Rural West Hollywood that’s what her birth certificate read. Mama had always said Connie was born in Beverly Hills. Connie didn’t believe her. She thought mama was teasing her. Their relationship was a challenging one. Ritchie was Connie’s everything, her father figure, her brother and her friend. The older of the two girls, Bobby and Ritchie would make her roll out tortillas then would howl out in laughter at the shapes she would make. Ritchie’s death devastated the quiet little 8 year old. She didn’t talk about him or listen to his music, it hurt too much. In the early eighties Connie came to a cross road she had always idolized her Ritchie. A new Christian she realized it was time to look to God. That was the beginning of her healing. The movie La Bamba
made a huge imprint in the
lives of Ritchies family.
Connie believes that it
helped them find
closure. Yes, she now
has photos of her brother
and listens to his music. She
and her mom made their peace.
Today she loves watching her
brother Mario perform. Who says
lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place.