Bob Keane Dies

He was raw, only played a few songs and had just a couple interesting guitar riffs, but Bob Keane would say later there was just something special about the teenager he would rename Ritchie Valens and turn into one of the biggest stars in rock 'n' roll history.

Keane, who died Saturday of kidney failure at age 87, was a hustling independent record producer in 1958 when he caught 17-year-old Richard Valenzuela's act at a small theater in a barrio section on the edge of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley.

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He is survived by his sons and two other children, Chanelle Keane and Bob Keane; his wife, Dina; his brother, Walker Kuhn and seven grandchildren.

Rest In Peace, Bob.