Selena Quintanilla Open Casket Photo, Autopsy, Favorite Food, Birthday, Murder, Family, Husband, Height
Selena Quintanilla Open Casket Photo, Autopsy, Favorite Food, Birthday, Murder, Family, Husband, Height – Selena Quintanilla, a beloved American singer, was born on April 16, 1971, in Lake Jackson, Texas. She was the youngest child of Marcella Ofelia Quintanilla, who had Cherokee ancestry, and Abraham Quintanilla Jr., a Mexican American former musician. Interestingly, the obstetrician-gynecologist at Selena’s birth was none other than Ron Paul, who would later become a member of the House of Representatives.
Selena Quintanilla Bio
Growing up, Selena’s family adhered to the Jehovah’s Witness faith. Her father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., recognized her musical talents at a very young age. He remarked on her impeccable timing and pitch, recognizing her potential as a singer even when she was just six years old.
In 1980, Quintanilla Jr. opened a Tex-Mex restaurant called Dad Gayo’s in Lake Jackson. Selena, along with her siblings Abraham III (on bass guitar) and Suzette Quintanilla (on drums), often performed at the restaurant. Unfortunately, the restaurant had to close its doors the following year due to economic challenges brought about by the 1980s oil crisis. The family relocated to Corpus Christi, Texas, where Quintanilla Jr. became the manager and promoter of the newly formed band, Selena y Los Dinos. In their early days, they performed at street corners, weddings, quinceañeras, and fairs to make ends meet.
Selena Quintanilla Career
Selena’s rising fame as a singer began to slow down her education. Her father made the decision to take her out of school when she was in the eighth grade. Selena’s teacher, Marilyn Greer, was concerned about her musical career and even threatened to report Quintanilla Jr. to the Texas Board of Education, as she believed that Selena’s circumstances were inappropriate for a girl her age. However, Quintanilla Jr. defended his decision, telling Greer to “mind her own business.” Other teachers also noticed how tired Selena appeared when she came to school, expressing their concerns.
Despite the challenges, Selena continued her education through alternative means. She graduated from the American School of Correspondence in Chicago at the age of seventeen and was accepted at Louisiana State University. Eventually, she enrolled at Pacific Western University, where she studied business administration.
Quintanilla Jr. refurbished an old vehicle named “Big Bertha” and used it as their transportation for touring. In the early years of touring, the family often sang for food and struggled to cover gas expenses. Selena recorded her breakthrough LP, “Selena y Los Dinos,” for Freddie Records in 1984. Despite her desire to record English-language songs, Selena chose to focus on Tejano music, a male-dominated Spanish-language genre with influences of polka, jazz, and country music, popular among Mexicans living in the U.S. Quintanilla Jr. believed that Selena should sing songs that celebrated her heritage.
During the recording sessions for the album, Selena had to learn Spanish phonetically with her father’s assistance. To promote the album, Selena appeared on the Johnny Canales Show, a popular Spanish-language television program, in 1985. She continued to make appearances on the show for several years. Selena’s talent didn’t go unnoticed, and she won the Female Singer of the Year award at the Tejano Music Awards in 1987, a title she would hold for the next nine years.
However, due to the members’ ages and Selena’s role as the lead vocalist, the band often faced rejection from Texas music venues. Promoters frequently told Quintanilla Jr. that Selena would never achieve lasting success in a genre dominated by men. Despite these challenges, Selena released five more albums by 1988, including “Alpha” (1986), “Munequito de Trapo” (1987), “And the Winner Is” (1987), “Preciosa” (1988), and “Dulce Amor” (1988).
In 1989, Selena released her self-titled debut album, “Selena.” Most of the songs were recorded at Amen Studios in San Antonio, Texas, with the exceptions of “Sukiyaki” and “My Love,” which were recorded at Dawn Studios in Houston. While Selena’s brother, A.B., became her primary record producer and songwriter, he didn’t write all the songs on the album. One notable track, “Sukiyaki,” was originally a Japanese song from the 1960s by Kyu Sakamoto. Selena’s version used Janice Marie Johnson’s Spanish interpretation of an English version of the song.
The album reached number seven on the U.S. Billboard Regional Mexican Albums chart, marking Selena’s most successful debut on a national music chart. The album outperformed other records by female Tejano artists at the time. Coca-Cola even endorsed Selena to be one of their Texas representatives in the same year. The jingle used in her first two ads for the company was written by A.B. and Chris Pérez, the latter of whom had recently joined Selena y Los Dinos as the band’s new guitarist. Despite having a boyfriend in San Antonio, Pérez began to develop romantic feelings for Selena.
Pérez believed it would be best for both of them to distance themselves from each other after a trip to Mexico with the band. However, he found it impossible to do so and chose to pursue a relationship with her. They confessed their feelings for each other at a Pizza Hut restaurant and married shortly after. To keep their relationship hidden, Selena and Pérez decided to elope on April 2, 1992, hoping that Quintanilla Jr. would eventually accept their relationship and they would no longer need to hide their love.
Their elopement, just hours after their marriage, became public knowledge, sparking media interest. Selena’s family initially attempted to locate her, and Quintanilla Jr. distanced himself for a period. However, he later reconciled with Pérez and accepted their marriage. In September 1990, Selena released her second studio album, “Ven Conmigo,” which included the hit single “Baila Esta Cumbia.” The song’s popularity in Mexico led to a platinum certification for sales of 150,000 units by the Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas (AMPROFON).
Around this time, Yolanda Saldivar, a registered nurse and fan, approached Quintanilla Jr. with the idea of starting a fan club in San Antonio. Saldivar’s request was granted, as Quintanilla Jr. believed the fan club would help increase the band’s exposure. Saldivar quickly became a close friend to Selena and her family, ultimately becoming the fan club’s acting president in 1991. That same year, Selena recorded a duet with Salvadoran singer Álvaro Torres, titled “Buenos Amigos,” which reached number one on the Billboard Top Latin Songs chart in the U.S.
The success of “Buenos Amigos” allowed Selena to tour both the west and east coasts of the United States, marking an important phase in her career. Her 1992 release, “Entre a Mi Mundo,” was considered her breakthrough album. It topped the U.S. Billboard Regional Mexican Albums chart for several weeks and was certified 10x Platinum by the RIAA for selling 600,000 equivalent album units.
Selena’s fame was on the rise, and her music began to gain popularity even in Mexico, where Mexican-Americans were not always well-received by the public. Her hit song “Como la Flor” became her signature recording and was considered a career-defining moment. It helped Selena conquer the Latin music charts and become immensely popular in Mexico. The song received critical acclaim and was nominated for Song of the Year at the Tejano Music Awards in 1993.
Tragically, Selena’s life was cut short when she was fatally shot on March 31, 1995, by Yolanda Saldivar, the former president of her fan club. Selena’s murder shook her fans and the Hispanic community to its core. Her death was widely covered in the media, with comparisons to the deaths of other iconic figures like John Lennon and Elvis Presley. Selena’s family and fans mourned her loss, and her funeral drew thousands of grievers.
Selena Quintanilla Legacy
The impact of Selena’s legacy extended far beyond her untimely death. Her music continues to inspire and resonate with people around the world, and she is remembered as one of the most influential Latin artists of all time. Despite the tragedy of her murder, Selena’s memory lives on, and her contributions to music and culture remain timeless.
Who was Selena Quintanilla?
Selena Quintanilla was a celebrated American singer born on April 16, 1971, in Lake Jackson, Texas. She was known for her contributions to Tejano music and her crossover success.
What was Selena’s family background?
Selena was the youngest child of Marcella Ofelia Quintanilla, who had Cherokee ancestry, and Abraham Quintanilla Jr., a Mexican American former musician. She grew up in a Jehovah’s Witness family.
How did Selena’s musical career begin?
Selena’s father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., recognized her musical talents when she was just six years old. He opened a Tex-Mex restaurant where Selena and her siblings often performed. Later, he formed the band “Selena y Los Dinos,” where Selena’s singing talent shone.
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