Selena Quintanilla-Pérez was a famous American singer-songwriter who earned the title of “Queen of Tejano Music” due to her impact on both the music industry and the fashion scene. She was highly revered as one of the most beloved Mexican-American entertainers of the late 20th century.
Selena Quintanilla Bio Details
Full name: Selena Quintanilla
Date of birth: April 16, 1971
Place of birth: Freeport, Texas, U.S.
Died: March 31, 1995 (aged 23)
Place of death: Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
Education: Pacific Western University
Occupation: Musician
Husband: Chris Pérez
Father: Abraham Isaac Quintanilla, Jr.
Mother: Marcella Ofelia Samora
Childhood
Selena Quintanilla-Perez was born on April 16, 1971, in Lake Jackson, Texas. She grew up in a Jehovah’s Witnesses family. Her father opened a Mexican restaurant where Selena and her siblings performed. Due to an ’80s recession, the restaurant closed, and the family declared bankruptcy and lost their home.
The Quintanillas moved to Corpus Christi, where Selena joined Selena y Los Dinos, managed by her father. The group performed at weddings and on street corners to help the family financially. Her father saw her potential and withdrew her from school in eighth grade.
However, at the age of 17, she managed to graduate from high school and was subsequently admitted into Pacific Western University, where she pursued a degree in business administration.
It was during her time at the university that Selena first began to explore Tejano music, a genre widely enjoyed by Mexican-Americans that combines elements of polka, jazz, and country with a fusion of both Latin and German styles.
Career
Selena Quintanilla gained fame in the Tejano community in the mid-’80s with Selena y Los Dinos. She then signed with EMI Latin Records. Her 1989 self-titled album reached number seven on the Billboard charts. This success led to working with brands like Coca-Cola.
In 1990, she released Ven Conmigo with the hit song Baila Esta Cumbia. In 1992, her 10x platinum album Entre a Mi Mundo made her more popular in Mexico, where Tejano artists were often disliked. During this time, Selena toured a lot in Mexico.
In 1994, Selena Quintanilla launched a clothing line and opened two successful boutiques in Texas. She became one of the highest-earning Latin musicians. Her fourth album, Amor Prohibido, was released that year.
She made Tejano music more popular with younger audiences than anyone else. By 1995, EMI Records planned to turn her into an English-language crossover star. She also began acting in movies.
Death
In 1994, Quintanilla-Perez hired Yolanda Saldívar to manage Selena’s boutiques. Yolanda had poor management skills, firing and mistreating employees. Despite her family’s warnings, Selena wasn’t concerned about Yolanda’s behavior.
Selena’s stores were struggling. Her family found out that Yolanda was cheating fans. They told Yolanda to prove she was innocent or face the police. Selena stayed friends with Yolanda and kept seeing her. Things got worse when Yolanda refused to give Selena important bank information that she needed to file her taxes.
Quintanilla-Perez confronted Yolanda at a motel. Selena asked for the bank information again. Yolanda pulled out a gun and shot Selena in the right shoulder as she tried to escape.
Selena Quintanilla reached the lobby and reported the incident to staff. Police caught Yolanda as she fled in her truck. Selena’s gunshot wound caused heavy bleeding, and she had no pulse upon arrival at the hospital.
An emergency room doctor tried to revive her, but she developed an erratic heartbeat and needed surgery. She was pronounced dead 50 minutes into the operation.
Net Worth
At the time of her passing in 1995, Selena Quintanilla-Perez, also known by her first name alone, had a net worth of $5 million, taking inflation into account. She was a renowned singer and songwriter.
