EXTREMELY RARE Ritchie Valens signed photo.. This hand signed by the late legendary Richie Valens who passed away tragically at the age of 17 months into his career in the infamous Feb 3, 1959 plane crash that also killed Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper. approx 3x4, good condition for age (approx. 65 years) ..some yellowing of paper and fading of pen signature. 

This came from the collection of a 45 yr + second generation collector along with his wife from Cleveland, Ohio with lifetime of collecting and a stellar reputation and who also inherited a large collection of old and rare signatures :)




Richard Steven Valenzuela (May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959), known professionally as Ritchie Valens, was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. A rock and roll pioneer and a forefather of the Chicano rock movement, Valens was killed in a plane crash eight months into his music career.

Valens had several hits, most notably "La Bamba", which he had adapted from a Mexican folk song. Valens transformed the song into one with a rock rhythm and beat, and it became a hit in 1958, making Valens a pioneer of the Spanish-speaking rock and roll movement. He also had an American number-two hit with "Donna".

On February 3, 1959, on what has become known as "The Day the Music Died", Valens died in a plane crash in Iowa, an accident that also claimed the lives of fellow musicians Buddy Holly and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, as well as pilot Roger Peterson. Valens was 17 at the time of his death. In 2001, Valens was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

  • The Day the Music Died:     After the February 2, 1959, performance in Clear Lake, Iowa (which ended around midnight), Holly, Richardson, and Valens flew out of the Mason City airport in a small plane that Holly had chartered. Valens was on the plane because he won a coin toss with Holly's backup guitarist Tommy Allsup. Holly's bassist, Waylon Jennings, voluntarily gave up his seat on the plane to J.P. Richardson, who was ill with the flu.[15] Around 12:55 am on February 3, 1959, the four-passenger Beechcraft Bonanza, (N3794N), departed for Fargo, North Dakota, and crashed a few minutes after takeoff for reasons still unknown. The crash killed all three passengers and pilot Roger Peterson instantly upon impact. As with Holly and Richardson, Valens suffered massive and unsurvivable head injuries along with blunt-force trauma to the chest. At just 17 years old, Valens was the youngest to die in the crash.


The tragedy inspired singer Don McLean to write his 1971 hit "American Pie", immortalizing February 3 as "The Day the Music Died". Valens's remains were buried at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California.

If this is something you must have, shoot me a an offer.  The worst that can happen is that you may receive a counter offer..  :)

Shipping is 28 to US/Canada (signed delivery) and I will ship worldwide and cost depends on location.

__________________________________________________________________________________

IMPORTANT, PLEASE NOTE: 

I HAVE 1000+ items not listed, including many old, rare, and hard to get items from early 1900s horror to  musical acts from the 50's on.. Please contact me with the artist/entertainer you are looking for and i'll send pics if you are interested..

I am a honest, serious collector and would never knowingly sell someone something i feel is not authentic, PERIOD!  I do extensive reviews of anything i buy and have a close friend who is the authenticator for Disney if i need an opinion...  I buy from dependable other collectors whom I research first and develop relationships with, or get things myself...

Cheers to all.  and Happy Collecting!  Tony  :)