Enormously successful recording artist at the beginning of the Rock ‘n’ Roll era. Valens was one of the first stars to transcend the stereotype of Latin American music with hits such as ‘C’Mon Let’s Go’ and the ever popular ‘La Bamba’. Tragically he was killed in the plane crash that also took the lives of Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. Unbelievably rare vintage glossy 8 x 10 head-and-shoulders publicity photo, signed and inscribed in blue ballpoint “To Mr. Georg, Thank you for having me on your show from Ritchie Valens.” A close-up of this image of Valens was used on the official Winter Dance Party posters. Scattered light creases and surface marks, some light spotting inherent to original negative, otherwise fine condition. Just eleven dates in the tour, in the early hours of February 3, 1959 a plane containing the three stars crashed in an Iowa cornfield, killing Valens, the Big Bopper, and Buddy Holly. Certainly one of the most seldom-seen of all rock ‘n’ roll autographs, and the first 8 x 10 of Valens we have ever seen!
“Mr. Georg” was George Devine, whose Million Dollar Ballroom in Milwaukee was where the doomed "Winter Dance Party Tour" started on January 23, 1959. During that opening night performance, Valens gave nearly 6,000 Milwaukee fans a lively performance they would never forget. As one reviewer wrote the following day in a local newspaper, ‘Only the squares don’t know that Ritchie’s hit ‘Donna’ is now among the Top 10 tunes in the country. When he sang it here, his audience swayed back and forth as if hypnotized by the slow love song.’ An incredibly scarce item. Pre-certified Roger Epperson/REAL and RRAuction COA.
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