Ritchie Valens

Ritchie Valens was a Latin rock musician popular in the fifties. He had two hit singles. His debut album was a hit. He had a notable influence on other Latin musicians including Santana. Likely due to his lack of commercial success he was not inducted until 2001, but his association with the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson in what was immortalized in the Don McLean folk rock hit as "The Day the Music Died" likely pushed for his induction.