Ritchie Valens Benefit Raises $6,000

The tribute to Ritchie Valens at the Country Club in Reseda raised more than $6,000 for music classes and scholarships on his behalf, according to Salvador Guitarez, who organized last weekend’s event.

About 400 tickets at $15 each were sold for the benefit, with the money going to underprivileged youth in San Fernando and Pacoima, Guitarez said. The Ritchie Valens Committee is scheduled to meet this month to discuss how the funds will be distributed. Among community organizations likely to benefit are Pacoima Junior High School, San Fernando High School and the Pacoima Boys & Girls Club.

Guitarez said he hopes to teach free summer guitar classes at those locations.

“The show was a clear sign that the Ritchie Valens spirit is still alive and that we now have the opportunity to do more than inspire,” he said. “We can help the kids from these cities stay off the streets.”

Interest in Valens has been steady since the 1987 movie “La Bamba” chronicled his meteoric rise to fame with such tunes as “Donna” and “Come On, Let’s Go.” Valens, along with Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper, died in a 1959 plane crash. He was only 17.

Performers at the benefit included Dick Dale, a surf guitarist who played with Valens; Bobby Cochran, nephew of singer Eddie Cochran, and Ernie Valens, the young singer’s first cousin. Guitarez said the committee hopes to have a huge event in 1991 marking Valens’ 50th birthday.

The third annual Hollywood Hills Blues Festival will be June 10 and 11 at the John Anson Ford Theatre in Hollywood.

The festival’s lineup: Albert Collins, an electric blues guitarist who has appeared on TV commercials and performed at this year’s presidential inaugural festivities, entitled “Celebration for Young Americans: A Tribute to Rhythm & Blues”; violinist Papa John Creach, who played with the Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna; guitarist Smokey Wilson, and Taj Mahal, who plays piano, banjo and harmonica. Mahal came to prominence in the 1960s with the group the Rising Sons.

“For a while, it didn’t look like I’d have everybody,” said Bernie Pearl, the festival’s artistic director. “But we’ll have some of the top people of all time.”

Tickets are $15 to $25. They can be obtained at Ticketmaster outlets, Lamar’s Records in Long Beach and Rhino Records in Westwood.

On Saturday at BeBop Records in Reseda, singer/songwriter Laura Zambo of the Life Is Grand Band will perform solo. Zambo, accompanied only by her guitar, will sing songs that mainly focus on contemporary relationships. The show begins at 8 p.m. A $5 donation is requested.

On June 2 and 3, English singer June Tabor will perform at McCabe’s in Santa Monica. Tabor, who recently covered the 10,000 Maniacs’ song, “Verdi Cries,” will be backed by pianist Huw Warren.

On Friday, Cafe Largo in the Fairfax District will hold Cabaret Satyricon, an evening of cabaret entertainment featuring singers, musicians and comedians. Scheduled to perform are Weba Garretson, Mary Jean, Walter Zooi and Lauran Hoffman. Mary Jean, of the Holy Sisters of the Gaga-Dada, will perform heavy metal songs on the accordion.

The show is reminiscent, co-owner Jean-Pierre Boccara said, of previous nights at Club Lhasa and Lhasaland. “This is stuff close to my heart,” he said.

The show begins at 10:30 p.m. and costs $10. Tickets are available at the door.