T2104

American Music

Ritchie Valens

Collins Cover Announcement

ROCK 'N ROLL -- RHYTHM & BLUES

Ritchie Valens 

This COLLINS Cover is the beginning of a great series of my First Day Covers that are dynamic, colorful and well designed. American music has caught the imagination of people throughout the world, and this series will_ honor legendary musicians whose:. rhythms and sounds blended to create new music forms. Let me tell you right up front that this is one of the sets that I plan to enter in this year's AFDCS competition and that I think it just may have the artistic flair and diversity to catch the judges' eyes. For sure, it will be a very distinctive COLLINS set and I know is one that will grow in recognition and demand.

It was a joint issue with the new stamps being released at the National Music Foundation in Santa Monica, California and the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. The first cover that I have available is Ritchie Valens with Elvis Presley, Dinah Washington, Bill Haley, Otis Redding, Buddy Holly, and Clyde McPhatter still to come. Ritchie Valens was born May 13, 1941 in Pacoima, California and was only with us a short time as he died in a 1959 plane crash at age 17. His two big hit singles were "Donna" and "La Bamba". My hand-painted cachet, done in vivid tones, shows a portrait of Valens as he poses with his guitar. Also, a 1957 Chevrolet convertible is a large part of the cachet as a symbol of the times. On each of the covers for this series, I'll be presenting the performer's name in large, hand-painted letters set against a black background. It's bold and looks very good.

And, finally, a personal note. Whatever my subject matter is, I try to produce First Day Covers that will bring credit to the long-term reputation of COLLINS and that will please my collectors. I must admit that I'm more of a traditionalist and a lover of Americana. I appreciate history and savor working with topics of nature. But traveling the U.S. has brought me in touch with many different people, and as I rolled up my sleeves and got down to work with this issue, it came down to a people thing.

As you obtain the Ritchie Valens cover and each of the others in this series, I think you will appreciate my handling of the subject matter. It is destined to be an eye-catching set and, once again, when all is said and done I believe that my COLLINS Covers will be on top of the heap. Rhythm and Blues. Rock and Roll. "La Bamba" on the juke box and a '57 Chevy in the parking lot. Ritchie Valens. Item #T2104. $10.75.