By Judy Cantor-Navas – Billboard.com – Image Not Credited.
Image: Ritchie Valens.
Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba” is on this year’s list of new inductees into the U.S. Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. Valens, a first generation Mexican American and California native who spoke little Spanish, adapted a Mexican son jarocho into an infectious rock-and-roll song when he was just 17 years-old. Released in 1958, the infectious hit marked a milestone for Spanish-language music when it reached Billboard’s top 40 in 1959, just before Valens died in the airplane crash that also killed Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper.
