As the first Chicano rock-and-roll star, Ritchie Valens is best remembered for his biggest hit, "La Bamba," which became popular in January of 1959. His other songs included "Come On Let's Go" and "Donna." Tragically, Valens was just beginning his rise to fame when he was killed in a plane crash on February 3, 1959. Famous musicians Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper were also killed, along with Valens, in the crash.
As Spain's best selling singer in history, Julio Iglesias's resume of Latin-American music is extensive. From the beginning of his career in 1968 when he won a songwriter's contest in Spain, Iglesias's career includes the 1988 Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album for "Un Hombre Solo" or "A Single Man." His other famous albums include 1984's "1100 Bel Air Place" and "Tango." His famous singles include "To All the Girls I've Loved Before," "All of You" and "Gwendolyne." Iglesias's son, Enrique, is also a world-famous singer.
As the lead singer of the Miami Sound Machine, Gloria Estefan has made major contributions to the world of Latin-American music. In the early 1980s, the band rose to fame in Spanish-speaking countries with the release of four Spanish-language albums. With their single "Conga," the Miami Sound Machine began to get the attention of English-speaking audiences as well. Famous English-language albums include "Primitive Love" and "Let It Loose." On March 20, 1990, Estefan, her family and band were involved in a bus accident that left the singer with a broken vertebra in her back. After having steel rods placed in her back and extensive physical therapy, Estefan miraculously recovered. During the 1990s Estefan released four solo albums, including 1996's "Destiny."
Known as the Queen of Tejano music, singer Selena Quintanilla was famous throughout Mexico and Latin America. Selena began her musical career as the lead singer of Selena Y Los Dinos, a band her father formed that consisted of a young Selena and her siblings. In 1987 Selena won Best Female Vocalist of the Year and Performer of the Year at the Tejano Music Awards. In 1993 Selena was awarded a Grammy for Best Mexican-American Album. Tragically, Selena was murdered by her fan club founder, Yolanda Saldivar, on March 31, 1995.