18 Things You Didn't Know About La Bamba (

In loving memory of Ritchie Valens, we want to commemorate the talents of a young artist who left us too soon.
#LaBamba #movie #4k #RitchieValens #movieclips #hdscenes
Watch the full movie!
play.google.com/store/movies/...
Obsessed with music and full of dreams, Ritchie Valens (Lou Diamond Phillips) bursts into the glittering world of 1950's rock with a string of chart-busting singles. Ritchie clings to the love of his girlfriend, is haunted by a growing conflict with his half-brother and has eerie premonitions of his own death.

[@jmckdekalb316]

If Richie Valens hadn’t taken that plane ride he would’ve been the biggest latino rockstar of all time.

[@arlopear7136]

Easily. He was only 17 & gave us all that great music in such a short time. With his smarts I'm sure he'd of easily evolved with the business & been a star for decades. Also think about this, he'd of only been 28 when Woodstock took place in 1969. He would've absolutely performed there

[@daddyi7]

True he shouldn’t not got on the plane ✈️

[@prankster671]

100% true!

[@stevefernandez8837]

You mean “Mexican rockstar”

[@mikrof467]

But he did,so he wasn't.

[@dsalvatier]

That last scene always gets me. Happy to learn that this film helped Ritchie’s family heal.

[@achickwn17]

Fun fact: My grandma was friends with Ritchie and even lived on the same street as him for their school years! She has dementia, so she doesn’t remember Ritchie himself, but she still however sings La Bamba often, even though it’s been years since she has listened to the song itself

[@thecreamyone3606]

My friends mom has her yearbook signed by him.... as they were classmates.

[@DaysofLostGlory89]

I didn't realise his actual mom was in this. Now I understand why she was looking at Lou in that scene. She could've probably seen her son 😢

[@Civilizedsavage13]

I was a kid growing up in Samoa in the 90’s when I saw this movie. I wanted to be like Ritchie and I would lip sync to La Bamba in front of my family. I tried slicking my hair back like him too. I would carry a fake guitar made out of cardboard box behind my back. I still cry every time I see this movie.

[@tloots24]

Same here

[@themaskedhec9596]

Awhh :))

[@sela_90m77]

Awe

[@albertopacheco2154]

This movie gets me every time. As a Chicano kid growing up , this movie spoke to me.

[@kellymacdonald9618]

I cry my eyes out every time too! I was a child of the 80's, and this was (and always has been) one of my all-time favourite movies. I had a cassette of the soundtrack and I played it 'til it wore out. :D The scene where they find out via the radio, what happened to Ritchie, oh my goodness, I am a mess!

[@tonydiaz2541]

I saw Los Lobos in Madison , Wisconsin on October 19th, 1987. Cesar Rosas, the singer who always wears the sunglasses, announced that..."This next song is dedicated to Concepcion Valenzuela, Ritchie Valen's mother, who passed away last night." The entire audience yellled out...NO!!. They then went right into LA BAMBA, and everyone got up and started dancing!! Surreal moment.

[@conemedemelee20]

this sounds like a move scene, just beautiful

[@SkunkMonkey991]

Funny story, in 84 my Dad and I were south bound on I 75 heading home after a motocross race in the van with my bikes on the trailer and we were passing an older Winnebago pulling an enclosed trailer behind it that had Los Lobos on the back. As we were passing (I apologize as I don't know his name) the same guy was driving he looked over all cool and gave me thumbs up. I'll never forget that. I was stoked the hit the big time when the movie came out.

[@ravinp371]

Donna was my husband's high school principal. And I just burst into tears watching the cars drive into the cemetery. I have family there.

[@ricimercury9490]

Do students know that she was Ritchie Valens girlfriend? It must have been a devastating fact

[@terricundell3968]

I start to cry every time I see Bob on the bridge yelling "Ritchie" 😓

[@kikilopez3866]

Crazy to think that Ritchie Valens would have only been 45 years old when this movie was released!

[@alexsalazar1116]

He still could've been touring today, had he not passed.

[@J.F.331]

This is such a good movie and extremely underrated. The acting is 10/10.

[@bronzemen34]

I still cry at the ending when Bob screams for his brother…I have been there a few times now and I know that pain RIP Connie,Richie and Bob x

[@andrewrodriguez5246]

Me too brotha

[@mikeb3702]

To this day, the hairs on the back of my neck still stand up during that scene!

[@wealldieatthehandsoflovedones]

Powerful acting. He was a great star himself.

[@CBRHurricane6]

Yeah, esai did an amazing job with it, I felt bad about the scene where the bartender boots him before the song was over. Then yeah that final scene always gets the ol eyes misty

[@bronzemen34]

@@CBRHurricane6 yeah…that scene is right up there…the feels I get from the scene is so sad….felt sorry for BOB 🥺🔥❤️

[@lucasmoore8801]

Rest In Peace Richie Valens, Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper. All legends. All gone way too soon. All dearly missed ❤❤❤

[@Holden308]

35 years after the film was released, and 61 years since the day the music died ... its hard not to shed a tear. I was 12 when La Bamba came out.

[@michaelpeace84]

I was 3 years old. Whats crazy my dad raised me up on classic rock and oldies. Sadly he been dead since 2014. And he was born February 4 1959. I watch la Bamba every year in memory of my dad

[@michaelpeace84]

I also cry all the time while watching it

[@andrewmcinnis1123]

I agree! I was 17 when this was released! ❤

[@roseannamanues2111]

I was a toddler and I still remember Los Lobos having their music video playing on MTV. It helped having older cousins who loved the movie too.

[@tucsonhiphop]

17 year old kid from California if he would have lived he would have been the biggest rock n roll star he had a hand in shaping rock n roll with just 3 songs RIP RV

[@flyinggordonproductions4875]

No one will ever know how they felt when the plane was going down thats the saddest part No one deserves to die that way

[@Alex-cd8pw]

Weather was crappy it probably happened so fast they didn't realize it

[@garyfaught3769]

I have read that the plane scraped the roof of a farmhouse as it was descending. That was probably their first indication they were in trouble and it would have been only seconds before they hit the ground. Not much time for final thoughts.

[@kellymacdonald9618]

Exactly. It would have been absolutely horrific, that's for sure.

[@eriklaguira]

@@garyfaught3769 the big booper was thrown off the plane he landed like far away from the crash, there’s pictures of the scene on the internet and you can see the bodies … it a shitty way to die

[@garyfaught3769]

@@eriklaguira Yeah. Their bodies were scattered around the crash site and pretty mangled. The pilot, Roger Petersen, remained in the aircraft (what was left of it). Buddy's service was closed casket and his widow, Maria Elena, was so distraught she did not attend the funeral. Very sad indeed.

[@Christina92520]

Lou Diamond Phillips was SO good as Ritchie Valens. His first starring role.

[@jonathanlopez2650]

“Why did you go Ritchie. Why did you go?” Shit killed me 😭

[@D33Lux]

Yeah, the actress who played Ritchies mother that part was heartbreaking when she found out of him dying.

[@dk60ish]

I was shocked to read how closely accurate the film was based on real events, one of the few Musician bios I can watch over & over again!

[@MaximusX67]

This and Walk The Line!

[@nunocolon]

That’s great to hear

[@uberLeafsFan]

😭I absolutely adore this movie - have watch over 50/60 times. Makes me cry every time. RIP Ritchie Valens 💔

[@Vixen743]

You an me both

[@Brbos06]

This was one of the best and saddest movies I ever saw as a kid. The last scene with Bob is incredibly emotional. 😢

[@laurawallis7093]

Bob screaming out for Ritchie gets me crying everytime

[@66pens87]

I was born and raised in San Fernand. We use to hold all of my little league baseball and football trophy ceremonies at the San Fernando American Legion (shown in the movie at the concert were the fights broke out). My uncle was actually a student at San Fernando High School when they announced his death over the intercom. My mom went to Pacoima Junior High a couple years before Ritchie. I love how the valley embraces Ritchie as an icon. So much love.

[@Oliviux78]

I’m 44 years old. I’ve seen this movie like 14 times. Still even when watching this short video, I started crying when they all found out Richie died. 😢

[@micksilva6028]

In the airport coin toss scene, I read that the toss was between Ritchie and Waylon Jennings. After Waylon lost the toss he told Ritchie and the others "I hope your plane crashes" in a joking manner and ever since it pained him beyond belief for saying that. It haunted him for the rest of his life.

[@vickijackson5547]

Waylon gave his seat to the Big Bopper because he was so sick with the flu. The coin toss was between Ritchie and Allsop and Allsop even had a club called Tommy's Heads Up Saloon later in his life. I *think* Waylon said that line to Buddy Holly in response to him jokingly saying "I hope the bus breaks down".

[@rustybrown1835]

​@@vickijackson5547 yes Waylon did give his seat up to the big bopper not because he was sick, The Big Bopper though a fit because Waylon was going to get to fly in the plane with Buddy and not him because as he claimed he was a big rock star and Waylon was a nobody that's why Waylon gave up his seat on the plane.

[@Janzer_]

it's not unfortunate his mom only lived for 7 years in the house, that's pretty fortunate that he was able to do that and she was able to enjoy it.

[@user-il4br8du1s]

Reading the autopsy report will never leave my mind.Horribly sad and tragic.R.I.P. to all.

[@D33Lux]

I regret watching the vid of the autopsy for Ritchie, I didn't watch the others, its incredibly sad.

[@vinogrono]

A movie truly made from the heart.

[@rashmita916]

You couldn't had said it better. You can feel the mourning, "so much passion" like Lou Diamond said whilst reading the script when he landed the leading role. There's such a great sense of family as well as mourning and keeping his spirit alive all in once it's no wonder it gets to everyone's heart till today.

[@mangrove]

The real Donna is still alive. She never forgave her father for his bigotry and for trying to capitalize off of Donna's connection to the deceased Ritchie by arranging for her to record two songs about him. She moved out at 18 and never spoke to him again, according to her. She also went on a date with Elvis, who wanted to know all about Ritchie.

[@Tina37212]

Elvis wasn't shit for that!!! I'm the only one in my family who didn't care for Elvis! Never could get into his movies either.

[@brittonbanks646]

I never knew that Donna went with on a date with Elvis. How did you find this out? Thanks for sharing

[@CJCrump]

Ritchie was already a legend in his own time, and so young.

[@vDarkzey]

The day music died… rest in peace legend 🕊️ I visited his grave and people placed quarters and so did I, it represented as a sign of respect. I saw the house he bought his mom aswell.

[@jessijohnson8579]

Its most likely not the same house as I read some where that the one he bought for his mom was destroyed by a fire a few years after he died.

[@simelanem]

I only nee this song “La Bamba” after watching this movie. I wasn’t exposed to this music before. So I felt the pain of his death just moments after discovering his music. Watching this video just brought back the tears.

[@randyreese6413]

Buddy Holly's base player at the time was Waylon Jennings, and the last things they said to eachother was "I hope your bus freezes" to which Waylon replied "Well, I hope your plane crashes." Waylon regretted that until the day he died.

[@garyfaught3769]

I was at the "Winter Dance Party 50 Winters Later" in 2009 at the Surf Ballroom. Now, after 14 years, still one of the best days of my 71 years.

[@charlesjohnson253]

One of most heartbreaking films I've ever watched.

[@chocodiledundee1]

La Bamba film is part of 80’s generation ❤

[@juangaona1520]

One of my favorite movies. It's sad when Bob screams out his name. 😢. My best friend named Rick passed away 1 year after we graduated high school. A close cousin also named Rick passed away 2 years ago from COVID. So I choke up now more when I hear Bob scream "Ritchie!!"

[@tommikoivuniemi]

This was so important movie to me when i saw this about 10yrs old with my farther in movies. And still I think it’s the best movie that I ever seen. It’s still get my crying, even this clip gets my in tears. And dad I gone gone too. “And stars don't fall from the sky.” Miss you dad so much.❤😢

[@lifewithcarrie88]

So heartbreaking how all the families found out about the passings no wonder it took so long to heal

[@katemaloney4296]

Here is something that the movie forgets and most trivia doesn't cover: Ritchie had a little brother named Mario Ramirez.

[@xoxo.odalis9]

How u kno?

[@bluecosmos7448]

There will never be a more heart breaking noise than bob screaming ritchie

[@jessicaboisvert3138]

Love this movie and RIP to all who have passed away thou you are gone but not forgotten about, thanks for sharing this I enjoyed watching it.

[@gilbertsanchez3277]

The actress who portrayed Ritchie Valen's brother's wife (the one with the baby in her arms) passed away not long ago. She buried at Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier where my mom is buried. The actress who portrayed Selena's killer is also buried there. Froggy of the little rascals and other celebrities are buried there. I also have a couple of friends buried there and a nephew. My Older sister and my only brother have their own future plot there. I' ve yet to decide if I want my body to be buried there too. It won't really make any difference to me where I'll be buried because I'll be heaven since I gave my life to Christ when I accepted him as my personal Savior. Read John 3:5.

[@CarlosRodriguez-wi7hz]

I live 2 blocks from that cemetery

[@Airsoftcleaner]

Yeah Elizabeth Pena'

[@thomasybarra9435]

I'm from La Puente and most of my family are buried in rose hills

[@marbles83cr]

My sister was laid to rest there in 2017 miss her.

[@dgtwo3724]

I also have family there and my future plot is also there.

[@chrisbacos]

One of the movies I never get tired of watching.

[@roxannemoser]

Watching Sweet Dreams, Buddy Hollie, and LA Bamba makes me miss my Dad.

[@partysugar519]

The movie has a great beginning. And a great ending. The middle is the best part.

[@jessicalafountain8090]

I still wonder if Bob was the last person Ritchie talked to before the accident.

[@robinrobyn1714]

Nope. The last person Richie talked to before the accident were the people with him on the airplane.

[@robinrobyn1714]

@@Jose-sp4ru Jessica is 63 years late in getting the memo: Richie Valens, in fact,in the very movie she watched (' La Bamba'), is seen talking to Buddy Holly both before and after entering the plane.

[@RockFan98]

As far as we know he only called his manager that night. Him calling Bob is a bit of Hollywood Magic.

[@DESma619]

In the scene where Ritchie asks Bob to join him on tour, the call & invite to join him on tour was really to his mom Connie

[@rashmita916]

@@DESma619 such a plot twist because there are several people that has said that when they went to the movies to see this one,they said there were grown men crying after watching the movie that went on and reconciled with their siblings. Guess it wasn't that wrong,right?...

[@thelordofdarkness141]

Great film that introduced me to the great music of Ritchie valens and made me want to learn guitar

[@tonymontana-ho8nc]

I just realized how Bob pulled up with both of his sisters on the back lol how times has changed can't do that now

[@newhorizonsforfifty2833]

The fact that the gamily stayed in a state of grief for 30 years just really gives you pause.

[@farrahcade1876]

One of the most moving impacting movies in history ,,,love Richie

[@jdr9656]

I still remember being at the movies and my father seeing the poster for this movie. Being a Mexican American, this was a big deal!

[@chiasanzes9770]

Fact 19 At The Age of 18 Donna moved out her home she never forgave for her father. She also help take care of Ritchie's younger sipplings and and became like a big sister for them.

[@kristinakellogg1732]

The scene at the end always gets me. I break down and cry like its the first time I seen it. Its so sad and tragic. Every actor and actress did such a wonderful job in this movie.

[@darmendariz1085]

My favorite movie as a child.. and unfortunately also the reason I hate flying 😂😂😂 but that “besides, the sky belongs to the stars, right?” Always gets me🥺💔

[@ChristopherLightfoot-zu3kb]

I just turned 17 when I first watched this sad but fantastic film on its opening weekend. I was dating a girl called Valerie and she was my first real love and my first time. I had already the soundtrack on cassette and played it to death. The film and the music hold many good memories for me and it still makes me emotional when I see this film.

[@melvinmunson8331]

Great Movie Lou Diamond Phillips is one of my favorite actors anyway.

[@willswalkingwest7267]

This movie was so good. I've seen it a dozen times and have cried a dozen times.

[@oscarvillarreal8951]

R.I.P. La Bamba is a Classic. 🎊Viva La Bamba 🙌🎉 🎸🎼🎵🎶

[@nettiegurl]

I remember seeing this at the local cinema.... sold out for months. Los Lobos 'La Bamba' was #1 on the Casey Kasem Billboard Music Charts for 1 month straight. Not a dry eye in the theater at the movie's end.

[@D33Lux]

I could imagine, the last scenes are incredibly powerful. The actress who played Ritchies mother wasn't acting, you can feel her heart break for that scene. R.I.P.

[@Revengetoyourliver]

One of the greatest movies, ever filmed due to it being a true story, and also the tragic loss of the great trio, which is considered the day the music died!

[@kingclown3004]

Just recently watch this movie, rip Richie man that sucks I was mad sad when I saw he died. Rip bro too young and had great music. Hope you are in a better place brotha‼️‼️

[@D33Lux]

Watch "Mi Familia" (My family), the actor Esai Morales who played Ritchies brother was in that one. Amazing movie!

[@captainjacksparrow6655]

What Legends. RIP RITCHIE. BUDDY. BIG BOPPA

[@jettp3810]

Nobody here has mentioned that Lou Diamond Philipps is of Filipino descent. He played the Mexican American Ritchie Valens.

[@jerryicallsouthtexashome]

Remember the movie Stand and Deliver. Another movie where he portrayed a Latino.

[@TheRoamer78]

Esai morales played a legit Iranian in a movie

[@jerryicallsouthtexashome]

@@TheRoamer78 what is the name of that movie? Sounds very interesting.

[@TheRoamer78]

@@jerryicallsouthtexashome on wings of eagles it was about the 1979 hostage crisis. Morales had me convinced he was Iranian.

[@jerryicallsouthtexashome]

@@TheRoamer78 wow. Thanks. I will have to check it out. I was a little kid, back in the late 70s.

[@sandraruiz3834]

I love this movie so much! I always cry at the end just like in Selena 😢

[@credittips777]

my son's father was Mexican. i was always obsessed with this movie as a teen. when i met him years later in my 20s, he took me to meet his family and this song was playing when we walked in. i literally looked at him and said "omg i am gonna have your baby"! .... few years later, i sure did. sadly he was more like Bob than Ritchie and we didn't stay together. however i have a handsome Mexican baby and i am white as Donna😂❤

[@D33Lux]

He's a fool for letting you go, you're gorgeous. I pray he finds redemption, changes his ways and comes back to you and his son.

[@isaiahvenegasshottyonthebeat]

FUN FACT: anyone of Chicano decent 50 or older from the San Fernando Valley will have a story, OR claim some type of connection to Ritchie Valens.

[@kennethkimbroug8087]

Ritchie had the right stuff !! Vaya con Dios amigo !!!! ♥️♥️♥️🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@karlfortuin5794]

Sad thing is this amazing movie hits me cuz I'm part Latino & I'm a Singer I have my fears also except mine is I have fears of being killed & some ways it inspired me to pursue my singing career & I wanna thank you to the vanlenzala family for being my inspiration 🎙️🎸

[@shawnte98]

I LOVE THIS!!!! This reminds me of VH1 Pop up video!!!! ❤❤❤❤

[@Airsoftcleaner]

The only historical inaccuracies I saw in the movie was the infamous coin toss that actually happened in The Green Room of The Surf Ballroom(By Tommy Alsop's admission) Not Mason City Airport and the coin was not tossed by Buddy Holly.

[@dgtwo3724]

Hollywood always takes liberties, unfortunately.

[@Youknowmyname12]

Awesome video thanks

[@billybudd8085]

The airport scene was filmed at the Whiteman Airport in Pacoima.

[@cesarbaca5297]

Why did I watch this? I knew I would cry

[@SuperKillbill1234]

thank you Richie,

[@jasonpalacios2705]

Actually Lou Diamond Phillips is a Filipino,Esai Morales who played Ritchie's brother Bob is actually Puerto Rican and the crazy thing is that both Ritchie Valens and Natalie Wood died from the something they feared the most. Ritchie Valens had a fear of flying but killed in a plane crash and Natalie Wood had a fear of water and died from drowning.

[@rashmita916]

His supposed fear of flying was never real,I believe even his family has said so.

[@psaa61573]

And Esai auditioned to play Ritchie and Lou auditioned to play Bob..

[@jasonpalacios2705]

@@psaa61573 Wow I didn't know that.

[@jasonpalacios2705]

@@rashmita916 Really? Then why did they say that Ritchie had a fear of flying?

[@psaa61573]

@@jasonpalacios2705 I was obsessed with this movie after it came out. I was 13yrs old and researched everything I could about Ritchie Valens; this was WAY before the internet! Library helped. But when the internet became a thing.. I went right back to it. Learned A LOT of interesting things!!

[@jillianbalcazar5491]

Love This Movie, It was pretty good!!!

[@jwarren6305]

I watched this movie so many times as a kid my mom still hates it to this day. Lol

[@jackohobo674]

“Come on, Lets Go” is as great a rocker as it gets. Everyone talks about all the future songs we missed from Buddy (true)- but what about THIS kid?!? He was only SEVENTEEN, for heavens sake!!!

[@roseannamanues2111]

Rosanna DeSoto is a very wonderful Lady. Still haven't forgotten when I met her while she was filming the movie with Luke Perry.

[@0217ldp]

I have seen La Bamba over 120 times now. At one time I knew the lines of everyone by heart. The only part I did not like was the ending; no matter, I wrote my own ending.

[@jessijohnson8579]

oh I know that feeling. My mom made sure I went into the theatre to see the movie knowing that he would be dead by the end of it but left angry at how they killed him cause she didn't tell me that part.

[@chasetherocknroll5144]

This movie inspired me to learn guitar and ride motorcycles. The opening scene of Bob riding that Indian.

[@wendymarielafogg9924]

Nice. That's awesome😎👍🏍 I know, he looks so badass doesn't he? Nobody looked cooler on that bike than Bob, he was born to ride. That's for sure.

[@rustybrown1835]

It was a Harley with a Indian gas tank and front fender.

[@peoplesicon]

I watched this movie so many times as a kid and always wanted to be just as cool as bob! Bob was so damn cool!

[@Jerry-zc5qt]

My mom and sister always cried at the end and since the passing of my brother in November 2021 they can't watch the scene at all

[@jorgegarcia3109]

I’m from NorCal and moved to Pacas, didn’t realize the legend was from there. Got to see the parade they do for him. Back in 94.

[@jennajones85]

I know it’s coming but I can’t stop myself from crying

[@j2tharomeone5]

I didn’t know his family was involved in the film. This must have helped with helping them heal from Ritchie's death.

[@BKaneNp8]

one of my fav movies

[@deniz_1990]

Un clásico la bamba! ✌🏼

[@vassa1972]

Great film

[@selfishstockton6123]

Classic movie

[@louismontoya7437]

My favorite movie of all time. On a conservative side I’ve watched this movie 500 times. I remember my brother had a guitar when I was and every time I watched it would pull it out.

[@DanielFranco-nt9ze]

Nice Movie La Bamba

[@joepropsnyc]

I forgot how intense this movie was. Wow!!!

[@aerosnout]

Just watched this. Crying. Now.

[@lindanichols5172]

This is a fantastic movie! I purchased it. It’s one of my favorites!❤❤

[@amysmith3247]

Gotta love Bob!!!

[@cindybedolla5255]

My favorite movie

[@Alex-oy6wb]

8:31 most iconic scream of all time

[@calebwong1020]

The actor who portrays Ritchie in the movie also sang and used his own voice for the movie a pretty cool fact

[@D33Lux]

He lip singed, the lead singer of Los Lobos sang the reproductions of the song for the movie.

[@aabeldano]

Damn to hear it over the radio about her son passing 😕

[@wetoolow8750]

Supposedly, hearing the news over the radio caused Maria Elena Holly (Buddy Holly’s wife) to have a miscarriage.

[@lauracamilleri2072]

I read somewhere recently that it was after this accident that the laws were changed so that names of fatalities were not released until after families have been informed

[@lauracamilleri2072]

@@wetoolow8750 :( yes I read that too. how awful for her

[@BPC1980]

@@wetoolow8750 That’s very true. That incident is why now no names are given out until family has been notified.

[@sleekilla]

Still my favorite movie