Richard Steven Valenzuela would have been 83 years old today, had he not become part of the story entitled, “The Day the Music Died.” We, of course, know him by his stage name – Richie Valens.

In May of 1958, Bob Keane of Del-Fi Records was told about a high school singer who students called “The Little Richard of San Fernando.” This peaked his interest and he went to see him perform. Keane invited Richard to his home to audition for him. After that first audition, Keane signed him to Del-Fi on May 14, 1958. At this point, the musician took the name “Ritchie” because, as Keane said, “There were a bunch of ‘Richards’ around at that time, and I wanted it to be different.” Similarly, he recommended shortening his surname to “Valens” from Valenzuela to widen his appeal beyond any obvious ethnic group.

The first song that Ritchie recorded at a session shortly after being signed was Come On, Let’s Go. Our song for today. But I am getting ahead of myself.

Ritchie’s story was told in the 1987 biographical film, La Bamba, which starred Lou Diamond Phillips as Valens. Marshall Crenshaw played Buddy Holly, Stephen Lee was the Big Bopper, and Brian Setzer makes a cameo as Eddie Cochran. Some of Ritchie Valens’ family even had roles in the film.

The film was well received and Roger Ebert said that he liked the film and the screenplay and writing: “This is a good small movie, sweet and sentimental, about a kid who never really got a chance to show his stuff. The best things in it are the most unexpected things: the portraits of everyday life, of a loving mother, of a brother who loves and resents him, of a kid growing up and tasting fame and leaving everyone standing around at his funeral shocked that his life ended just as it seemed to be beginning.”

The soundtrack consists of many Ritchie covers done by Los Lobos as well as well as Howard Huntsberry (who played Jackie Wilson in the film), Bo Diddly and Brian Setzer. A second soundtrack was released 1988 with more music from the movie.

Los Lobos did a fantastic job capturing Ritchie Valens’ essence and his songs are fairly true to the originals. While La Bamba will forever be the song Richie is remembered for, Come On, Let’s Go was always my favorite. So for Movie Music Monday, let’s here Los Lobos’ version.

Valens’ story (like that of Buddy Holly and other singers who died young) leaves us wondering “What if ….?” His was a talent taken much too soon.