Berman Joins Push for Valens Nomination
U.S. Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Mission Hills) has joined in an effort to nominate Ritchie Valens for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
The congressman has sent a letter to the nominating committee in New York. Valens, a Pacoima native, was a popular entertainer in the late 1950s with such hit songs as “Donna” and “La Bamba,” which was the basis of a 1987 movie of the same name starring Lou Diamond Phillips, with the title song rerecorded by Los Lobos.
In 1958, Bob Keane of Del-Fi Records heard Valens, then 16, sing and signed him to a recording contract.
“I think it’s wonderful,” Keane said Friday. “Valens is an international icon and the song ‘La Bamba’ is a phenomenon. We’ll get him in there [the Hall of Fame].”
Born Richard Steven Valenzuela, the pop star was only 17 when he died in a plane crash in February 1959 along with singers Buddy Holly and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson.
Last year Pacoima residents signed postcards and petitions urging the Hall of Fame’s nominating committee members to induct Valens, but that effort failed.
Musicians are eligible to enter the Hall of Fame 25 years after their musical debut.
Valens was the first and most successful in a series of Latino rock stars, including Eddie Quinteros and Cannibal and the Headhunters.
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