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Article: Luis Valdez & the Roots of `La Bamba'; The Director, Tracking The Ritchie Valens Story
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- July 27, 1987
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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There were three rock 'n' roll stars in the light plane that
crashed in an Iowa cornfield during a snowstorm in early February of
1959. Remember the day the music died?
Buddy Holly's songs live on mostly for better, sometimes for
worse-one's just been picked up by Buick for a commercial-and his
story's already been told on film. Maybe someday the Big Bopper will
warrant a cinematic second look, but right now, almost three decades
later, it's Ritchie Valens' turn.
"La Bamba," which opened Friday, is writer-director Luis
Valdez's poignant and passionate portrayal of Valens' all-too-brief
moment in the sun. The film, shot in various California locations,
including Valens' home town of ...