Portal:Hispanic and Latino Americans/Featured article/20

La Bamba is a 1987 American biographical film written and directed by Luis Valdez that follows the life and career of Chicano rock 'n' roll star Ritchie Valens. The film stars Lou Diamond Phillips as Valens, Esai Morales, Rosanna DeSoto, Elizabeth Peña, Danielle von Zerneck, and Joe Pantoliano. The film also covers the effect that Valens' career had on the lives of his half-brother Bob Morales, his girlfriend Donna Ludwig and the rest of his family.

This production had the full support of the Valenzuela family. The real Bob Morales and Connie Valenzuela came to the set to help the actors portray their characters accurately, and Connie (in life known as "Concha") makes a cameo appearance as an older lady sitting next to Ritchie at the family's first party. (more...)