. It hurt so much that Connie didn’t talk about him or listen to his music for years. In the early 1980’s Connie came to a crossroad in her life.
She, being the younger sister of Ritchie Valens, has had to live it in real time. Valens, who currently resides in northwest Iowa, sat down with ListenIowa to give an inner perspective as to what it truly was like before — and after — that fateful night in Clear Lake.
Connie Valens, younger sister of rock and roll legend Ritchie Valens visited Red Rock Center for the Arts in Fairmont on Tuesday to discuss her brother, and how losing him affected her family. Ritchie Valens had several hits in his eight-month career.
The son of Joseph Steven Valenzuela (1896–1952) and Concepción "Concha" Reyes (1915–1987), he had two half-brothers, Robert "Bob" Morales (1937–2018) and Mario Ramirez, and two younger sisters, Connie and Irma. Valenzuela was brought up hearing traditional Mexican mariachi music, as well as flamenco guitar, [7] R&B, and jump blues.
Family: father: Joseph Steven Valenzuela. mother: Concepcion Valenzuela. siblings: Bob Morales, Connie Lemos, Irma Norton, Mario Ramirez. Born Country: United States. Died Young Guitarists. Height: 5'7" (170 cm), 5'7" Males. Died on: February 3, 1959. place of death: Clear Lake, Iowa, United States. Ancestry: Mexican American.
Early Life. Born Richard Steven Valenzuela on May 13, 1941, in Pacoima, California, Valens made history as rock music's first Latino star. Growing in Pacoima, Valens developed a love of music...