La Bamba ( song ) - wikipedia La Bamba ( song ) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( May 2017 ) `` La Bamba '' ( pronounced ( la ˈβamba ) ) is a Mexican folk song, originally from the state of Veracruz, best known from a 1958 adaptation by Ritchie Valens, a top 40 hit in the U.S. charts and one of early rock and roll 's best - known songs. Valens ' version of `` La Bamba '' is ranked number 354 on Rolling Stone magazine ′ s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It is the only song on the list sung in a language other than English. `` La Bamba '' has been covered by numerous artists, most notably by Los Lobos, whose version was the title track of the 1987 film La Bamba and reached No. 1 in the U.S. and UK singles charts in the same year. The Los Lobos version remained No. 1 for three weeks in the summer of 1987. The music video for Los Lobos ' version, directed by Sherman Halsey, won the 1988 MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film. Contents 1 Traditional versions 2 Early recordings 3 Ritchie Valens ' version 3.1 Charts 4 Trini Lopez ' version 5 Los Lobos version 5.1 Music video 5.2 Charts 5.3 Certifications and sales 6 Other notable versions 7 See also 8 References Traditional versions `` La Bamba '' is a classic example of the son jarocho musical style, which originated in the Mexican state of Veracruz and combines Spanish, indigenous, and African musical elements. The song is typically played on one or two arpas jarochas ( harps ) along with guitar relatives the jarana jarocha and the requinto jarocho. Lyrics to the song vary greatly, as performers often improvise verses while performing. However, versions such as those by musical groups Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan and Los Pregoneros del Puerto have survived because of the artists ' popularity. The traditional aspect of `` La Bamba '' lies in the tune, which remains almost the same through most versions. The name of the dance, which has no direct English translation, is presumably connected with the Spanish verb bambolear, meaning `` to shake '' or perhaps `` to stomp ''. A traditional huapango song, `` La Bamba '' is often played during weddings in Veracruz, where the bride and groom perform the accompanying dance. Today this wedding tradition is observed less often than in the past, but the dance is still popular, perhaps through the popularity of ballet folklórico. The dance is performed displaying the newly wed couple 's unity through the performance of complicated, delicate steps in unison as well as through creation of a bow from a listón, a long red ribbon, using only their feet. The `` arriba '' ( literally `` up '' ) part of the song suggests the nature of the dance, in which the footwork, called `` zapateado '', is done faster and faster as the music tempo accelerates. A repeated lyric is `` Yo no soy marinero, soy capitán '', meaning `` I am not a sailor, I am a captain '' ; Veracruz is a maritime locale. Early recordings Although an obscure and possibly non-existent 1908 Mexican recording has been cited, the earliest certain recording of the song is that by Alvaro Hernández Ortiz, credited as El Jarocho, which was released on the Victor label in Mexico in about 1939 ( Victor 76102 ). This recording was reissued on a 1997 compilation by Yazoo Records, The Secret Museum Of Mankind Vol. 4. According to a 1945 article in Life magazine, the song and associated dance were brought `` out of the jungle '' at Veracruz by American bandleader Everett Hoagland, who introduced it at Ciro 's nightclub in Mexico City. It became popular, and the song was adopted by Mexican presidential candidate Miguel Alemán Valdés who used it in his successful campaign. Later in 1945, the music and dance were introduced at the Stork Club in New York City by Arthur Murray. A popular version by Andrés Huesca ( 1917 -- 1957 ) and his brother Victor, billed as Hermanos Huesca, was issued on Peerless Records in Mexico in about 1945 -- 46. Huesca re-recorded the song for RCA Victor in 1947, and the same year the song featured as a production number in the MGM musical film Fiesta, performed by a group called Los Bocheros and with the songwriting credited to Luis Martinez Serrano. The Swedish - American folk singer William Clauson recorded the song in several languages in the early and mid 1950s. He claimed to have heard the song in Veracruz, and in performance slowed down the tempo to encourage audience participation. Another version, `` somewhat bowdlerized '', was recorded by Cynthia Gooding on her 1953 Elektra album, Mexican Folk Songs. The song was also recorded for the French market in 1956 by Juanita Linda and her backing group Los Mont - Real. The same year, Harry Belafonte reportedly recorded the song, but a version by Belafonte was not commercially released until a live recording made at Carnegie Hall in 1960. Ritchie Valens ' version `` La Bamba '' Single by Ritchie Valens from the album Ritchie Valens A-side `` Donna '' Released October 18, 1958 Format 7 '' Recorded 1958 Genre Rock and roll tejano chicano rock rock en español Length 2 : 06 Label Del - Fi Songwriter ( s ) adapted by Ritchie Valens Producer ( s ) Bob Keane Ritchie Valens singles chronology `` Come On, Let 's Go '' ( 1958 ) `` Donna '' / `` La Bamba '' ( 1958 ) `` Fast Freight / Big Baby Blues '' ( 1959 ) `` Come On, Let 's Go '' ( 1958 ) `` Donna '' / `` La Bamba '' ( 1958 ) `` Fast Freight / Big Baby Blues '' ( 1959 ) The traditional song inspired Ritchie Valens ' rock and roll version `` La Bamba '' in 1958. Valens ' `` La Bamba '' infused the traditional tune with a rock drive, in part provided by session musicians Earl Palmer and Carol Kaye, making the song popular with a much wider record audience and earning it ( and Valens ) a place in rock history ( he was inducted posthumously into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 ). The musicians on that session were Buddy Clark : string bass, Ernie Freeman : piano, Carol Kaye : acoustic rhythm guitar, Rene Hall : Danelectro guitar ( six - string baritone guitar ), Earl Palmer : drums, Ritchie Valens : vocals, lead guitar. The song features a simple verse - chorus form. Valens, who was proud of his Mexican heritage, was hesitant at first to merge `` La Bamba '' with rock and roll but then agreed. The song ranked No. 98 in VH1 's 100 Greatest Songs of Rock and Roll in 1999, and No. 59 in VH1 's 100 Greatest Dance Songs in 2000. Furthermore, Valens ' recording of the song was inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame. When the Los Lobos cover of Valens ' version peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1987, Valens was retroactively credited with writing a No. 1 single. Charts Chart ( 1959 -- 87 ) Peak position Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 13 France ( SNEP ) 32 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 49 US Billboard Hot 100 22 Trini Lopez ' version Trini Lopez performed his own version of `` La Bamba '' on his album `` Trini Lopez Live at PJs '', released in 1963 ; this recording of the tune was later reissued as a single in 1966. Los Lobos version `` La Bamba '' Single by Los Lobos from the album La Bamba Original Motion Picture Soundtrack B - side `` Charlena '' Released June 20, 1987 Format CD single 7 '' Recorded 1986 Genre Rock and roll chicano rock rock en español Length 2 : 54 Label Warner Bros. Songwriter ( s ) Ritchie Valens Producer ( s ) Los Lobos Los Lobos singles chronology `` Come On, Let 's Go '' / `` Ooh ! My Head '' ( 1987 ) `` La Bamba '' ( 1987 ) `` Down on the Riverbed '' ( 1990 ) `` Come On, Let 's Go '' / `` Ooh ! My Head '' ( 1987 ) `` La Bamba '' ( 1987 ) `` Down on the Riverbed '' ( 1990 ) The rock group Los Lobos ' 1987 cover of Ritchie Valens `` La Bamba '' reached number one on Billboard 's Hot 100 Chart. Music Video The music video for Los Lobos ' version of the song was directed by Sherman Halsey and featured Lou Diamond Phillips ( who played Valens in the film named after the song ). The music video was the winner of the 1988 MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film. Charts Chart ( 1987 ) Peak position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) France ( SNEP ) Germany ( Official German Charts ) 7 Ireland ( IRMA ) Italy ( FIMI ) Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) Norway ( VG - lista ) Spain ( AFYVE ) Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) UK Singles ( The Official Charts Company ) US Billboard Hot 100 US Billboard Country Songs 57 US Billboard Adult Contemporary US Billboard Latin Songs US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks 11 Chart ( 2016 ) Peak position Poland ( Polish Airplay Top 100 ) 75 Certifications and sales Region Certification Certified units / Sales Canada ( Music Canada ) Platinum 100,000 France ( SNEP ) Gold 934,000 shipments figures based on certification alone Other notable versions The song has been covered by many artists. In 1956 Harry Belafonte recorded the song on an EP and in 1960 the song was included on the album `` Belafonte returns to Carnegie Hall. In 1963, Glen Campbell recorded the song on his album The Astounding 12 - String Guitar of Glen Campbell. In 1979, singer Antonia Rodriguez recorded a disco version which hit number thirty - four on the American disco chart. Los Lonely Boys, a rock trio from Texas, often include the song in their live stage act. They cite Valens as an influence in their music. See also Bambera Lasagna ( song ) References Jump up ^ `` National Geographic - Inspiring People to Care About the Planet Since 1888 ''. Worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com. Retrieved 2014 - 03 - 30. ^ Jump up to : Steve Sullivan, Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings, Volume 2, Scarecrow Press, 2013, pp. 460 - 461 Jump up ^ Arnold Rypens, The Originals. Accessed 13 April 2015 Jump up ^ `` Life Dances La Bamba in Mexico City '', Life, 15 October 1945, pp. 140 - 141 Jump up ^ `` Fiesta '', MovieMagg, February 2, 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2015 Jump up ^ Mats Johansson, Magnus Nilsson, `` William Clauson '', sunkit.com. Accessed 13 April 2015 Jump up ^ Biography, William Clauson official site. Accessed 13 April 2015 Jump up ^ Richie Unterberger, Liner notes for reissue of Cynthia Gooding 's Mexican Folk Songs. Accessed 13 April 2015 Jump up ^ Juanita Linda Et Los Mont - Réal, Discogs.com. Accessed 13 April 2015 Jump up ^ Gilliland, John ( 1969 ). `` Show 14 - Big Rock Candy Mountain : Rock ' n ' roll in the late fifties. ( Part 4 ) '' ( audio ). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries. Jump up ^ Ritchie Valens, `` Ritchie Valens in Come On. Let 's Go '' Del - Fi Records, liner notes Jump up ^ `` Latin GRAMMY Hall Of Fame ''. Latin Grammy Award. Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Ritchie Valens -- La Bamba '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Jump up ^ `` Lescharts.com -- Ritchie Valens -- La Bamba '' ( in French ). Les classement single. Jump up ^ `` Ritchie Valens : Artist Chart History '' Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` Ritchie Valens -- Chart history '' Billboard Hot 100 for Ritchie Valens. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Los Lobos -- La Bamba '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Los Lobos -- La Bamba '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2014 - 03 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Lescharts.com -- Los Lobos -- La Bamba '' ( in French ). Les classement single. Jump up ^ `` Musicline.de -- Los Lobos Single - Chartverfolgung '' ( in German ). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- Los Lobos search results '' ( in Dutch ) Dutch Top 40. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- Los Lobos -- La Bamba ''. Top 40 Singles. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- Los Lobos -- La Bamba ''. VG - lista. Jump up ^ Salaverri, Fernando ( September 2005 ). Sólo éxitos : año a año, 1959 -- 2002 ( 1st ed. ). Spain : Fundación Autor - SGAE. ISBN 84 - 8048 - 639 - 2. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- Los Lobos -- La Bamba ''. Singles Top 100. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Los Lobos -- La Bamba ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Jump up ^ `` Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia : : Związek Producentów Audio - Video ''. Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved May 23, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Canadian single certifications -- Los Lobos -- La Bamba ''. Music Canada. ^ Jump up to : `` Les Certifications ( Albums ) du SNEP ( Bilan par Artiste ) > `` Los Lobos '' > `` Ok ''. InfoDisc.fr. Archived from the original on 2014 - 10 - 30. Retrieved 2015 - 07 - 14. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). Hot Dance / Disco : 1974 - 2003. Record Research. p. 220. Jump up ^ Herman, Valli. `` Texas, with an East L.A. Edge / Los Lonely Boys for `` Heaven '' from `` Los Lonely Boys '' ``. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 June 2016. Jump up ^ Sauro, Tony. `` Los Lonely Boys are family boys ''. Recordnet.com. Local Media Group, Inc. Retrieved 21 June 2016. Preceded by `` Who 's That Girl '' by Madonna UK number one single ( Los Lobos version ) July 28, 1987 Succeeded by `` I Just Ca n't Stop Loving You '' by Michael Jackson & Siedah Garrett Preceded by `` Who 's That Girl '' by Madonna Billboard Hot 100 number one single ( Los Lobos version ) August 29, 1987 - September 12, 1987 Succeeded by `` I Just Ca n't Stop Loving You '' by Michael Jackson and Siedah Garrett Preceded by `` Ahora Te Puedes Marchar '' by Luis Miguel Billboard Hot Latin Tracks number one single ( Los Lobos version ) September 19, 1987 - October 31, 1987 Succeeded by `` Ahora Te Puedes Marchar '' by Luis Miguel Preceded by `` Joe le taxi '' by Vanessa Paradis French ( SNEP ) number one single ( Los Lobos version ) October 17, 1987 - December 26, 1987 Succeeded by `` Étienne '' by Guesch Patti Preceded by `` Laisse parler les gens '' by Jocelyne Labylle and Cheela featuring Jacob Desvarieux and Passi Belgian ( Wallonia ) number - one single ( Star Academy 4 version ) October 18, 2003 - November 8, 2003 ( 4 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Hey oh '' by Tragédie Ritchie Valens Studio albums Ritchie Valens Ritchie Live albums In Concert at Pacoima Jr. High Compilation albums Ritchie Valens Memorial Album Ritchie Valens... His Greatest Hits Volume 2 History of Ritchie Valens The Best of Ritchie Valens Songs `` Donna '' `` Bony Moronie '' `` La Bamba '' `` Bluebirds over the Mountain '' `` We Belong Together '' Related Del - Fi Records Chicano rock Bob Keane The Day the Music Died ( 1959 plane crash ) La Bamba ( film ) Los Lobos David Hidalgo Louie Pérez Cesar Rosas Conrad Lozano Steve Berlin Studio albums Si Se Puede ! Los Lobos del Este de Los Angeles... And a Time to Dance EP How Will the Wolf Survive ? By the Light of the Moon La Pistola y el Corazón The Neighborhood Kiko Papa 's Dream Colossal Head This Time Good Morning Aztlán The Ride Ride This -- The Covers EP The Town and the City Los Lobos Goes Disney Tin Can Trust Gates of Gold Live albums Live at the Fillmore Acoustic en Vivo Disconnected in New York City Compilations Just Another Band from East L.A. -- A Collection El Cancionero Mas y Mas Wolf Tracks -- Best of Los Lobos Singles `` Will the Wolf Survive '' `` La Bamba '' Related articles Lalo Guerrero Los Super Seven Los Super Seven ( album ) Canto ( Los Super Seven album ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=La_Bamba_(song)&oldid=800578375 '' Categories : 1958 singles 1987 singles Ritchie Valens songs The Youngbloods songs Star Academy France songs Selena songs Los Lobos songs Glen Campbell songs Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Billboard Hot Latin Songs number - one singles Mexican songs Number - one singles in Australia Number - one singles in Belgium Number - one singles in France Number - one singles in Italy Number - one singles in New Zealand Number - one singles in Switzerland UK Singles Chart number - one singles RPM Top Singles number - one singles Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients Latin Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients Music videos directed by Sherman Halsey Songs from Grease ( film ) Spanish - language songs Year of song unknown Warner Bros. Records singles Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from May 2017 All articles needing additional references Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for France Singlechart usages for UKsinglesbyname Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Germany Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for Swiss Singlechart usages for Poland Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Certification Table Entry usages for Canada Certification Table Entry usages for France Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Esperanto Français Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Latina Magyar Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Português Русский Suomi Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 14 September 2017, at 12 : 03. 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Question: who is the original singer of la bamba
Answer: Alvaro Hernández Ortiz