He was 87. Meteorologist Haddie McLean Leaving Channel 3000, By: Naveen Rao - Published: January 18, 2018 at 11:23 am, Bob Morales is the older brother of late 1950s singing sensation, Ritchie Valens. Bly also went on to say that her daddy’s unusual dress code always turned heads everywhere he went. At the age of 16, he joined his first band called the Silhouettes as a guitarist. At this week's 20th anniversary screening, he wore a silver-studded black leather jacket and talked about his motorcycles. Following the early death of Ritchie, his family was torn into pieces. We were truly blessed to have him for all those years we did.”. He was the event's star -- rock star. Last week, Esai Morales, the actor who portrayed … Ritchie Valens net worth: Ritchie Valens was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who had a net worth of $500 thousand. Bob also had a special connection to Ritchie in that they were both driven people; one by life and one by music. After his recovery, he successfully beat prostate cancer. However, three years later, he succumbed.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'glossyfied_com-banner-1','ezslot_2',125,'0','0'])); Despite having such a troubled past, Bob went on to create a big happy family of 8 children and his wife, Joanie. The politician is Afro-Latino - his father is from Puerto Rico while his mother is African-American. Ritchie Valens died in a plane crash on February 3, 1959, in Mason City, Iowa, and the country lost one of its most talented singers. He sported a Mohawk for the better part of his life. In 2013 Valens' siblings gathered at Surf Ballroom and Museum to loan memorabilia. I also got a little abusive with Rosie [his girlfriend at that time].” His struggle with alcohol led him to a detox center several times. The idea of a Ritchie Valens biopic was first pitched back in the early '70s to music label A&M Records, but they turned it down. Early life. The Valens family's on-screen counterparts were also at the screening: Lou Diamond Phillips, who plays Ritchie; Rosana De Soto, who is seen as Connie Valenzuela, and Esai Morales, who portrays the jealous half-brother, Bob Morales--the role that is pivotal in the film. After struggling with prostate cancer for several years, Bob Morales succumbed on September 18, 2018, at the age of 81. He had four siblings, most notably his older brother, Bob Morales, who was portrayed as a bike riding enthusiast in the 1987 movie, La Bamba. As long as people remember Ritchie Valens and his music, they will also remember his older brother, Bob Morales. She was an actress, known for Gotta Travel On: Remembering When the Music Died (2015), The Ritchie Valens Story (2002) and La Bamba on Location (1987). He said about that time, “I used to drink all day and I used to tear the house down. He actually went on to become a star after being described by Esai Morales in his biopic film La Bamba. The rock ‘n’ roll pioneer was one of the first exponents of the Chicano rock movement with several hit songs like “La Bamba,” “Come On, Let’s Go,” “Donna,” and “Little Girl.”. Ritchie Valens was born in 1941 and skyrocketed to stardom at an incredibly young age. Ritchie Valens Net Worth $500,000. Mario knows Ritchie through his music and through stories told by Mama, family members, and fellow musicians who toured with Ritchie, like Tommy Allsup, Link Wrey, and Chris Montez. He has given several interviews over the years about the ordeal. Connie Valenzuela was born on October 6, 1915 as Concepcion Reyes. After his demise, his wife Joanie had this to say: “Bob was a benefit-of-the-doubt kind of a person. 2. Richard Steven Valenzuela (May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959), known as Ritchie Valens, was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Connie Valenzuela, Self: Gotta Travel On: Remembering When the Music Died. Interesting details about Iyanya: His age, net worth, albums, and latest songs. FACT CHECK: Dave Ramsey Made a Statement About America Online, FACT CHECK: CIA Director Gina Haspel Found Dead, FACT CHECK: Kwik Trip Launches “Kwik Strip” Gentlemen’s Clubs, FACT CHECK: Burisma Admitted to Paying Bribe to Joe Biden, Bobby Vee Wiki: Greatest Hits, Net Worth, Death, Wife, & Things to Know. After this treatment, he was struck by depression, and still remembers how he felt: “I had no ambition or motivation to do anything. Bob rode his bike without a license for his final 25 years. From the movie, fans learned that Bob was this rugged man with love for motorbikes and leather jackets. The live recording later became an album. Over time, the living links to that fateful night have diminished, but, Waylon Jennings revealed his haunting last words to Holly in an interview for "Behind the Music" before he, himself, passed on. He admits that when Ritchie passed away, he got angry at the world. When I went back for testing, most of my cancer cells were gone.” Morales then started supporting the non-profit organization, Grind Out Hunger. He looked really creepy, but he was charming. On Friday, his siblings loaned to the Surf Ballroom & Museum personal memorabilia from Ritchie Valens including a wallet their brother carried at the time of his death and a bow tie. They were all involved in a tragic plane crash that claimed their lives. Though he’s kept himself below the radar for many years, there have been no reports on Bob Morales’ death. Bob Morales rocks Bob Morales, brother of '50s rock legend Ritchie Valens, is still a biker at heart, just as he's portrayed in the movie, "La Bamba." But throughout this turmoil, he never forgot his brother and the love they shared. It still gets to me.” However, he is happy that so many people still watch the movie to learn about his brother saying, “People like you are keeping his memory alive.”. She was 72. Ritchie was named after the late singer Ritchie Valens after his mother watched the movie La Bamba. “Farewell, my brother. Valens, whose overnight climb to success was chronicled in this year’s hit movie ″La Bamba,″ was killed in an Iowa plane crash in 1959 at the age of 17 along with Buddy Holly and J.P. Richardson, also known as the Big Bopper. Bob Morales, brother of '50s rock legend Ritchie Valens, is still a biker at heart, just as he's portrayed in the movie, "La Bamba." He has three. © 2021 by glossyfied.com[email protected], Here Is Why Dave Rea Is Not on Graveyard Carz Anymore, Here is What Happened to the Twins in “The Witch”, The Real Reason Mike Portnoy Left Dream Theater. Bob Keane, who founded the West Coast independent label Del-Fi Records in the 1950s and is best known for discovering and recording rock legend Ritchie Valens, has died. According to her, people would stop Bob to tell him they loved his hat, leather jacket, or shoes.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'glossyfied_com-leader-1','ezslot_5',127,'0','0'])); Bob Morales might have left the planet, but his spirit sure lives on. ", a white shirt and underclothing. KION: Legendary Bob Morales, brother of music icon Ritchie Valens, passes away. Considering he is at least in his late 70s, many are wondering if he is still alive. Guardado por Beverly Laramie. Doing the treatments had thrown him into depression, but he’d managed to pull through. He has three. By his own admission, Morales still finds it very difficult to sit and watch La Bamba, which is about him and his brother. You accorded me a lot to work with and be thankful for.” The actor included a photo of Bob’s muse adorning a Mohawk and standing beside a motorcycle – symbolic of Bob’s gritty life.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'glossyfied_com-box-4','ezslot_1',124,'0','0'])); Bob had been fighting prostate cancer for more than ten years before his demise. His mother named him after the late Mexican American singer Ritchie Valens following the release of the 1987 film “La Bamba.” He has given several interviews over the years about the ordeal. One of the late personalities, Bob Morales is a mechanic and car enthusiast.However, he is best known as the older brother of the famous singer and songwriter, Ritchie Valens. It’s been six decades since the plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson. After Morales found out about his brother’s death, he became bitter and angry at the world and started drinking heavily. He always insisted that the truth didn’t have an explanation.”. Eventually, the two hit it off, and five years later, a daughter had been borne from the union. Recorded LIVE ,May 02, 1997 - Ernestine and Ernie Reyes are the Aunt and Cousin of Ritchie Valens. He admits that when Ritchie passed away, he got angry at the world. At 70, he's "still bad," his wife Joanie said. Bob Morales, the older brother of rock legend Ritchie Valens, and who made a name for himself from Pacoima to Northern California during his own … Ritchie with his older brother Bob 1958, Pacoima Jr. High. People are wondering what happened to Ritchie Valen’s brother, and we have details about him right here. His spirit was unique. Bob and Joanie went on to have seven more kids. While growing up, Valens listened to a lot of mariachi, flamenco, blues and R&B muisic. He was as real as they come. We adored him. He was the event's star -- rock star. Valens' youngest brother, who was just 18 months old when Valens … His short-lived music career led him to release hit songs, La Bamba, Donnie, and Come On, Let’s Go. He cherished dashing down California highways and regardless of not having a driver’s license the final 25 years of his life, was by no means in a significant accident. Morales, the older brother of famed musician Ritchie Valens, was an icon in his own right. Richard Steven Valenzuela aka Ritchie Valens rose to fame for his notable hit, “La Bamba”, an adaptation of Mexican folk song.Well, it became super hit in 1958. On February 3, 1959, Ritchie Valens, brother of Bob Morales, died in a plane crash at the age of 17 along with composer Buddy Holly, in Iowa, United States. Today, let’s take a look at Bob Valens’ life and what became of him. A plane crash in Iowa claimed the lives of pilot Roger Peterson, Buddy Holly, J.P. Richardson, and Ritchie Valens. He met Joanie when he took up a job as a substance abuse counselor at a rehab center in California back in 1962. Ritchie Valens. Valens played guitar and sang with a local high school band until he was discovered in 1958. Bob was asked about the way he was portrayed in the movie, La Bamba, and after thinking for a moment, he said, “They made me look good.” Bob and his wife Joanie make their home on the central coast of California. Morales was just 21 years old when Valens died, and he took it hard. She was an actress, known for Gotta Travel On: Remembering When the Music Died (2015), The Ritchie Valens Story (2002) and La Bamba on Location (1987). On February 3, 1959, he, alongside other big names in music such as J.P. Richardson, pilot Roger Peterson, and Buddy Holly, hopped on a plane but never made it to their destination. Alanna Sarabia Leaving WFAA: Why Is She Leaving “GMT”?