Ritchie was born Richard Steven Valenzuela May 13, 1941 in Los Angeles, California, to his mother, Concepcion "Concha" Valenzuela and father Steve Joseph Valenzuela. Ritchie developed his love for music at an early age and by the time he entered Pacoima Jr. High School at age 13, he was rarely without his guitar. At age 16, after playing music with his friends and singing for his younger siblings and neighborhood kids, Ritchie joined a band called the Silhouettes, and played local sock hops and parties. Int he summer of 1958, Ritchie met Boib Keane and recorded his first demo in Bob's basement. At the onset of the success of the single "Come On Let's Go", Ritchie took a break from his senior year of high school to travel around the
country to play his music.

In early 1959, Ritchie, Buddy
Holly and the Big Bopper
traveled the country on a
Winter Dance Party tour.
The three decided to escape
the freezing tour bus for
one night and took a small
aircraft to the next city. All three
perished in a plane crash near Mason City,
Iowa on February 3, 1959. The day the music died.

Ritchie was the first Latino Rock Star, not only was was he a talented singer/musician, he was also a song writer. Ritchie's heart felt lyrics, the youthful exuberance in his voice and the infectious beat of his music are all displayed in a diverse musical style that continues to touch generations of fans all these years later.