“Donna” is a song sung by Ritchie Valens,[1] featuring the 50s progression.[2] The song was released in 1958 on Del-Fi Records.[3] It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart the following year, becoming Valens’ highest-charting single. It was written as a tribute to his high school sweetheart Donna Ludwig.

Valens’ version

The song was recorded on December 16, 1958 at the Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles. Bob Keene is listed as being the leader of the session which included Earl Palmer on drums, Buddy Clark on bass, Valens, Rene Hall, Irving Ashby and Carole Kaye on guitars.

“Donna“, the second Ritchie Valens single released, was the A side of the influential and more famous song “La Bamba”. This single was only one of three, along with the previous single (“Come On, Let’s Go”/”Framed” – Del-Fi 4106) and the follow-up (“Fast Freight”/”Big Baby Blues” –…