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A Rebel and a Riff: Ritchie Valens and the Immortal Spark of “La Bamba”
When Ritchie Valens burst onto the national scene in 1958 with his electrifying rendition of “La Bamba,” he wasn’t just launching a hit single—he was igniting a cultural moment. At just 17 years old, Valens blended raw teenage energy with a rich Mexican folk heritage, creating a rock and roll masterpiece that was both revolutionary…