Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995) was an American singer-songwriter who became one of the most celebrated Mexican-American entertainers of the late 20th century.[1] Known as the "Queen of Tejano Music," she transformed the traditionally male-dominated genre and brought it into the mainstream.[1]
Born at Freeport Community Hospital in Lake Jackson, Texas, Selena was the youngest child of Abraham Quintanilla Jr. and Marcella Ofelia Quintanilla.
After the family restaurant failed during the 1981 oil recession, forcing them into bankruptcy, the family relocated to Corpus Christi, where Abraham formed the band Selena y Los Dinos.
Selena's early career was marked by struggle. Venues frequently refused to book her because she was a female lead singer in a male-dominated scene, and promoters told her father she'd never succeed.[1] She withdrew from school in eighth grade to tour full-time, later earning her high school diploma from the American School of Correspondence in Chicago at age 17.[1] Despite these obstacles, she won the Tejano Music Award for Female Vocalist of the Year in 1987 — and would win it for nine consecutive years.[1]
Her 1992 album "Entre a Mi Mundo" became the first Tejano album by a female artist to sell over 300,000 copies, and her 1994 album "Amor Prohibido" is considered one of the most essential Latin recordings of the past 50 years.[1][2] She was a Grammy Award winner, a fashion designer who ran her own boutiques, and was on the verge of her English-language crossover when she was killed.[1]
Beyond music, Selena was deeply committed to her community. She regularly visited schools to talk about the importance of education, warning students against alcohol and drugs.[1] She worked with D.A.R.E., volunteered at homeless shelters, served as a spokesperson for women in abusive relationships, and planned a fundraising concert for AIDS patients.[1] She participated in the Texas Prevention Partnership and headlined the Teach the Children festival in San Antonio.[1]
On April 2, 1992, Selena eloped with Chris Pérez, the band's guitarist, after her father initially opposed their relationship.[1] Their love story became one of the most celebrated romances in Latin music history.
Selena's murder at age 23 by Yolanda Saldívar, the manager of her fan club and boutiques, sent shockwaves through the nation.[1] Reactions were compared to the deaths of John Lennon and Elvis Presley.[3] Her funeral drew 60,000 mourners, and People magazine's commemorative issue sold nearly a million copies — the first time an issue had ever sold out.[4] Her posthumous crossover album "Dreaming of You" debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making her the first Hispanic artist to achieve that milestone.[1]
Her death is widely credited with opening doors for a generation of Latin artists including Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, and Shakira.[1] In 2017, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, drawing the largest crowd in the ceremony's history.[1] Singer Selena Gomez was named after her.[1] In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked her number 89 on their list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.[5]
Watch Yolanda Saldívar on Abraham Quintanilla: “I Was More Loyal to [Selena] Than to Him” | Selena and Yolanda: The Secrets Between Them Season 1 - Episode 2 Video
