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Mario Valens
The late great Ritchie Valens wasn’t the only musical talent in the family. Mario, who was only 18 months old when his big brother passed away, knows Ritchie through his music and through stories told by Mama, family members, and fellow musicians who toured with Ritchie, like Tommy Allsup, Link Wray, and Chris Montez. Daniel Valdez – the younger brother of Luis Valdez, who was the writer and director of La Bamba, also played an important role inspiring Mario through his music.
Ritchie’s fire and drive fuelled a passion for music in Mario, who plays harmonica, writes for and sings in his own group, the Backyard Blues Band.
Mario’s band has appeared as an opening act for many well-known artists including John Lee Hooker, Los Lobos and George Thorogood and the Destroyers. Dick Dale, famous surf guitarist who toured with Ritchie, told Mario that he called Ritchie ‘Ricardo, my latin buddy’.
Mario performed at the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend, with the Chop Tops as part of their farewell tour and was invited to perform as part of the All Star Jam at Ritchie’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.
With his family’s encouragement, Mario now performs some of Ritchie’s songs in his concerts.
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The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation is a registered charity in the United States and the United Kingdom, with a mission to extend musical education to new generations regardless of income or ethnicity or learning levels.
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