Who is Bob Morales?

Roberto ‘Bob’ Morales was born in 1937, in the San Fernando Valley, California USA, of Mexican ancestry, and passed away in 2018 in Watsonville, California at the age of 81. He was known as a mechanic and avid motorcycle and car enthusiast, but was probably best recognized for being the elder half-brother of the famous guitarist, singer and songwriter, Ritchie Valens.

How rich is he, as of now? Bob Morales Net Worth

At the time of his death, Bob Morales’ net worth was estimated at over $100,000, acquired through his career as a mechanic. On the other hand, his brother Ritchie Valens had a fortune earned through his involvement in the music industry, estimated at over $500,000 before he died.

Early Life, Parents, Siblings, Nationality, Ethnicity, Religion, Educational Background, Personal Life, Death

Bob Morales spent his early years in the San Fernando Valley – his biological father remained a mystery, while his mother was Concepción ‘Concha’ Reyes. When he was two years old, his mother remarried to José Esteban Valenzuela, who adopted him and raised him as his own son, but they divorced when he was 14 years old. He had two younger half-brothers, Ritchie Valens and Mario Ramirez, and two younger half-sisters named Irma and Connie. He held American nationality, belonged to the Hispanic ethnic group, and was a Christian.

During the 1950s, he worked temporarily with his family in San Jose agricultural camps. Regarding his education, Bob attended San Fernando High School, but was kicked out due to his behavioral problems, and sent to Rancho San Antonio’s Boys Home, where he spent several years. When he was 22 years old, his younger brother Ritchie was killed in a plane crash; following the tragedy, he started drinking heavily, and became addicted to drugs. At the time, he was married to Rosie Caballero, whom he met in Northern California and with whom he had seven children, named Brenda, Nora, Robert, Barbara, Jeery, Richard and one more.

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In the 1970s, he left them and moved to Santa Cruz County, where he ended up working as a substance abuse counselor at a detox center, where he met his future wife Joanie; they married in 1979.

Bob Morales spent most of his life working as a mechanic. He was also a well-known motorcycle and car enthusiast, who enjoyed his time behind the wheel even though he didn’t have a driver’s license in his last 25 years. He was portrayed by actor Esai Morales in the 1987 biopic “La Bamba” about his brother Ritchie’s life. In 2012, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and underwent 42 radiation therapy sessions in 42 days, after which he became a supporter of the non-profit organization Grind Out Hunger.

However, his cancer returned, and he passed away at the age of 81, leaving behind his children and more than 30 grandchildren.

Who was his brother? Ritchie Valens Short Wiki/Bio

Richard Steven Valenzuela, better known by his stage name Ritchie Valens, was born on 13 May 1941 under the zodiac sign of Taurus, in Pacoima, California USA, and passed away on 3 February 1959 in Clear Lake, Iowa USA at the age of 17. He is considered a forefather of the Chicano rock movement, and a pioneer of the Spanish-speaking rock’n’roll movement.

Career Beginnings

Ritchie grew up listening to traditional Mexican mariachi music, flamenco, jump blues, and R&B, and developing his love for performing, expressing his interest in making music on his own by the time he turned five.

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Encouraged by his father, Ritchie learned to play the guitar, trumpet, and drums. While he attended Pacoima Junior High School, he used to bring his guitar along and play songs to his friends. He then enrolled into San Fernando High School, where he joined the rock band called The Silhouettes as a guitarist at the age of 16. When their main vocalist left the band, he took the position and made his performing debut with them on 19 October 1957. In a short time, he became very popular due to his improvisational skill, and was known as ‘the Little Richard of San Fernando’.

Rise to Fame

He soon caught the attention of the owner of small record label Del-Fi Records in Hollywood, Bob Keane, who invited Ritchie to an audition, and signed him to the label in May 1958.

He chose the name ‘Ritchie’ to be different from all other ‘Richards’ in the music industry, and shortened his surname to ‘Valens’. He immediately started recording demos with a full band, that included such musicians as Carol Kaye, Earl Palmer and René Hall. The first songs they recorded at a single session were “Framed” and “Come On, Let’s Go”, both of which were instant hits, the latter peaking at No. 42 on the Billboard Hot 100, and No. 10 on the UK Singles Chart.

His next and final disc that had two songs – “Donna” and “La Bamba” – was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), since it sold more than a million copies.

The song “Donna” was a tribute to Donna Ludwig, his high school sweetheart, and was his highest-charting single, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. His most notable song was “La Bamba”, which was adapted from a Mexican folk song and ranked No. 345 on the list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine. His recording of the song was even inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame.

Further Career and Death

In 1958, Ritchie quit high school to focus on his career, and started touring across the US, and making appearances on various TV programs. Although he previously had a fear of flying since witnessing a terrible plane accident at a young age, he managed to overcome his fear.

The following year, he and his band went on the “Winter Dance Party” tour across the Midwest, which proved to be quite difficult since they had long journeys between venues and traveled in cold and uncomfortable buses which affected their health, so after their performance in Clear Lake, Iowa, they charter a small plane to reach their next venue. Shortly after the plane took off, the pilot lost control and it crashed, killing them all. Besides Ritchie and pilot Roger Peterson, there were also musicians Buddy Holly and ‘The Big Bopper’ J. P. Richardson on board.

The day of the tragic accident became known as “The Day the Music Died”, as Don McLean wrote in his 1971 song “American Pie”. In 2001, Ritchie was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

Who is Alicia Etheredge?

Alicia Christine Etheredge was born on 21 December 1973 under the zodiac sign of Sagittarius, in Culver City, California USA. She is a 48-year-old producer, manager, and businesswoman, but probably best recognized for being the wife of the famous rapper and actor Bobby Brown.

How rich is she, as of now? Alicia Etheredge Net Worth

As of early 2022, Alicia Etheredge’s net worth is estimated at over $500,000; acquired through her successful involvement in a variety of endeavors. On the other hand, her husband Bobby Brown has amassed a net worth estimated at over $2 million, through his career in the entertainment industry.

Early Life, Parents, Siblings, Nationality, Ethnicity, Religion, Educational Background

Alicia spent her early years in her hometown of Culver City, where she was raised with her sister Kim, and brother Justin by their father Henry and mother Mary Mullen Etheredge. The professions of her parents aren’t revealed to the public. She holds American nationality, belongs to African-American ethnic group and is a Christian. Little is known about her education, except that she graduated from Howard University.

Professional Career

Alicia Etheredge has made a name for herself as a manager, in collaborating with numerous film celebrities, music personalities, and athletes, such as Grammy Award-winning R&B and soul singer and songwriter Macy Gray, former Los Angeles Lakers basketball point guard Magic Johnson, and many others; in 2008, she became the manager of her future husband Bobby Brown. She also tried herself as a producer in 2008 when she worked on the episode “Outsiders Get Inn” of the CMT reality show “Outsiders Inn”. Furthermore, she is a businessman who runs her and her husband’s spice production company, Bobby Brown Foods, which produces gluten-free natural hot sauce.

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Appearance and Vital Statistics

Alicia Etheredge has long dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. She stands at a height of 5ft 6ins (1.68m), weigh around 132lbs (60kgs), with vital statistics of 34-28-35, bra size 33B, dress size 4 (US), and shoe size 6 (US).

Personal Life

Alicia and Bobby Brown have known each other from their teenage years, and have been pretty close friends; she even attended his wedding to legendary singer Whitney Houston in 1992. Following their divorce in 2007, Alicia and Bobby became romantically involved, and two years later she gave birth to their son named Cassius Brown. In May 2010, they became engaged, while their wedding ceremony took place in Hawaii on 18 June 2012. They later welcomed two daughters, Bodhi Jameson Rein in 2015 and Hendrix Estelle Sheba in 2016.

Who is her husband? Bobby Brown Short Wiki/Bio

Robert Barisford ‘Bobby’ Brown was born on 5 February 1969 under the zodiac sign of Aquarius, in Boston, Massachusetts USA. He was raised alongside his seven siblings by their father Herbert James Brown who was a construction worker, and mother Carole Elizabeth (née Williams). He began developing his love for music at the age of three, when he saw singer James Brown performing in his hometown. He would later join the church choir.

New Edition

Bobby Brown started pursuing his music career when he and his four friends, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe, Ricky Bell and Ralph Tresvant, formed the R&B and pop group New Edition in 1978, signing a record contract with Maurice Starr’s label in 1982.

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The following year, the group released their debut studio album entitled “Candy Girl”, which peaked at No. 90 on the Billboard 2000, but with the title track topping charts in both the US and the UK. Thereafter, they secured a bigger deal with MCA Records that distributed their second self-titled album in 1984, which reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart, and spawned such hit singles as “Cool It Now” and “Mr. Telephone Man”. They continued to work on their third album “All For Love” which was put out in 1985, and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). However, due to his behavioral problems, Bobby Brown was voted out that year, and the group continued to perform as a quartet.

He would later return to the group for their reunion album “Home Again” and tour from 1996 to 1997, and then again for another stint in 2005.

Solo Career

Following his departure from New Edition, Bobby Brown embarked on his solo career in 1986, with his debut solo album “King Of Stage”. Although it included the number-one R&B hit single “Girlfriend”, the album didn’t perform well. He then teamed up with some of the top R&B songwriters and producers, including Antonio ‘L.A.’ Reid, Teddy Riley and Babyface, and for his second studio album entitled “Don’t Be Cruel”, which became his most successful album to date. It topped the Billboard 200, and spawned five hit singles, including the number-one hit single “My Prerogative” and the single “Every Little Step” that earned him a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

The album was certified seven times platinum by the RIAA, with more than 12 million copies sold around the world.

In 1992, Bobby released his second studio album – “Booby” – which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, and topped the Billboard R&B Albums charts; it was a huge commercial success, and received double-platinum certification from the RIAA, and won him his second Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for the album’s lead single “Humpin’ Around”, which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. His next album “Forever” came out in 1997, but without major success. His most recent album is his fifth, entitled “The Masterpiece”, which out came in 2012.

Acting Career

Apart from being a singer and rapper, Bobby Brown also tried himself as an actor. He made his debut feature film appearance in the minor role of Mayor’s doorman in the 1989 supernatural comedy “Ghostbusters II”, which was followed by his portrayal of Three Blind Mice in the HBO children’s show “Mother Goose Rock ‘n’ Rhyme” in 1990. Five years later, he played Rose in the film adaptation of Melvin Van Peebles’ novel “Panther”, and then featured as Tee in the 1996 black romantic comedy “A Thin Line Between Love And Hate”, co-written and directed by Martin Lawrence.

During the next decade, he made guest appearances in such film titles as “Two Can Play That Game” (2001), “Gang Of Roses” (2003), “Nora’s Hair Salon” in 2004, and its sequel “Nora’s Hair Salon 2: A Cut Above” in 2008). Most recently, he competed as Crab in the fifth season of the Fox reality competition “The Masked Singer”, in 2021.