The Life of / La vida de Richie by Patty Rodriguez, Ariana Stein

Born May 13, 1941, Ritchie Valens was a Mexican-American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His musical journey at age 5 when his father encouraged him to take up guitar. In high school, he made his performing debut with the band The Silhouettes. At 17, Ritchie recorded his final record, which included classics like "Donna" and "La Bamba". That record went on to sell over one million copies. To this day, Ritchie Valens' music lives on in the hearts of many!