Ritchie Valens’ family says new biography tells ‘the real story’

San Diego Union Tribune

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Ritchie Valens was rescued from darkness by the 1987 film, La Bamba, which finally put the story of Southern California teenager ahead of Buddy Holly and Big Bopper, the two older singers who died in the same air crash of February 3, 1959. The film became a cultural landmark. However, the books on Valens have been scarce. The only biography until then was Ritchie Valens, the first Latin rocker (1987), from Beverly Mendheim, who fought to turn hi…