"La Bamba" is an old Mexican folk song with Spanish flamenco and African roots from the Veracruz coast in Mexico 300 years ago. Ritchie Valens recorded his rock and roll version on the B-side to his single "Donna". The original song was a special dance at weddings and can be seen in ballet folklorico performances. Since Valens grew up in the San Fernando, he had to memorize the Spanish in this song. Some of his other songs like "Come On Let's Go" were great hits but the syncretism of La Bamba's Latino heritage had an even greater lasting effect. Ritchie Valens died with Holly and the 'Big Bopper' in a plane crash in 1959 and since has become immortalized in film and covers of especially this song. Los Lobos did a faster version for the 1987 film "La Bamba". The film starred Lou Diamond Phillips and included a cover of "La Bamba".