L to R; Hector Ponce, artist, Monica Rodriguez, Los Angeles City Councilmember and Congressman Tony Cardenas with a rending of a mural which Ponce will paint on the side of the Pacoima Post Office Friday, May 13, 2022. On Friday the United States Postal Service and Congressman Tony Cardenas renamed the Pacoima Post Office as the Ritchie Valens Post Office. The dedication took place on what would have been the the rock ‘n’ roll singer-songwriter’s 81st birthday. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A rendering of a mural by artist Hector Ponce which will be painted on the side of the Pacoima Post Office Friday, May 13, 2022. On Friday the United States Postal Service and Congressman Tony Cardenas renamed the Pacoima Post Office as the Ritchie Valens Post Office. The dedication took place on what would have been the the rock ‘n’ roll singer-songwriter’s 81st birthday. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
L to R; Irma Norton, Ritchie Valens sister, Congressman Tony Cardenas, Rose Morales, Ritchie Valens sister, Monica Garcia, LA councilmember, Assembly member Luz Rivas and State Sen. Robert Hertzberg sing happy birthday to Ritchie Valens at the newly named Ritchie Valens post office in Pacoima, CA Friday, May 13, 2022. On Friday the United States Postal Service and Congressman Tony Cardenas renamed the Pacoima Post Office as the Ritchie Valens Post Office. The dedication took place on what would have been the the rock ‘n’ roll singer-songwriter’s 81st birthday. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rosie Morales, Ritchie Valens sister, left, and artist Hector Ponce with a rendering of the mural he will paint on the side of the Ritche Valens post office in Pacoima, CA, Friday, May 13, 2022. On Friday the United States Postal Service and Congressman Tony Cardenas renamed the Pacoima Post Office as the Ritchie Valens Post Office. The dedication took place on what would have been the the rock ‘n’ roll singer-songwriter’s 81st birthday. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rock and Rollers Randy Galarza, left, of Duarte and Gil Rocha of Lancaster, both Ritchie Valens fans, share stories at the ceremony to rename the Pacoima Post office the Ritche Valens post office Friday, May 13, 2022. On Friday the United States Postal Service and Congressman Tony Cardenas renamed the Pacoima Post Office as the Ritchie Valens Post Office. The dedication took place on what would have been the the rock ‘n’ roll singer-songwriter’s 81st birthday. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Ritchie Valens poses for a portrait in Los Angeles, California in 1958. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
A copy of the poster for the dance party Ritchie Valens was scheduled to perform at before his death along with Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper at the Ritchie Valens post office dedication Friday, May 13, 2022. On Friday the United States Postal Service and Congressman Tony Cardenas renamed the Pacoima Post Office as the Ritchie Valens Post Office. The dedication took place on what would have been the the rock ‘n’ roll singer-songwriter’s 81st birthday. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Congressman Tony Cardenas unveils a plaque which re-names the Pacoima Post Office the Ritchie Valens post office Friday, May 13, 2022. On Friday the United States Postal Service and Congressman Tony Cardenas renamed the Pacoima Post Office as the Ritchie Valens Post Office. The dedication took place on what would have been the the rock ‘n’ roll singer-songwriter’s 81st birthday. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
L to R; Hector Ponce, artist, Monica Rodriguez, Los Angeles City Councilmember and Congressman Tony Cardenas with a rending of a mural which Ponce will paint on the side of the Pacoima Post Office Friday, May 13, 2022. On Friday the United States Postal Service and Congressman Tony Cardenas renamed the Pacoima Post Office as the Ritchie Valens Post Office. The dedication took place on what would have been the the rock ‘n’ roll singer-songwriter’s 81st birthday. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Ritchie Valens (File photo)
Ritchie Valens’ image, foreground, is featured with the other victims of the Feb. 3, 1959 plane crash in this mural, “The Day the Music Died,” by Levi Ponce in Valens’ hometown of Pacoima. (File photo)
Attendees dance to Ritchie Valens hits playing live at the Ritchie Valens Festival held at Ritchie Valens Park in Pacoima on Saturday, August 25, 2018. (Photo by Dan Watson)
This mural, La Bamba, by Hector Ponce is on Van Nuys Boulevard and Amboy Avenue. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Ritchie Valens will always hold a special place in the heart of Pacoima residents. Now, the “La Bamba” kid turned rock ‘n’ roll legend, has his own post office.
The United States Postal Service and Rep. Tony Cárdenas, D-Van Nuys, held a ceremony to rename the Pacoima Post Office as the Ritchie Valens Post Office, on Friday, May 13.
The dedication at 13507 Van Nuys Blvd. included a plaque unveiling and mounting in the lobby of the post office.
The ceremony was held on what would have been the rock ‘n’ roll singer-songwriter’s 81st birthday.
Ritchie Valens, sometimes called a forefather of the Chicano rock movement, died at age 17 on Feb. 3, 1959 in a plane crash in Iowa. He was born on May 13, 1941 in Pacoima and attended Pacoima Junior High and San Fernando High School.
Valens was discovered in 1958 at an American Legion Hall in Pacoima. His hit songs include “Come On, Let’s Go” and “Donna,” and his rock ‘n’ roll version of the classic Mexican folk song “La Bamba.”
He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 by singer Ricky Martin at a ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio.
Also at the dedication, Los Angeles City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez showed a preliminary rendering of a mural that is scheduled to be painted on a side of the post office.
The honor joins a list of other remembrances in the Pacoima area that include the Ritchie Valens Memorial Highway on the 5 Freeway between the 170 and the 118 freeways, the Ritchie Valens Recreation Center and many murals in the community that depict his image.
Dignitaries who attended the event included members of the Valens family, the musician’s former bandmates, Al Santos, the postal service district manager, State Sen. Robert Hertzberg and Assemblymember Luz Rivas.
Rep. Cárdenas introduced legislation to rename the building for the singer-musician. President Donald Trump signed the legislation into law (HR 1253) on Dec. 12, 2019 for the post office renaming.
The Marilyn Monroe Post Office, 6531 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys, was also created by the president’s signature on that same date.
