Donna (1958) by Ritchie Valens
“‘Cause I love my girl,
Donna, where can you be?”
Inspiration : Donna Ludwig
Donna was written by Richie Valens to his high school sweetheart, Donna Ludwig. The song was so popular that it reached the number two spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Ritchie Valens / Donna Ludwig. Photo By Getty Images/ Bettmann / Contributor
Unfortunately, Valens died in a plane crash along with Buddy Holly and J. P. Richardson, just eight months into his music career. He was only 17 years old. She first learned of the song Donna after Valens called her up one night to tell her that he had written a little something for her. “Of course, I cried,” Ludwig later told reporters at ABC. “It was just very, very touching.”