Lou Diamond Phillips became a big star with his portrayal of rock and roll legend Ritchie Valens in “La Bamba.” Director-screenwriter Luis Valdez (“Zoot Suit” 1981) masterfully put together this biopic about the popular Mexican-American musical artist, with Valens’ numerous songs performed by the group Los Lobos.
Co-stars alongside Phillips are Esai Morales, Rosanna DeSoto, Elizabeth Pena, Danielle von Zerneck, Joe Pantoliano, Rick Dees, Daniel Valdez, and Sam Anderson. Other notables include Brian Setzer as Eddie Cochran, Howard Huntsberry as Jackie Wilson, Marshall Crenshaw as Buddy Holly, and Stephen Lee as The Big Bopper. “La Bamba” was a success at the box office for New Visions Productions and Columbia Pictures.
Ritchie Valens perished in an airplane crash in Clear Lake, Iowa, at the age of 17, along with Buddy Holly (age 22), J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson (age 28), and the pilot. The event became known as “The Day the Music Died” after singer Don McLean referred to it as such in his 1971 hit song “American Pie.”
La Bamba (1987)
cinema
My Review
Lou Diamond Phillips became a big star with his portrayal of rock and roll legend Ritchie Valens in “La Bamba.” Director-screenwriter Luis Valdez (“Zoot Suit” 1981) masterfully put together this biopic about the popular Mexican-American musical artist, with Valens’ numerous songs performed by the group Los Lobos.
Co-stars alongside Phillips are Esai Morales, Rosanna DeSoto, Elizabeth Pena, Danielle von Zerneck, Joe Pantoliano, Rick Dees, Daniel Valdez, and Sam Anderson. Other notables include Brian Setzer as Eddie Cochran, Howard Huntsberry as Jackie Wilson, Marshall Crenshaw as Buddy Holly, and Stephen Lee as The Big Bopper. “La Bamba” was a success at the box office for New Visions Productions and Columbia Pictures.
Ritchie Valens perished in an airplane crash in Clear Lake, Iowa, at the age of 17, along with Buddy Holly (age 22), J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson (age 28), and the pilot. The event became known as “The Day the Music Died” after singer Don McLean referred to it as such in his 1971 hit song “American Pie.”