Connie Valens Comments On Her Brother, Ritchie, In Advance Of “LaBamba” Showing At PLAC

KUOO’s John Adams, Sr. recently visited with Richie’s sister, Connie Valens, who now resides in the lakes area. She explained why she decided to call the Iowa Great Lakes home…(click here for comment.) “You know, Iowa, about 25 years ago was my first time here. Just fell in love with it, with its people, with their warm welcomes and I had an opportunity this fall to relocate and a lot of places came to mind. But this one was the one that stood out far above the rest. And I know Iowa gets cold, believe me. I’ve been coming back for 25 years. So it’s no surprise and you know lots of warm fuzzy coats, hats and gloves and the people. They keep me warm. They’ve embraced me no matter where I go, especially with these articles about the movie. They kind of stop, take a double look, then keep walking!”

Connie went on to tell us who and what it was that inspired her brother to become such a prolific song writer at such a young age…(click here for comment.) “You know Richie was 17 years-old. And Bob Dylan in an interview talked about his prolific song writing at that age, because how many kids do this? I mean he was a kid and he actually wrote 22 of the 33 songs he recorded. And you know what inspired him was life. My favorite song is Come On Lets Go. That was something we heard all the time: Richie, come on let’s go! Mom, come on let’s go! Kids, come on let’s go! Come on let’s go! And as I was telling you just a little bit ago back to My Little Suzie, that is a very very special song to me. Actually Suzie was a daughter of a very good family friend who had a club foot. And when Suzie walked she would rock to the right and she would rock to the left. Another song. So his songs were from life. That’s how he wrote.”

Connie also recalled one of her favorite memories of her brother…(click here for comment.) “Richie was real meticulous about getting ready to go to perform. Whether it was a garage party or getting ready to travel. I remember sitting on the bed waiting for him to get out of the shower because he would come into the small bedroom. He would come out pretty much dressed and he’d sit there and he’d start shining his shoes. And I’d sit there and his guitar would be on the bed with the case open and I’d rub my hand through the Fender case, it so soft and fuzzy and furry. We’d talk. He used to do a spit shine. I think you remember that. And he’d go ok, you ready? I’d be sitting there making spit and no matter how much I tried to give him it was never enough. And we’d laugh. He goes is that all you got? And I go wait a minute, wait a minute, I’m trying to make more and yeah, that was our time. And a very special memory for me.”