Richard Steven Valenzuela, also known as Ritchie Valens, was a groundbreaking musician who rose to fame as the "California Kid" from a humble background of poverty-stricken fruit pickers. As one of the pioneers of "Latino rock," he made an indelible mark on the music industry before his untimely death at the age of 17.
Valens' meteoric career spanned a mere eight months, during which he managed to score an impressive three hits with "Come On Let's Go," "Donna," and "La Bamba." Tragically, his life was cut short when he perished in a plane crash on February 3, 1959, alongside Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper.
In the years following Valens' death, associate producer Daniel Valdez embarked on a two-and-a-half-year quest to locate the musician's family, finally discovering them living just 15 minutes away from his own residence. After spending months delving into Valens' life and legacy, Valdez wrote a script that he presented to the family for their approval before commencing production.
The role of Ritchie Valens was ultimately portrayed by 25-year-old newcomer Lou Diamond Phillips, who underwent a remarkable transformation to capture the musician's essence. Phillips gained 15 pounds to achieve a chubbier facial structure and honed his singing and guitar-playing skills after passing the audition.
During the filming of the biopic, Phillips found love on set with production assistant Julie Cyphers, who would later become his wife.
