Ritchie Valens Net Worth

May 2024 · 9 minute read

Ritchie Valens net worth is
$500 Thousand

Ritchie Valens Wiki Biography

Richard Steven Valenzuela was born on 13 May 1941, in Pacoima, California, USA, of Mexican descent. Ritchie was a singer, guitarist, and songwriter, best known for being one of the pioneers of rock ‘n’ roll. He is also the father of the Chicano rock movement, and all of his efforts helped put his net worth to where it was before his untimely death.

How rich was Ritchie Valens? As of late-2016, sources inform us of a net worth that was at $500,000, mostly earned through a successful career in the music industry. He had several hits, including “La Bamba” which was released in 1958. He is a member of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, and his death is known as “The Day the Music Died”. All of his achievements ensured the position of his wealth.

Ritchie Valens Net Worth $500,000

While growing up, Valens listened to a lot of mariachi, flamenco, blues and R&B muisic. He expressed his intentions of making his own music at a young age, and was encouraged by his father to learn the guitar, but he also learned the trumpet and the drums. At the age of 16, he joined his first band called the Silhouettes as a guitarist. When their vocalist left the group, he became the main vocalist and they made their debut with him as a singer in 1957. He attended Pacoima Junior High School and would perform with his friends there.

He became very popular especially due to his improvisational skills. He had the nickname “Little Richard of San Fernando” and would later attract the attention of Bob Keane. He invited Ritchie to an audition, and the singer was then signed to Del-Fi records. He took the name Ritchie to differ himself from all the other “Richies” in the music industry. He later did demos and recorded some songs to improve his skills, and was then given a chance to record with a full band, which created “Framed” and “Come On, Let’s Go”. The songs were a huge success, and it led to another record that featured “La Bamba”, which would sell over a million copies, but would be his final recording.

In 1958, Valens quit high school and started touring around the United States. He had a fear of flying airplanes due to witnessing an accident at a young age, however, later on he would overcome his fear and started to fly to various locations such as Hawaii. He also took a part in the movie “Go Johnny Go!” in a cameo appearance. In 1959, he was traveling the Midwest on a rock ‘n’ roll tour called “The Winter Dance Party”. The tour proved difficult as it was very cold and it led to a lot of the touring members to become sick. This led to some of the group deciding to travel using a small plane. After the plane took off, it would crash just a few minutes later, apparently because of bad weather, which Valens did not survive.

For his personal life, Ritchie died at 18 so never married. February 3 is known as “The Day the Music Died” coinciding with the day of the accident. The song “American Pie” by Don McLean was written as a tribute to Valens. A lot of future artists would be inspired by Ritchie, including Carlos Santana, Los Lonely Boys, and Los Lobos. His nephew Ernie Valens, also toured worldwide to sing his hit songs. In 2001, he was inducted to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.


Full NameRitchie Valens
Net Worth$500 Thousand
Date Of BirthMay 13, 1941
DiedFebruary 3, 1959, Clear Lake, Iowa, United States
Place Of BirthLynwood, California, United States
Height5 ft 6 in (1.7 m)
ProfessionSinger
NationalityAmerican
ParentsJoseph Steven Valenzuela, Concepcion Valenzuela
SiblingsConnie Lemos, Bob Morales, Mario Ramirez, Irma Norton
NicknamesRichie Valens , Valens, Ritchie , Richard Steven Valenzuela
IMDBhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0884023/
Allmusichttp://www.allmusic.com/artist/ritchie-valens-mn0000279141
AwardsGrammy Hall of Fame
NominationsGrammy Award for Song of the Year
TV ShowsThe Music Shop
#Fact
1Following his untimely death, he was interred at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, California.
2On December 27, 1958, he appeared on The Dick Clark Show (1958), live from New York City from 7:30 - 8pm. Also on that show were Jackie Wilson, The Crests, Jimmy Clanton and The Diamonds. At that time, Ritchie and others were also appearing at the Lowe's State Theater, as part of Alan Freed's 10 day holiday show. After their performances on "The Dick Clark Show", at the Little Theater, Ritchie and the other performers traveled a few city blocks, within New York City's Times Square area for their nightly revue at the Lowe's State Theater.
3In the trailer for Go, Johnny, Go! (1959), he is seen briefly performing on stage, with no sound. In the actual film, he is performing "Ooh My Head" in a coffee shop. This may suggest that another song was left on "the cutting room floor".
4His appearance in Go, Johnny, Go! (1959) filmed sometime in 1958, appears to have been filmed prior to his recordings of "Donna" and "Come On, Let's Go" as he is singing in the style of Little Richard. He had not yet adapted his own vocal style that he used on his later 1958 recordings. Interestingly, "Framed", the B-side to "Come On, Let's Go", is a reworking of Little Richard's "Miss Ann", but there Ritchie sounds more like the Ritchie Valens that we came to know.
5Early in his career, Bruce Johnston, later of The Beach Boys, was a fellow band member. The Beach Boys have credited Ritchie as one of their influences.
6He was posthumously awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6733 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on May 11, 1990 (two days before what would have been his 49th birthday).
7At the time of his death, he had a two-sided hit, "Donna" (US #2) / "La Bamba" (US #22). The only time a singing star, in the rock era, had a top 10 hit at the exact time of his/her death.
8Is mentioned in the song "Life Is a Rock But the Radio Rolled Me" by Reunion.
9Parents were Steven Valenzuela and Connie Valenzuela.
10Attended Pacoima Junior High School (now Pacoima Middle School).
11Had a fear of flying after his best friend was killed when two airplanes collided, and the wreckage fell on him.
12Despite having his most popular hit with "La Bamba", an adaptation of a Mexican folk song, Valens did not speak Spanish.
13Posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.
14Was one of the performers featured on a set of stamps of rock and blues legends issued by the United States Postal Service in June 1993.
15Released his first single "Come On, Let's Go" in 1958.
16His hit song "Donna" was named after his high school sweetheart Donna Ludwig.
17Died in a plane crash at age 17 along with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper (Jiles Perry Richardson).
18Born at 12:56am-PDT

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Idol2005TV Series writer - 1 episode
Singapore Idol2004TV Series writer - 1 episode
White Chicks2004writer: "La Bamba"
Cesko hledá SuperStar2004TV Series writer - 1 episode
Hrvatski Idol2004TV Series writer - 1 episode
Monsieur Ibrahim2003performer: "La Bamba"
Stars in Their Eyes Kids2002TV Series writer - 1 episode
Deuces Wild2002performer: "Come On, Let's Go" / writer: "Come On, Let's Go"
That '70s Show2001TV Series performer - 1 episode
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The Early Years (1955-1970)2000TV Movie documentary performer: "Ooh My Head" / writer: "Ooh My Head"
Committed2000/Iperformer: "Donna" / writer: "Donna"
Hinter Gittern - Der FrauenknastTV Series arranger - 1 episode, 1999 performer - 1 episode, 1999
Music from Another Room1998writer: "Come On Let's Go"
Stars in Their Eyes1995TV Series writer - 1 episode
A Low Down Dirty Shame1994arranger: "LA BAMBA"
There Goes My Baby1994writer: "La Bamba"
Marienhof1992TV Series arranger - 1 episode
That Night1992performer: "COME ON LET'S GO" / writer: "COME ON LET'S GO"
Beverly Hills, 90210TV Series performer - 1 episode, 1991 writer - 1 episode, 1991
Revenge1990/Iarranger: "La Bamba" / performer: "La Bamba"
Quantum LeapTV Series performer - 2 episodes, 1990 writer - 2 episodes, 1990
She's Out of Control1989performer: "La Bamba" - as Richie Valens / writer: "La Bamba" - as Richie Valens
Young Love: Lemon Popsicle 71987arranger: "La Bamba" / performer: "La Bamba"
Hill Street Blues1987TV Series arranger - 1 episode
La Bamba1987arranger: "La Bamba" / lyrics: "Ooh! My Head", "The Paddi Wack Song", "Come On, Let's Go", "Donna", "I Got a Gal Named Sue That's My Little Suzie" / music: "Ooh! My Head", "The Paddi Wack Song", "Come On, Let's Go", "Donna", "I Got a Gal Named Sue That's My Little Suzie"
MoonlightingTV Series performer - 2 episodes, 1986 - 1987 writer - 2 episodes, 1986 - 1987
Tin Men1987performer: "La Bamba" / writer: "La Bamba"
The Money Pit1986arranger: "LA BAMBA" / performer: "LA BAMBA"
Christine1983performer: "Come On, Let's Go" / writer: "Come On, Let's Go"
The Right Stuff1983writer: "La Bamba"
Exposed1983arranger: "La Bamba" / performer: "La Bamba"
Losin' It1983arranger: "La Bamba" / performer: "La Bamba"
Shifshuf Naim1981arranger: "La Bamba" / performer: "La Bamba"
Rock 'n' Roll High School1979writer: "C'mon Let's Go"
Good Old Days Part II1978TV Special performer: "Donna" / writer: "Donna"
Grease1978performer: "La Bamba" / writer: "La Bamba"
American Hot Wax1978arranger: "La Bamba" / performer: "La Bamba"
The Motel1976writer: "La Bamba" - uncredited
That'll Be the Day1973writer: "Donna" - uncredited
Shindig!TV Series writer - 1 episode, 1965 arranger - 1 episode, 1964
The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show1960TV Series writer - 1 episode
Go, Johnny, Go!1959performer: "OOH MY HEAD"
Who's Doing the Dishes?TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2016 writer - 1 episode, 2016
Britain's Got More Talent2016TV Series performer - 1 episode
Loving2016performer: "Ooh! My Head" / writer: "Ooh! My Head"
Girl in a Band2015TV Movie documentary arranger: "La Bamba" - uncredited / performer: "La Bamba" - uncredited
S.O.S.: Mulheres ao Mar 22015writer: "La Bamba"
The Goldbergs2015TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Late Late Show with James Corden2015TV Series writer - 1 episode
Strictly Come Dancing2014TV Series writer - 2 episodes
Vive cantando2014TV Series arranger - 1 episode
Vegas2013TV Series writer - 1 episode
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno2012TV Series writer - 1 episode
The Roaring 20s: Mick Jagger's Glory Years2011Video documentary performer: "La Bamba" / writer: "La Bamba"
Prom2011writer: "Come On, Let's Go"
Camping paradis2011TV Series arranger - 1 episode
Mafia II2010Video Game lyrics: "COME ON LET'S GO", "DONNA" / music: "COME ON LET'S GO", "DONNA" / performer: "COME ON LET'S GO", "DONNA"
20 to 12010TV Series documentary arranger - 1 episode
Guitar Hero World Tour2008Video Game arranger: "La Bamba"
Ranchero2008/Iwriter: "Fast Freight" - as Richie Valens
Cars2006Video Game writer: "Come On, Let's Go" - as Richie Valens
Cheap2005performer: "We Belong Together"

Composer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
La fuga2014Short

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Go, Johnny, Go!1959Himself
The Music Shop1959TV SeriesHimself
The Dick Clark Show1958TV SeriesHimself
New American Bandstand 19651958TV SeriesHimself

Archive Footage

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1990Star on the Walk of FameWalk of FameRecordingAwarded posthumously on May 11, 1990 at 6733 Hollywood Blvd.

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1988GrammyGrammy AwardsSong of the YearLa Bamba (1987)

Known for movies


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