VALENS' SUPPORTERS SEEK NOMINATION TO HALL OF FAME;BANDS TO HONOR LATINO POP STAR.Byline: Luz Villarreal Daily News Staff Writer Ritchie Valens Ritchie Valens (born Ricardo Steven Valenzuela, May 13 1941 – February 3 1959) was a pioneer of rock and roll and a forefather to the Latin Rock movement. Career , the rock 'n' roll rock 'n' roll: see rock music. legend behind the song ``La Bamba La Bamba can refer to:
Now, Valens' family, friends and a record company want to see the rocker inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, dedicated to recording the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, and other people who have in some major way influenced the music industry, particularly in and Museum in Cleveland. They hope this weekend's third annual Ritchie Valens May Festival at Ritchie Valens Recreation Center will spur the effort. ``He was the first Latino rock star to cross over to pop culture,'' said Chuck Chavoor, the park's director. ``The hit song `La Bamba' is still played today. Add that all up and I think he's worthy of being in the Hall of Fame.'' The effort to get Valens inducted into the Hall of Fame began in 1995. So far, organizers estimate 5,000 cards supporting Valens' induction have been collected. They hope to send the cards - and those collected at the three-day festival beginning today - to the Hall of Fame in the near future to put pressure on the nominating committee A nominating committee is a group formed usually from inside the membership of an organization for the purpose of nominating candidates for office within the organization. It works similarly to an electoral college, the main difference being that the available candidates, either . Nominations are usually made every summer. ``It's ridiculous they don't have him in there,'' said Bob Keane Bob Keane, born Robert Kuhn on January 5, 1922 in Manhattan Beach, California, is a musician, producer and owner of the record label Del-Fi Records. He is perhaps best known for being the producer and manager of Ritchie Valens. , who was Valens' manager and is now president of Del-Fi Records Del-Fi Records was a record label owned by Bob Keane. The labels first single released was "Caravan" by Henri Rose released in 1958; however, the label was most famous for signing Ritchie Valens. Valens first single for the label was "Come On Let's Go" which was a big hit. , Valens' label. ``They don't have any Latin rock 'n' roll stars that have achieved the stature,'' Keane said. No Latino solo artist has ever been inducted to the Hall of Fame, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a spokesman for the museum. Ritchie Valens was born Richard Valenzuela in 1941. In his short eight-month career, Valens had three songs in the top 100 charts. ``Donna'' was the No. 2 song in the nation at the time of his death in 1959. He died at age 17 in a plane crash along with Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper. The festival at 10736 Laurel Canyon Boulevard Laurel Canyon Boulevard is a major street in the city of Los Angeles, California. It starts off at Polk Street in Sylmar in the northern San Fernando Valley near the junction of the San Diego (Interstate 405) and the Golden State Freeways (Interstate 5). began three years ago to celebrate Valens' May 13 birthday. This year, festival organizers hope to attract more residents by highlighting 12 local bands and three dance troupes over a two-day period beginning tonight from 6 to 10 p.m. All the live entertainment is free and is performed inside the park gymnasium. Two films - ``La Bamba'' and ``Space Jam'' - will also be shown Saturday at noon and 2 p.m. inside the recreation building. The goal behind the festival is to keep Valens' memory alive and to promote music among youths by showcasing local talent, said Daniel Rodriguez, festival organizer and assistant director of community events for Los Angeles City Recreation and Parks. He is among those trying to start a Ritchie Valens Youth Foundation, which would sponsor a rock 'n' roll summer camp. The idea is to provide instruments to local youth and to recruit local musicians as instructors. ``I'm trying to inspire youth, get them to say, hey, if they can do it, I can do it,'' Rodriguez said. Fliers promoting the festival, the youth foundation and the effort to have Valens inducted into the Hall of Fame were mailed to 33,000 households in Pacoima, Arleta, San Fernando and Sylmar. For event information, call the park (818) 834-5172. Valens' aunt Ernestine Reyes, who lives in Pacoima, said she continues to receive mail from fans who want to know more about the rock star and support him being inducted into the Cleveland museum. ``It's beautiful to know they still remember Ritchie,'' she said. ``For being the first Chicano rocker, he's got everything, except for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.'' Valens was nominated once, but he never made the cut, said Bryan Thomas, director of publicity for Del-Fi Records. A musician is eligible for nomination after their first record is 25 years old. Artists are chosen on a basis of their contributions and influence on rock 'n' roll. More than 1,000 people in the music industry vote on the nominees, said Elizabeth Freund, a publicist for the Hall of Fame Foundation and Museum. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Ritchie Valens Legend from Pacoima |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion