La Bamba

Mexican folk song

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

"La Bamba" is a traditional Mexican folk song and dance. While its exact origins are debated, it is often associated with the state of Veracruz and is a popular wedding song.1

The song gained international fame when Ritchie Valens, an American singer of Mexican descent, released a rock and roll version in 1958. Valens's rendition, sung in Spanish, became his best-remembered recording and a significant hit. In 2018, "La Bamba" was added to the U.S. National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for its cultural and historical significance.23

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Ritchie Valens
… written for an ex-girlfriend, and “La Bamba,” Valens’s best-remembered recording, a rock and roll reworking of a traditional Mexican wedding song, sung in Spanish (though Valens hardly spoke the language). He performed the Little Richard-inspired “Ooh! My Head” in the film Go, Johnny, Go! (1959).
Read More
… written for an ex-girlfriend, and “La Bamba,” Valens’s best-remembered recording, a rock and roll reworking of a traditional Mexican wedding song, sung in Spanish (though Valens hardly spoke the language). He performed the Little Richard-inspired “Ooh! My Head” in the film Go, Johnny, Go! (1959).
Read More