[13] In 1987, Valdez served as an associate producer of La Bamba, the biopic based on the life of Ritchie Valens.
[4] Daniel Valdez sang and played guitar on Linda Ronstadt's multi-platinum album Canciones de Mi Padre.
[4][8][12] In 1997, Valdez served as a musical consultant and a historical expert for the San Diego Repertory Theatre and Southwestern College's revival of Zoot Suit.
[8][9] That same year, he reprised his role as musical director at the Goodman Theater in Chicago for their production of Zoot Suit.
[19] In 2010, Valdez acted in the TheatreWorks production of José Cruz González's play, Sunsets and Margaritas at the Lucie Stern Theatre.