Ritchie Valens - Donna (tribute to my big sis!)

My family consisted of Dad, Mom and 5 kids. My brother was born in 1943 while my Dad was fighting the Japanese in the South Pacific. Donna was born May 8, 1946. Then I was born in 1948 and two more sisters in '49 and '52. We were a close and happy family. Donna was a beautiful girl and just loved to baby the rest of us. She was the only one in the world who could call me Johnny and not have a fight on her hands. I hated being called Johnny but I loved her more. Donna had a hard life after leaving home but always gave much more than she received - more than she could afford. She taught me a lot about growing up and especially about girls. She taught me how to dance, attract girls and have fun. Everyone loved Donna and I miss her a lot.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• big sisters
• pop rock 1950s

[mantonhabs]

What a fantastic video and thank you for sharing such wonderful memories. Donna was beautiful indeed and how great it must have felt to the inspiration for such an amazing song. Only a handful of songs give me goosebumps or bring me on the verge of tears, Donna and Buddy Holly's True Love Ways.

[John1948Ten]

@mantonhabs Thank you. It's very special to me.

[Vintageart1994]

Very beautiful tribute to your sister John. I got tears in my eyes just by watching this beauitful video and hearing this song....Donna is such a beauitful name and this song just proves it.

I sure your sister would love this video :)

God bless you, john!

Vali.

[John1948Ten]

@Vintageart1994 Thank you Vali.

[TheTrinityRo]

This is a very nice tribute to your sister,a very nice act from you!You deserve all the respect for such a nice thing,that reminds us once again that you can't forget your blood relatives,that you must share your feelings along them,respect and love them all your life,no matter what happened in the past.Congratiulations!

[John1948Ten]

@TheTrinityRo Thank you.

[mikenewcomb]

Loved this song since I first heard it many years ago.

Still have the Del Phi record. It is of course the 'other' side of La Bamba, another classic. The third (often forgotten) one from Ritchie is C'mon Lets Go.

Sorry to hear about your Donna, who was born the same day as myself. Remember the happy times you had together.

Regards - Mike

[yancypelter]

fantastic tribute! 

[bridget9880]

@mantonhabs true love ways was my grandparents 'song', he passed in 2009, and my gramma still cannot hear it without coming to tears :(

[chkjns]

Really beautiful, John. How cool it must have been to be a 12 year old girl hearing a love song with your name on the radio constantly! Ritchie Valens career lasted all of 8 months, so sad. Died because of a broken down bus with no heat hired by their tour promoter. Their drummer was actually hospitalized with frostbite! Added this to my 1958 playlist.

To update you, I've got 3600 songs on the 111 playlists for 1900-2010. My vlogging has lured 18000 views this year & snared 790 subscribers!