Dear friend Gil. I have never met you , but I wish I had met you back then .... and Ritchie too. I was born in 1943..Ritchie in 1941. I still remember that morning of February 3rd, 1959, like it was yesterday. I was just 15. It was a shock. All these years have passed and I still listen to Ritchies fabulous voice and guitar. In 1987, I was lucky to attend the Hollywood premier of LA BAMBA. .. I met Ritchies mom and took a photo with her. I met brother Bob and Bob Keene. I feel blessed that I lived to hear Ritchie singing on records...tho I wish I had seen him sing and play live. Yes Gil, like you said......had you not taken Ritchie I to your band.....possibly and perhaps.....he never would have been discovered by Bob Kean e. I kept waiting but you never were asked....” WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT TAPE RECORDING ACETATE , THAT YOU SENT TO BOB KEANE? It would be priceless to hear. Thank you my friend. You are a professional. Humble, kind hearted and spiritual. Gods Providence was there in Ritchie’s life as well as in your life. Peace, prayers always , love all of God’s children ......most sincerely, Louis r velasquez
Hey Mr Gil! I'm glad he's still around to share his wonderful true stories about life around Ritchie. When all some of us have is what we saw in the movie, which Gil says almost all of it was not accurate, we would not know what really happened. Thanks to him, we can know what Ritchie was like.
This is real Rock & Roll history right here. Thank you for sharing! I watch La Bamba at least once a year but now I know the true story. Sorry they portrayed you as a mic hog in the movie. You’re a good man and you and rest of The Silhouettes were pallbearers at Ritchie’s funeral. That was nice to hear. Great interview! 🎙 🎸 🎶
What a loss. No telling how far he would have gone had he lived longer. He like Buddy Holley would done so much more in music. Both young men had so much talent. Such a void that has never been filled by anyone. 🌤😥😭
That segment at the end still rocks in 2022!! It will never get old. I've watched it so many times. God Bless Ritchie and his family and thank you for this amazing interview.
It was the only known live clip of Ritchie Valens, (outside of the home movie camera at his house). (Sad thing was that he was billed as "The Late" Ritchie Valens in the "Go Johnny Go" movie)
@@briansam2524 that's because he died a month after filming the movie. He was gone by the time the movie made it out to the public. It is common to say that.
Can you imagine the heights that Ritchie would have achieved had he not got into that Beechcraft Bonanza. It was a flight that should NEVER have happened, suicidal weather conditions after midnight, and a totally inexperienced and incompetent pilot. It’s unbelievable that the stars and band members of the Winter Dance Party were not looked after correctly during their ill-fated tour, they should have been accommodated in a hotel, instead of a broken down school bus. Ritchie will always be a true Rock n Roll icon, and the fact that he died so incredibly young at 18, is beyond tragic. A really beautiful interview, I am totally fascinated by legends, and Gil Rocha is a treasure! RIP Ritchie, Buddy, JP Richardson and the pilot.
Yep, that crash was totally avoidable and the blame has to rest with Jerry Dwyer and Peterson. Jerry knew Peterson was not IFR cerfified and Peterson himself knew it. That pilot taking off at night in snow was suicide.
to only be 17, not even Eighteen grown, yet, to be a Teen-child still, and already sent to rip, is beyond sad... only early 20s. Buddy Holly, Big Bopper Chantilly Lace. pretty name for a song." I am just sad, over it, my parents/grandparens younger years. They all remember hearing one Hispanic teen boy singing died, and how sad it was. then to know 2 other (white) singers too. all under 30s. so they were sad, and the weather definitely played a part, NONE of us ever risk flying in rain, SNOW, nope. I think this was avoidable, but, we know it's way too lae now. All talented, i still cry at the end of LA BAMBA. real tears, EACH time.
@@LawMami0806 I live in Beaumont where Big Bopper is from he was an ENORMOUS DJ and responsible for so many stars making Radio and tours in Texas. He and Elvis were SO CLOSE. Everytime Cash, Perkins & Elvis played Texas they stayed at the BIG Boppers house. Buddy & Roy opened for Elvis in Lubbock several times in 54 & 55. I have been to Buddy Holly's museum and Where Roy recorded outside Hobbs!
I am a tribute artist in the making and was Facebook friends with Gil before I deleted my account but when I saw this interview it inspired me so much! Gil Rocha such a knowledgable man, I can see why Ritchie looked up to him as he was a great leader and he keeps it real, I have so much more respect and admiration for you Gil. Thank you for keeping the memories alive for super fans like myself. Respect all the way from Canada 🇨🇦
This is an incredible valuable insight on Ritchie...Thanks to Mr Gil Rocha...the world has a new wonderful insight on Mr. VALENS that we never knew...!!
Hello Senor Rocha, This is the Bronx, NY. I remember Feb. 3, 1959 like last night. I thought the Richie was Venezuelan because one of my friends told me that his name was Richie Venezuela, not Valenzuela. The important thing was that he spoke in Spanish, just like me. I love your band in La Bamba and they played you for being a mic hog. It was a great scene. I love your video and it's great to see you again in person. Buena suerte, Sr. Rocha. ORALE !!!!! Eddie from the Bronx. 7/27/22
What's so 8nteresting is that Ritchie did not speak Spanish, English was spoken in the home... He knew some words in Spanish, that's about it.. He had to learn the lyrics in Spanish to be able to sing La Bamba Bamba!
THANK YOU AND WE ALL THE FANS!!!! WOULD LIKE TO ALSO HEAR MORE REAL STORIES FROM ALL OTHER FRIENDS!! MUSICANS!! RELATIVES!!!! SCHOOL MATES!! WHO WERE IN THAT ERA!!! WE BE APPRECIATED!!! AND CHERISH TO US FANS, MY RESPECTS TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTE BLESSINGS TOTAL THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE US ALL ❤️
What a interview with Mr. Roch, It’s great to document the actual where it really happened, before this man is also not with us. and I can definitely see why Richie, will follow someone like this man. He seems to be someone knowledgeable about music in the music industry.a
wow tom great interview with gil rocha.what a piece of history.i like this interview.maybe you can produce another interview,re:the big bopper.following from the philippines.✌️🇵🇭👍
Geez. That was wonderful. Hearing this means so much to me. Thank you for the interview. I thought I could spy a photo of Ritchie in the background on the wall. What a great guy for loving and protecting the beautiful memories of a great friendship and brotherhood. Thank you. Xoxo 🌸💗⭐️🌟🎵🎶🌸⭐️🌸🙌 mucho amor desde Australia…
Wow...!!! GENIUS....WAY... ahead of HIS TIME OF mMUSICIANS!!!. All the all the royalties should have gone to his family even though the contract kicked in one year. Due to a tragic death the family should have gotten the " contract valid" ""because these were royalties that... an artist created that is the right thing to do is Grant the family all the royalties of the past and future of Ritchie Valens ( Valenzuela)!!! "" VIA Richie" VIA LA RAZA!!! NEVER FORGOTTEN!!!
Great interview, you really get a better perspective as to how Ritchie Valens came about his music, still heartbreaking to know that he was only 17, gone way to soon.🎸💖
this is beyond cool!! you get the little fascinating facts behind Valens rise to fame, after hearing Bobs demo recordings Ritchie was so far ahead of his time far as a guitar player, im a guitar player, and you have to be to know how talented Valens was for his age and time period, just a Dam shame how such a shooting star went up so fast and gone as fast as he went up.....
What Ritchie did in less than a year was amazing, had the Dwyer incompetence not killed him, I believe he would have been bigger than Elvis. His talent and charisma was something else. RIP Ritchie, Buddy, JP.
Nah, but definitely would have kept The Beatles from taking over. Elvis is a once in a lifetime force. He had the voice, the Humility, they style, the looks, the rhythm, the ear for production, the swagger, and the raw sex appeal. When he opened his mouth you FEEL his soul. He was blest by Christ himself, there was No stopping Elvis in 1956 Elvis made $26MILLION in merchandise sales alone. Elvis gave away 86% of his entire lifetime earnings to the poor, sick, needy, friends & fans. He was in the 95% tax bracket and never wrote anything off on his taxes. He gave as a form of tithing, and he said the more he gave the more God blessed him. That is the wonderful person he was.
And he did WAYYYYYYYYYYYY MORE THEN THIS!!!! He Donated the funds to have ST Jude built so every child with Cancer gets free treatment - even today, He bought the presidential yacht and donated it at auction to fund ST Jude too, He donated the money to complete the Kennedy Center in memory of JFK and declined to be the first to play as the founding member because he didn't want to seem political, He donated the funds for the USS Arizona in Hawaii to remember all the lives lost on DDay, He ended the Polio Epidemic inspiring 86% of America's youth to get vaccinated, He funded 500,000 European Refugees food, housing & relocation via Red Cross Donations. He funded an entire trauma wing at Midsouth memorial so 4 states of poor & youth can have free trauma care, he donated over 300 Cadillac alone, 300 brick homes, thousands of funerals, chemo treatments, millions of individual gifts of Jewelry, clothes, instriments, animals, make a wish were at every concert, hospital visits, even spent every night outside his home in Memphis, Beverly Hills & LA signing autographs, in the 1950's he even let fans that came from out of town CAMP ON HIS LAWN IN TENTS!!, He bought his childhood home in Tupelo and built a childs recreation center for poor kids, He signed autographs and gave fans tours at all the movie studios, even gave full fundraising concerts for Cancer fundraising, hurricane & tornado relief every year of his life from 1956, Elvis has donated to the same 55 MAJOR charities since the year he signed his 1956 contract even now every year 45yrs after his death.
Mr Tom Meros....just want to say that I really really enjoyed watching this video interview. I was born in 77 but I grew up loving rock n Roll from the 1950s and 1960s. Mainly I learned of many of the artists from these decades from my Mother. But I really got into Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly after watching the film LA Bamba that came out I think around 1987 when I was 10. 😆 I'm a musician myself and this interview was absolutely terrific to hear. Just subscribed to your channel and am looking forward to watching more of your videos on music legends of the past. Thank you and God bless. 😉
Thank you Gil Rocha for the inside story of our beloved Latino legend Ritchie Valens! “Always Remembered & Never Forgotten” To bad Gil Rocha you let Ritchie Valens go to Bob Keene the owner of Del-Fi Records who ripped him off big time not only from his artist royalties contract but most all his songwriting royalties and BMI air play and internet. Bob Keene should have did right thing by giving his mother and his family his royalties. But since Ritchie Valens did not have an Music Entertainment Attorney to represent him on his music contract with Bob Keene. Bob Keene took advantage of his innocence along with his mother. Let this be a lesson to the young artist who is trying to make it in the music Industry. Don’t sign the contract until you get a Music entertainment attorney who represent you for your best interest as artist and a songwriter.
He thought about the playground in his name because in 1956 Elvis did that for Tupelo and it was in all the fan magazines. He donated the money to build a rec center for West Tupelo aka Shake Rag. The black side & White Poverty had nothing but a creek. 💗
Ok it’s cool he asked him to be a part of the band but the fact that he seems to be taking most of the credit is not cool apparently “BOB” heard and got interested in him so it wasn’t just cause of him being apart of the silhouettes as shown in the movie he was treated like the red headed step child so that is where the taking the credit ends well one will never know but Ritchie was a great singer
If I understood well, you desagre with mr.Rocha... I'm member of fb group dedicated to Ritchie Valens. Mr.Rocha stood up there, accusing La Bamba movie and director Louis Valdes of inaccurate interpretation, going further and arguing with anyone who desagre with him on any question about R.Valens life. He also took lot of credits for the Ritchie's career and involvement in music. If you remember the band leader of the Silhouets in the movie (called Rudy Castro there), that character was not so good toward Ritchie. He doesn't let him sing on first gig, laughin on his old amplifier etc. Could it be that Mr.Rocha fight his own private war with La Bamba movie crew because they showed him in such a bad light? (Althou the band leader in the movie have diferent name, it's obvious that there is strong parallele to mr.Rocha) And, after all, why would they doo that (showing him in such a bad light) if there isn't reason for that. Movie is 40% directors free interprentation of real events, but, even if it is, I read that there were Ritchie's family members present on the set all away from the beggining. I'm shure that they wouldn't alloud that much of free interpretation for the Rudy Castro carachter if there isn't good reason for that.... mr.Rocha already sead here, that his and Ritchies mothers knew and respected each other...
Movies are not always accurate representations of what really happened. The producers have to add drama for the viewers. I don't think Richie would have stayed in a band that treated him that way and it looks like they did gigs for a while. I believe his version over LA Bambas because it sounds like a more real representation of what happened.
![Sean Rii, Karyon, Sharzkii - Taungule [My Love] (Official Music Video)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/eJoMuypbSzQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Dear friend Gil. I have never met you , but I wish I had met you back then .... and Ritchie too. I was born in 1943..Ritchie in 1941. I still remember that morning of February 3rd, 1959, like it was yesterday. I was just 15. It was a shock. All these years have passed and I still listen to Ritchies fabulous voice and guitar. In 1987, I was lucky to attend the Hollywood premier of LA BAMBA. .. I met Ritchies mom and took a photo with her. I met brother Bob and Bob Keene. I feel blessed that I lived to hear Ritchie singing on records...tho I wish I had seen him sing and play live.
Yes Gil, like you said......had you not taken Ritchie I to your band.....possibly and perhaps.....he never would have been discovered by Bob Kean e. I kept waiting but you never were asked....” WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT TAPE RECORDING ACETATE , THAT YOU SENT TO BOB KEANE? It would be priceless to hear. Thank you my friend. You are a professional. Humble, kind hearted and spiritual. Gods Providence was there in Ritchie’s life as well as in your life. Peace, prayers always , love all of God’s children ......most sincerely, Louis r velasquez
That's true. So little actual recordings of Richie. A tape like this would be great for the rest of the world to hear.
How about a part 2? This is gold right here 👍
Great interview,Ritchie continues to be an inspiration
An elegant tribute to a rock 'n roll legend.
Hey Mr Gil! I'm glad he's still around to share his wonderful true stories about life around Ritchie. When all some of us have is what we saw in the movie, which Gil says almost all of it was not accurate, we would not know what really happened. Thanks to him, we can know what Ritchie was like.
This is real Rock & Roll history right here. Thank you for sharing! I watch La Bamba at least once a year but now I know the true story. Sorry they portrayed you as a mic hog in the movie. You’re a good man and you and rest of The Silhouettes were pallbearers at Ritchie’s funeral. That was nice to hear. Great interview! 🎙 🎸 🎶
What a loss. No telling how far he would have gone had he lived longer. He like Buddy Holley would done so much more in music. Both young men had so much talent. Such a void that has never been filled by anyone.
🌤😥😭
I'm Honored to have a Song Recorded and Sung by Legend with my Name ! I'm only 51 but I will always Love that Song.
Loved this thank you what a terrible tragedy RIP to all that day.
Mr. Rocha I am impressed with you. Thank You.
That segment at the end still rocks in 2022!! It will never get old. I've watched it so many times. God Bless Ritchie and his family and thank you for this amazing interview.
It was the only known live clip of Ritchie Valens, (outside of the home movie camera at his house). (Sad thing was that he was billed as "The Late" Ritchie Valens in the "Go Johnny Go" movie)
@@briansam2524 that's because he died a month after filming the movie. He was gone by the time the movie made it out to the public. It is common to say that.
What a great interview
Awesome interview!
ritchie was way ahead of his time in his music............
Cool to hear/watch more about Ritchie Valenzuela before he made it big! Thanks!
Can you imagine the heights that Ritchie would have achieved had he not got into that Beechcraft Bonanza. It was a flight that should NEVER have happened, suicidal weather conditions after midnight, and a totally inexperienced and incompetent pilot. It’s unbelievable that the stars and band members of the Winter Dance Party were not looked after correctly during their
ill-fated tour, they should have been accommodated in a hotel, instead of a broken down school bus.
Ritchie will always be a true Rock n Roll icon, and the fact that he died so incredibly young at 18, is beyond tragic.
A really beautiful interview, I am totally fascinated by legends, and Gil Rocha is a treasure!
RIP Ritchie, Buddy,
JP Richardson and the pilot.
Yep, that crash was totally avoidable and the blame has to rest with Jerry Dwyer and Peterson. Jerry knew Peterson was not IFR cerfified and Peterson himself knew it. That pilot taking off at night in snow was suicide.
to only be 17, not even Eighteen grown, yet, to be a Teen-child still, and already sent to rip, is beyond sad... only early 20s. Buddy Holly, Big Bopper Chantilly Lace. pretty name for a song." I am just sad, over it, my parents/grandparens younger years. They all remember hearing one Hispanic teen boy singing died, and how sad it was. then to know 2 other (white) singers too. all under 30s. so they were sad, and the weather definitely played a part, NONE of us ever risk flying in rain, SNOW, nope. I think this was avoidable, but, we know it's way too lae now.
All talented, i still cry at the end of LA BAMBA. real tears, EACH time.
@@LawMami0806 I live in Beaumont where Big Bopper is from he was an ENORMOUS DJ and responsible for so many stars making Radio and tours in Texas. He and Elvis were SO CLOSE. Everytime Cash, Perkins & Elvis played Texas they stayed at the BIG Boppers house. Buddy & Roy opened for Elvis in Lubbock several times in 54 & 55. I have been to Buddy Holly's museum and Where Roy recorded outside Hobbs!
Tom. We would really love more interviews with other members of Richies friends and family.
It is sad how fate can sometimes deliver a bad blow Ritchie Valens buddy holly and the big bopper maybe gone but their music lives forever RIP
I am a tribute artist in the making and was Facebook friends with Gil before I deleted my account but when I saw this interview it inspired me so much! Gil Rocha such a knowledgable man, I can see why Ritchie looked up to him as he was a great leader and he keeps it real, I have so much more respect and admiration for you Gil. Thank you for keeping the memories alive for super fans like myself. Respect all the way from Canada 🇨🇦
One of your best interviews Tom. I say that about all of them though!
This is an incredible valuable insight on Ritchie...Thanks to Mr Gil Rocha...the world has a new wonderful insight on Mr. VALENS that we never knew...!!
Music just ain't the same, back then, they had heart , passion, nowadays days they talk a song and mention violents etc
I love music history and find this so interesting thank you for sharing the stories
Great interview 👍🏼 well down .
Thank you very much 😊
Hello Senor Rocha, This is the Bronx, NY. I remember Feb. 3, 1959 like last night. I thought the Richie was Venezuelan because one of my friends told me that his name was Richie Venezuela, not Valenzuela. The important thing was that he spoke in Spanish, just like me. I love your band in La Bamba and they played you for being a mic hog. It was a great scene. I love your video and it's great to see you again in person. Buena suerte, Sr. Rocha. ORALE !!!!! Eddie from the Bronx. 7/27/22
What's so 8nteresting is that Ritchie did not speak Spanish, English was spoken in the home... He knew some words in Spanish, that's about it.. He had to learn the lyrics in Spanish to be able to sing La Bamba Bamba!
Yes Venezuela
THANK YOU AND WE ALL THE FANS!!!! WOULD LIKE TO ALSO HEAR MORE REAL STORIES FROM ALL OTHER FRIENDS!! MUSICANS!! RELATIVES!!!! SCHOOL MATES!! WHO WERE IN THAT ERA!!! WE BE APPRECIATED!!! AND CHERISH TO US FANS, MY RESPECTS TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTE BLESSINGS TOTAL THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE US ALL ❤️
This was fantastic👍
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful memories of such a lovely young man. ❤️Jodie 🇦🇺
What a interview with Mr. Roch, It’s great to document the actual where it really happened, before this man is also not with us. and I can definitely see why Richie, will follow someone like this man. He seems to be someone knowledgeable about music in the music industry.a
This is amazing! The silhouettes and Richie rock !!!
wow tom great interview with gil rocha.what a piece of history.i like this interview.maybe you can produce another interview,re:the big bopper.following from the philippines.✌️🇵🇭👍
Probaby the best interview about Ritchie Valens i ever watched. Thank you Gil
Geez. That was wonderful. Hearing this means so much to me. Thank you for the interview. I thought I could spy a photo of Ritchie in the background on the wall. What a great guy for loving and protecting the beautiful memories of a great friendship and brotherhood. Thank you. Xoxo 🌸💗⭐️🌟🎵🎶🌸⭐️🌸🙌 mucho amor desde Australia…
I love this information about Ritchie Valens*(Valenzuela ")
I'm fascinated with him!! What an awesome star he would be if he had the chance!
Wow...!!! GENIUS....WAY... ahead of HIS TIME OF mMUSICIANS!!!. All the all the royalties should have gone to his family even though the contract kicked in one year. Due to a tragic death the family should have gotten the " contract valid" ""because these were royalties that... an artist created that is the right thing to do is Grant the family all the royalties of the past and future of Ritchie Valens ( Valenzuela)!!! "" VIA Richie" VIA LA RAZA!!! NEVER FORGOTTEN!!!
Great interview, you really get a better perspective as to how Ritchie Valens came about his music, still heartbreaking to know that he was only 17, gone way to soon.🎸💖
Yes
oh man this is awesome , Thank You!
Another amazing interview!!!! Talk soon, Tom. - Jason
got more done in 17 years than some do in a lifetime. no question he'd have been a well respected musician and producer had he lived.
this is beyond cool!! you get the little fascinating facts behind Valens rise to fame, after hearing Bobs demo recordings Ritchie was so far ahead of his time far as a guitar player, im a guitar player, and you have to be to know how talented Valens was for his age and time period, just a Dam shame how such a shooting star went up so fast and gone as fast as he went up.....
He still sounds like those classy vintage men from the Golden Era.
❤️❤️❤️
When people talk about story that grows with and song like people become Legends 🎙️🎸🛡️
Thank you very much for Sharing This.
Super interesting interview! 🙂
Valens couldn't sing a lick, but his story is one for the ages.
What Ritchie did in less than a year was amazing, had the Dwyer incompetence not killed him, I believe he would have been bigger than Elvis. His talent and charisma was something else. RIP Ritchie, Buddy, JP.
Bigger than Elvis ? 😂😂😂😂😂
Nah, but definitely would have kept The Beatles from taking over.
Elvis is a once in a lifetime force. He had the voice, the Humility, they style, the looks, the rhythm, the ear for production, the swagger, and the raw sex appeal. When he opened his mouth you FEEL his soul. He was blest by Christ himself, there was No stopping Elvis in 1956 Elvis made $26MILLION in merchandise sales alone. Elvis gave away 86% of his entire lifetime earnings to the poor, sick, needy, friends & fans. He was in the 95% tax bracket and never wrote anything off on his taxes. He gave as a form of tithing, and he said the more he gave the more God blessed him. That is the wonderful person he was.
There is a book over 600 pages called The Best of Elvis: Reflections of a Great Humanitarian by Cindy Hazen & Mike Freeman, it tells the story.
And he did WAYYYYYYYYYYYY MORE THEN THIS!!!! He Donated the funds to have ST Jude built so every child with Cancer gets free treatment - even today, He bought the presidential yacht and donated it at auction to fund ST Jude too, He donated the money to complete the Kennedy Center in memory of JFK and declined to be the first to play as the founding member because he didn't want to seem political, He donated the funds for the USS Arizona in Hawaii to remember all the lives lost on DDay, He ended the Polio Epidemic inspiring 86% of America's youth to get vaccinated, He funded 500,000 European Refugees food, housing & relocation via Red Cross Donations. He funded an entire trauma wing at Midsouth memorial so 4 states of poor & youth can have free trauma care, he donated over 300 Cadillac alone, 300 brick homes, thousands of funerals, chemo treatments, millions of individual gifts of Jewelry, clothes, instriments, animals, make a wish were at every concert, hospital visits, even spent every night outside his home in Memphis, Beverly Hills & LA signing autographs, in the 1950's he even let fans that came from out of town CAMP ON HIS LAWN IN TENTS!!, He bought his childhood home in Tupelo and built a childs recreation center for poor kids, He signed autographs and gave fans tours at all the movie studios, even gave full fundraising concerts for Cancer fundraising, hurricane & tornado relief every year of his life from 1956, Elvis has donated to the same 55 MAJOR charities since the year he signed his 1956 contract even now every year 45yrs after his death.
Saludos
Ojalá pudieran subtitular en español. Gracias!
Amazing
Im from El Monte CA, and I always wonder, did he ever played at the Legion Stadium in El monte,
Great interview.
That's so cool
Mr Tom Meros....just want to say that I really really enjoyed watching this video interview. I was born in 77 but I grew up loving rock n Roll from the 1950s and 1960s. Mainly I learned of many of the artists from these decades from my Mother. But I really got into Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly after watching the film LA Bamba that came out I think around 1987 when I was 10. 😆 I'm a musician myself and this interview was absolutely terrific to hear. Just subscribed to your channel and am looking forward to watching more of your videos on music legends of the past. Thank you and God bless. 😉
Thank you Gil Rocha for the inside story of our beloved Latino legend Ritchie Valens!
“Always Remembered & Never Forgotten”
To bad Gil Rocha you let Ritchie Valens go to Bob Keene the owner of Del-Fi Records who ripped him off big time not only from his artist royalties contract but most all his songwriting royalties and BMI air play and internet. Bob Keene should have did right thing by giving his mother and his family his royalties. But since Ritchie Valens did not have an Music Entertainment Attorney to represent him on his music contract with Bob Keene. Bob Keene took advantage of his innocence along with his mother. Let this be a lesson to the young artist who is trying to make it in the music Industry. Don’t sign the contract until you get a Music entertainment attorney who represent you for your best interest as artist and a songwriter.
Rip
He thought about the playground in his name because in 1956 Elvis did that for Tupelo and it was in all the fan magazines. He donated the money to build a rec center for West Tupelo aka Shake Rag. The black side & White Poverty had nothing but a creek. 💗
There is a park in the valley named after Richie. Now I know a reason why.
So what you are saiying the movie was some what true.
The part about Rudy was fictional.
Based on a true story with some fluff drama to make money.
✊🏼🖐🏿👊🏽
He was portrayed differently in the movie 😊
Yes. He was a jerk at first. But quickly warmed up to Richie.
Great documentary!!!
Anyone can tell me what film is the last clip “ooh! my head” and is Chuck, Chuck Berry?
The movie is “Go Johnny Go” Chuck Berry and Alan Freed along with Ritchie Valens.
Por favor coloque legenda em português 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
What a great interview Gil is a legend they shouldn't have made him a dick in the movie
Ritchie would've been Ritchie with or without you! 🙄
So gil is Rudy ?
Where is buddy holly widow
According to the history film she moved back to her native country. My question is where is buddy's kid?
Ok it’s cool he asked him to be a part of the band but the fact that he seems to be taking most of the credit is not cool apparently “BOB” heard and got interested in him so it wasn’t just cause of him being apart of the silhouettes as shown in the movie he was treated like the red headed step child so that is where the taking the credit ends well one will never know but Ritchie was a great singer
If I understood well, you desagre with mr.Rocha... I'm member of fb group dedicated to Ritchie Valens. Mr.Rocha stood up there, accusing La Bamba movie and director Louis Valdes of inaccurate interpretation, going further and arguing with anyone who desagre with him on any question about R.Valens life. He also took lot of credits for the Ritchie's career and involvement in music. If you remember the band leader of the Silhouets in the movie (called Rudy Castro there), that character was not so good toward Ritchie. He doesn't let him sing on first gig, laughin on his old amplifier etc. Could it be that Mr.Rocha fight his own private war with La Bamba movie crew because they showed him in such a bad light? (Althou the band leader in the movie have diferent name, it's obvious that there is strong parallele to mr.Rocha) And, after all, why would they doo that (showing him in such a bad light) if there isn't reason for that. Movie is 40% directors free interprentation of real events, but, even if it is, I read that there were Ritchie's family members present on the set all away from the beggining. I'm shure that they wouldn't alloud that much of free interpretation for the Rudy Castro carachter if there isn't good reason for that.... mr.Rocha already sead here, that his and Ritchies mothers knew and respected each other...
Movies are not always accurate representations of what really happened. The producers have to add drama for the viewers. I don't think Richie would have stayed in a band that treated him that way and it looks like they did gigs for a while. I believe his version over LA Bambas because it sounds like a more real representation of what happened.
Was he the one in the movie who didn't let Ritchie sing? Lol jk
"Goodnight, my love... pleasant dreams..."
Sharlena don’t you know I care
Why is Gil portrayed like a jerk in La Bamba?
It was just fictional for the movie.
Movies need drama. Otherwise they would be boring. That's why documentaries will always be better.