“American Pie” the song by Don McLean was an absolute reference to the day the music died, the night of February 3rd, 1959; that was the night Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens died tragically in a plane crash a few miles from their departure, Clear Lake, IA.
One of those that perished that night, Ritchie Valens will receive one of DOT’s highest honors this August 25th as a portion of the 5 Freeway running through Ritchie’s hometown of Pacoima, California will re-named “Ritchie Valens Memorial Highway.” Scheduled to appear at the ceremony are Ritchie’s brother Mario and cousin Ernie.
Ritchie Valens (born Richard Valenzuela ) was one of the original teenage heart throbs, as he was ony 17 when scoring the hit “La Bamba.” Ritchie would be dead just 4 months after the song topped the charts.
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