Tribute: The Day the Music Died
Ritchie Valens was a Mexican-American singer and songwriter. He recorded numerous hits during his short career, most notably the 1958 hit "La Bamba." Valens died at age 17 in a plane crash with fellow musicians Buddy Holly and J. P. Richardson on February 3, 1959, a day later called The Day the Music Died by Don McLean in his song "American Pie."