Selena Biography



Born: April 16, 1971
Lake Jackson, Texas
Died: March 31, 1995
Corpus Christi, Texas

Hispanic American singer

Often called the "Mexican Madonna," Selena used her talent and voice to become one of popular music's fastest rising stars. Although she was murdered very early in her career, she brought great exposure to Tejano, or Tex-Mex, music.

A musical family

Selena Quintanilla-Perez was born on April 16, 1971, in Lake Jackson, Texas. Her parents were Abraham Jr. and Marcella Quintanilla. Her father had led a band in the 1950s and 1960s that played early rock and roll songs mixed with traditional Mexican music. This music, later called Tejano music, would become very popular throughout the southwest United States and Mexico. Abraham eventually gave up his music career to start a family.

Selena was the youngest of the three Quintanilla children. She attended elementary school in Lake Jackson, a small town about fifty-five miles south of Houston, Texas. When she was six years old, her father saw her talent. He was teaching her older brother, Abraham III, to play guitar when Selena began to sing. The children formed a family band. They practiced almost every day.

"Selena and the Boys"

In 1980 Selena's father opened a restaurant. The family band, called Selena y Los Dinos, would play there on weekends and at weddings and parties. Her father began to write original Spanish-language songs for the band to perform. Since Selena's first language was English, she had to learn the words to the Spanish-language songs syllable by syllable. They had many local fans, but the family restaurant failed and closed down. Her father moved the family to his hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas, to start over again.

Traveling all over the state, the band continued to perform their music. The concert touring paid off when the band opened for a popular Tejano act called Mazz. At age eleven, Selena took the stage by storm and the crowd loved her. At this time, Selena focused on her music but often missed classes and stopped going to school for good when she was in the eighth grade. To keep up with her schooling, she took courses through the American School in Chicago. She eventually earned her General Education Diploma (GED) in 1989, which is the same as earning a high school diploma.

Early recordings

Selena took some time out from touring to record music. For Corpus Christi's Freddie label, Selena recorded Mis Primeras Grabaciones in 1984. Freddie was one of the oldest and most established Spanish-language record companies in Texas. The album and its only single, "Ya Se Va," did not sell well. Switching to Cara and Manny record labels, Selena's albums did not sell much better. Living in a van, the band continued to tour by opening for larger Tejano acts in the southwest United States.

For larger and larger audiences, the band learned to play many different styles of music. They played rhythm-and-blues-based music in larger cities. They played more traditional Tejano music in small Texas towns. In 1988 Selena was popular enough that she was voted the female artist of the year at the Tejano Music Awards. She would win this

Selena. Reproduced by permission of AP/Wide World Photos.
Selena.
Reproduced by permission of
AP/Wide World Photos
.
award again for the next seven years. Her popularity increased every year.

Growing success

In 1989 Selena joined EMI Records. She suddenly had a major record company supporting her. José Behar, the head of the company's new Latin music division, knew that she could appeal to a very wide audience, not just Tejano fans. In 1991 her song with Alvaro Torres, called "Buenos Amigos," became a hit. The song went to number one on Billboard 's Latin chart and introduced her to audiences throughout the United States. With her next hit song, "Donde Quiero Que Estes," Selena continued to grow in popularity and reach wider and wider markets for her music.

The early 1990s included many bright spots in Selena's music and personal life. On April 2, 1992, Selena married twenty-two-year-old Christopher Perez. He was the lead guitarist in her band. Together they shared in the success and in Selena's growing popularity, particularly in Mexico. Her father was now writing more international-sounding songs for her. These new songs were not only popular in Mexico but also began to be heard throughout the United States and in South and Central America. The size of the audiences at her shows swelled. In February 1994 more than sixty thousand people saw her perform in Houston. In March 1994 her album Selena Live won a Grammy Award for the best Mexican American album.

Selena's growing fame also increased record sales. In July 1994 Selena released Amor Prohibido. The album would sell more than one million copies. It was the top selling Latin album of that year. It also was named the Tejano Music Award's album of the year.

English-language success

Selena was often compared with other English-language artists such as Madonna (1958–), Janet Jackson (1966–), and Mariah Carey (1969–). She was eager to make an album in her first language so that she could have the same kind of success that these artists had. In December 1993 Selena was moved to a record company that made mostly English-language records. She began recording English-language songs for a new album and continued performing.

On March 31, 1995, Selena was shot and killed by the president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldívar (1960–). Millions mourned her death and with this attention she became even more famous. Dreaming of You, the album released after her death in 1996, contained five songs sung in English. It also contained a number of traditional Tejano songs. The album was a huge hit and sold more than a million copies. It was the wide success that Selena had always hoped for. The album also introduced Tejano music to millions of new fans. At the Houston Astrodome, a place she often performed, she was honored with a memorial concert. A movie was made about her life, starring Jennifer Lopez (1970–), a year later.

For More Information

Arrarás, María Celeste. Selena's Secret: The Revealing Story Behind Her Tragic Death. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997.

Jones, Veda Boyd. Selena. Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 1999.

Marvis, Barbara J. Selena. Childs, MD: Mitchell Lane, 1998.

Wheeler, Jill C. Selena: The Queen of Tejano. Edina, MN: Abdo & Daughters, 1996.



Also read article about Selena from Wikipedia

User Contributions:

1
Robin Williams
I will always miss Selena she was a great singer, dancer and person. I think that she would like to be here to have a good time singing and dancer. I way very upset when I find out that Selena got shot. I wanted to meet her so bad and I miss her some much. I Luv u Selena.
2
Selena Quintanilla-Perez
I saw the movie it was sad how all of her sucess came trashing down due to death from someone who she trusted.
3
Danielle
I loved Selena's movie and it was a good movie and it was sad how she died and I love her so much. But she is in a better place right now. Rest In Peace
4
jazmin
selena is my favorite singer in the whole wide world i wish i could meet her but i wasnt born till 1997 she was so very bautiful and pretty rips (rest in peace selena)
5
Jakie
Even though i didn't know about Selena, it seems like she was a lovig caring person and for her dieing like that just seems wrong. She was only 24!! So young! I don't get it! Why would the President of her fan club shoot her?
6
evelyn perez
i think that all the songs that selena made was awsome and she deserved to live and become a world wide singer for all kinds.my favorita song that selena made was como la flor.i thought that that was a touching song and i understod it.the presidant of her fan club was bad, it was wrong when she shot her. she had to have a good reason to shot her or just wanted to get revenge on what she did to her.i thought her father was right that she couldn't see chris because it would ruin the relationship she had with her family and the relationships with chris.also,we all miss her!!!!!!!!!. she will always rest in our hearts and she's in a better place now.REST IN PEACE SELENA.
7
alaniss galvan
the only reason i love selena is because im going to be a singer just like her im going to follow her foot-steps....... some people say that i look just just like her with my hair down and i believe them...
8
Marlenne
I think selena was a very good singer,and I loved her music!!!!!!!Love you selena...rip
9
Nicole
Rip Mrs Selena Quintanilla -'perez
I love you so mush
I miss you so mush
10
Nicole spencer
REST IN PEACE
SELENA QUINTANILLA-PEREZ
APRIL 1971- MARCH 31 1995
I LOVE YOU SO MUSH
I MISS YOU SO MUSH
SELENA PEREZ I LOVE YOUR
SMILE..
I WILL ALWAYS MISS SELEN
I DIDNT KNOW VERY MUCH ABOUT HER TILL I SAW THE MOVIE I DONT EVEN KNOW SPANISH BUT FROM WHAT I HEARD AND LEARNED FROM SELENA WAS GREAT I LISTEN TO HER SONGS ALL THE TIME ITS SAD HOW SHE DIED OVER SOMEHING SO STUPID SHE LOST EVERYTHING OVER SOME SILLINESS AND YOLANDA GOT WHAT SHE DESERVE TO IM JUST SAD THAT SHE LOST EVERYTHING SHE WORKED HARD FOR SHE LOST HER FAMILY AND HUSBAND THAT IS STILLING LIVING TODAY SHE SHOULD STILL BE HERE RIGHT NOW WITH THEM RAISING HER KIDS BUT SHE IN A BETTER PLACE NOW SO RIP SELENA HOPE TO SEE U HEAVEN
12
saeletno
After 16 years I cant believe how much Selenas death still affects me. What a loss. She should be here making music, enjoying her family and being adored by her fans. RIP SELENA WE WILL NEVER FORGET.
Selena With your beautiful angelic voice so missed by all. A Beacon to all to reach for the stars. To believe in the beauty of the world not the evil. May you look down on us as a caring angel who's light will never go out. Your music always puts a smile on my face. Thank you
14
Julian
I love you selena! I am 16 years old and i love your music. I look up to you. Thank you for all the music you made, it makes me think of you because you are my fav. singer!!
15
mariah
i love selena . she was such an amazing talented beautiful singer. she was so sweet and kind. shes a beautiful angel in heaven singing now. r.i.p. selena we will always miss you. god bless her.
16
destinee
GONE TOO SOON
SELENA I LOVE YOU AND YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MISSED BY EVERYONE
I AM YOUR NUMBER ONE FAN
17
Cinmngirl
I remember when Selena died, I remember seeing the stand off with Yolanda on the news. It was so sad, I still cry when I watch the movie. I loved her cross over album. She died way before her time, so sad. She was a crazy bright shooting star.
18
sophia
Selena was a very good artiist me and my mother listen to her songs everyday because we love her so much and we wish that she was still alive to be here with us and be happy all the time

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