Who was Selena? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Nick Name: La Reina de Tex-Mex

Also Known As: Selena Quintanilla-Pérez

Died At Age: 23

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Chris Pérez (m. 1992–1995), Chris Pérez (m. 1992–1995)

father: Abraham Quintanilla Jr.

mother: Marcella Samora

siblings: A.B. Quintanilla, Suzette Quintanilla

Born Country: United States

Rhythm & Blues Singers American Women

Died on: March 31, 1995

place of death: Corpus Christi, Texas, United States

Cause of Death: Killed

Ancestry: Mexican American

Notable Alumni: Pacific Western University

U.S. State: Texas

More Facts

education: Pacific Western University

Recommended For You

1

What genre of music did Selena perform?

Selena was known for performing Tejano music, a genre that blends traditional Mexican music with elements of country and polka.
2

How did Selena start her music career?

Selena started her music career at a young age by performing in her family's band, Selena y Los Dinos, where she showcased her vocal talent and stage presence.
3

What was Selena's iconic fashion style known for?

Selena was known for her iconic fashion style that often included bold and colorful outfits, form-fitting clothing, and statement accessories like hoop earrings and bustiers.
4

What impact did Selena have on the Latin music industry?

Selena had a significant impact on the Latin music industry by breaking barriers for female artists and bringing Tejano music to a wider audience, paving the way for future Latinx musicians.
5

What tragic event led to Selena's untimely death?

Selena's life was tragically cut short when she was fatally shot by the president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldívar, in 1995, causing shock and grief among her fans and the music world.

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Childhood & Early Life

Selena was born on April 16, 1971, in Lake Jackson, Texas, USA, to Abraham Quintanilla Jr., a former musician, and Marcella Ofelia Quintanilla.

Her father had formed a band called ‘Selena y Los Dinos,’ and Selena started fronting the band from 1981. Her two older siblings played the guitar and drums.

Selena graduated from ‘American School of Correspondence.’ At the age of 17, she got enrolled at the ‘Pacific Western University.’

In 1984, she recorded her first LP record, ‘Selena y Los Dinos.’ The following year, she appeared on a popular Spanish-language radio program titled ‘Johnny Canales Show’ in order to promote the album.

In 1987, she won ‘Female Vocalist of the Year’ award at ‘Tejano Music Awards’ after being discovered by the founder of the ‘Tejano Music Awards,’ Rick Trevino.

By 1988, Selena had released five other LP records, namely ‘Alpha,’ ‘And the Winner Is…,’ ‘Munequito de Trapo,’ ‘Dulce Amor,’ and ‘Preciosa.’

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American Rhythm & Blues Singers

Career

On October 17, 1989, Selena released her self-titled debut album. The album, which was produced by ‘EMI Latin Records,’ was recorded at ‘AMEN Studios’ in Texas. The song ‘Sukiyaki’ and the album debuted on the ‘US Billboard Regional Mexican Albums’ chart.

The same year, she became a spokesperson for ‘Coca-Cola.’ The first two jingles that she sang were composed by her brother Quintanilla III and the new guitarist of their band Chris Pérez.

In 1990, Selena released her second studio album ‘Ven Conmigo.’ One of its singles, ‘Baila Esta Cumbia,’ became one of Selena’s most popular songs.

Her 1991 album ‘Nada Se Compara Contigo’ featured a duet titled ‘Buenos Amigos’ by Selena and Álvaro Torres. The song not only topped the ‘U.S. Billboard Top Latin Songs’ chart, but also increased her airplay on popular radio channels.

In 1992, she released her breakthrough album ‘Entre a Mi Mundo.’ It peaked at number one on ‘Regional Mexican Albums’ chart for 32 consecutive weeks.

In 1993, she released ‘Live!,’ her Grammy Award-winning album. By this time, she had started appearing in cameo roles in telenovelas like ‘Dos Mujeres, Un Camino.’

In 1994, she started her own line of clothing. Two of her boutiques called ‘Selena Etc.’ were opened at Corpus Christi and San Antonio.

The year 1994 saw the release of her fourth album ‘Amor Prohibido’ which became one of the best-selling Latin albums in the US.

Major Works

All her albums were commercially successful. ‘Ven Conmigo’ was certified platinum by ‘AMPROFON.’ ‘Entre a Mi Mundo’ became the first Tejano album by a female artist to sell over 300,000 copies, while ‘Amor Prohibido’ became the second Tejano album to sell 500,000 copies. Her 1993 album ‘Live!’ was given the ‘Album of the Year’ title by the ‘Billboard Latin Music Awards.’

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Awards & Achievements

In 1994, the singer won the ‘Regional Mexican Female Artist’ award and ‘Female Vocalist of the Year’ award for her debut album ‘Selena.’

The same year, Selena Quintanilla won the ‘Grammy Award’ for ‘Live!’ She won the award under the ‘Best Mexican/American Album’ category at the 36th ‘Grammy Awards.’

‘Amor Prohibido’ won ‘Record of the Year’ at the 1995 ‘Tejano Music Awards.’ It also won the ‘Regional/Mexican Album of the Year’ at the 1995 ‘Lo Nuestro Awards.’

She also won several ‘Billboard Latin Music Awards’ for tracks like ‘Tú Sólo Tú’ and albums like ‘Selena’ and ‘Amor Prohibido.’

In 1995, Selena was inducted into the ‘Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame,’ the ‘Hard Rock Cafe's Hall of Fame,’ and the ‘South Texas Music Hall of Fame.’

‘Orange County Register’ ranked her fifth in the list of ‘100 most influential Latin musicians of the 20th century.’

Humanitarian Works

Selena supported the formation of ‘Congressional Hispanic Caucus.’ She performed for free at fund raising concerts for organizations like ‘D.A.R.E,’ ‘Dep Corporation,’ and ‘Teach the Children festival.’ She recorded pro-education videos like ‘My Music’ and ‘Selena Agrees.’ Selena often reached out to those who suffered from abusive relationships and homelessness.

Personal Life & Legacy

She was in a relationship with Chris Pérez. Since their relationship was disapproved by her father, Selena and Pérez eloped on April 2, 1992. The couple was married for three years until Selena’s death.

Yolanda Saldívar, the president of Selena’s fan club and the manager of Selena’s boutiques, was about to be fired for embezzling money worth $60,000. On March 31, 1995, she shot Selena, in an act of supposed vengeance. The bullet hit her right lower shoulder. She died of blood loss and cardiac arrest on the same day.

Selena’s mortal remains were buried at ‘Seaside Memorial Park’ in Texas.

Her album ‘Dreaming of You’ (1995), which released posthumously, created a record by selling 175,000 copies on the first day of its release.

In 1997, Selena Quintanilla was portrayed by Jennifer Lopez in the movie ‘Selena,’ which was directed by Gregory Nava.

Facts About Selena

Selena's favorite food was pizza, and she often enjoyed trying different toppings and styles from around the world.

Selena was known to have a great sense of humor and loved playing practical jokes on her friends and family.

Selena had a passion for fashion and loved experimenting with different styles, often creating her own unique looks.

Selena was an animal lover and had several pets, including a beloved dog named Sasha.

Selena was an avid reader and enjoyed diving into all kinds of books, from mystery novels to self-help guides.

1994	Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album	Winner
1994	Best Mexican-American Album	Winner

Selena Biography

You wanted to know

What genre of music did Selena perform?

How did Selena start her music career?

What was Selena's iconic fashion style known for?

What impact did Selena have on the Latin music industry?

What tragic event led to Selena's untimely death?