Selena Quintanilla

At 23 years old, Selena Quintanilla has this physical status:

Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995) was an American singer, songwriter, spokesperson, model, actress, and fashion designer.

Called the Queen of Tejano music, her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mexican-American entertainers of the late 20th century.

Billboard magazine named her the top-selling Latin artist of the 1990s decade, while her posthumous collaboration with MAC cosmetics became the best-selling celebrity collection in cosmetics history.

Media outlets called her the "Tejano Madonna" for her clothing choices.

She also ranks among the most influential Latin artists of all time and is credited for catapulting a music genre into the mainstream market.The youngest child of the Quintanilla family, she debuted on the music scene in 1980 as a member of the band Selena y Los Dinos, which also included her elder siblings A.B. Quintanilla and Suzette Quintanilla.

She began recording professionally in 1982.

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Life and career

Selena Quintanilla was born in Lake Jackson, Texas, on April 16, 1971. She was the youngest child of Marcella Ofelia Quintanilla (née Samora) who had Cherokee ancestry and Abraham Quintanilla Jr., a Mexican American former musician. Ron Paul, a future House of Representatives member, was the obstetrician-gynecologist at her birth. Selena was born as a Witness for Jehovah. Quintanilla Jr. discovered her musical talent when she was six years old. "I could see it from day one, her timing, and her pitch were flawless," he told People magazine. Selena and her siblings Abraham III (on bass guitar) and Suzette Quintanilla (on drums) would often perform in Lake Jackson, Quintanilla Jr.'s first Tex-Mex restaurant, Papa Gayo's, opened in 1980, where Selena and her siblings Selena and her siblings Abraham III (on drums) and Suzette Quintanilla (on drums) would often perform. The restaurant was forced to close the following year due to a 1980s oil shortage. The family has declared bankruptcy and was kicked out of their house. Quintanilla Jr., the newly formed Selena y Los Dinos group, landed in Corpus Christi, Texas, and began promoting it. They needed the money and played on street corners, weddings, quinceaeras, and fairs.

Selena's popularity as a singer increased, and her travel schedule began to interfere with her studies. When she was in the eighth grade, her father kicked her out of school. Selena's musical career was condemned by her mentor Marilyn Greer. Quintanilla Jr. was threatened with teacher discipline by the Texas Board of Education, who believed the circumstances to which Selena was exposed were inappropriate for a child her age. Quintanilla Jr. told Greer to "mind her company." When they discovered how drained Selena was when she first arrived at school, other teachers expressed their doubts. Selena earned a high school diploma from the American School of Correspondence in Chicago and was later accepted to Louisiana State University. She studied at Pacific Western University, majoring in business administration.

Quintanilla Jr. restored an old bus; he named it "Big Bertha" and the family used it as their tour bus. The family ate for meals in the first years of touring, but not enough money to pay for gas. Selena y Los Dinos, Selena's first LP album on Freddie Records in 1984, was her first LP record. Despite recording English-language songs, Selena recorded Tejano music scores; a male-dominated, Spanish-language style with German influences of polka, jazz, and country music, which is particularly popular among Mexicans living in the United States.

Selena should perform musical compositions linked to her roots, according to Quintanilla Jr. Selena had to learn Spanish phonetically with her father's help during the recording sessions. Selena appeared on the Johnny Canales Show, a famous Spanish-language radio station, for many years, where she continued to appear on the Johnny Canales Show, a famous Spanish-language radio show, in 1985. Selena was discovered by musician Rudy Trevino, the producer of the Tejano Music Awards, where she received the Female Vocalist of the Year award in 1987 and nine years after.

Due to the members' ages and because Selena was the band's lead singer, Texas music venues were often turned down by them. Selena would never be profitable because she was a woman in a market traditionally dominated by women, as her father was often told by promoters. Selena had five more LP hits by 1988; Alpha (1986), Munequito de Trapo (1987), And the Winner Is... (1987), Preciosa (1988), and Dulce Amor (1988).

Selena's performance at the 1989 Tejano Music Awards was attended by José Behar of newly formed label EMI Latin Records, as well as Sony Music Latin's new director. Behar was looking for new Latin artists and wanted to sign Selena to EMI's Capitol Records, but Sony Music Latin got Quintanilla Jr. twice Capitol's signed fee. Behar believed to have found the "next Gloria Estefan," but his boss, Behar, was illogical, because he had been in South Texas less than a week. Quintanilla Jr. accepted EMI Latin's invitation because of the prospect of a crossover album and wanted his children to be the first artists to sign the label.

Behar and Stephen Finfer requested a crossover album for her before Selena began recording for her debut album. For the heads of EMI's pop division's pop division, she produced three English-language compositions. Behar and Finfer's request for a crossover album was turned down, but Selena was told she needed a larger fan base to sell such a song. After Charles Koppelman denied the proposal, Behar thought EMI Records and the general public did not believe that a Mexican American woman could have "crossover potential."

Selena's self-titled debut album debuted on October 17, 1989. At AMEN Studios in San Antonio, Texas, the singer recorded the majority of the songs; "Sukiyaki" and "My Love" were recorded at Sunrise Studios in Houston. Selena wrote "My Love" and wanted the song to be included on the album. A.B. Martin, Selena's top recording artist and songwriter for the majority of her musical career, but she did not write "Sukiyaki," "Contigo Quiero Estar," or "No Te Vayas." "Sukiyaki" was originally released in Japanese by Kyu Sakamoto in the 1960s; Selena converted a translation into Spanish of an English version of Janice Marie Johnson's "Sukiyaki" in Japanese; Selena's debut on the US Billboard Regional Mexican Albums chart ranked at number seven, becoming Selena's first album to debut on a national music chart. The album was more successful than those of other contemporaneous female Tejano singers.

Selena was one of Coca-Cola's top spokespeople in Texas this year. A.B. compiled the jingle used in her first two commercials for the company. And Chris Pérez, the former guitarist of Selena y Los Dinos' who had joined Selena y Los Dinos just over a month ago as the band's new guitarist. Despite having a girlfriend in San Antonio, Pérez began feeling romantic feelings for Selena. Pérez thought it would be best for them both to separate themselves after a trip to Mexico with the band, but he found it impossible and decided to pursue a friendship with her. At a Pizza Hut restaurant, they expressed their feelings for each other and then became a couple shortly after. Pérez and Selena shied their personal life, afraid that Quintanilla Jr. would try to break it up.

In September 1990, Selena's second studio album, Ven Conmigo, was released. "Ya Ves," "La Tracalera," and "Baila Esta Cumbia" were released as singles on Ven Conmigo's "Baila Esta Cumbia." The former, a Tejano cumbia song, became Selena's most popular single. The single's name was also on display in Mexico, where a compilation album bearing the single's name was published there and denoting sales of 150,000 units.

In San Antonio, a registered nurse and fan named Yolanda Saldvar pleaded with Quintanilla Jr. to form a fan club. Saldvar had the idea after attending one of Selena's performances. Saldvar's request was accepted by Quintanilla Jr.; he believes that the fan club would bring the band more exposure. Saldvar soon became a close friend of Selena and the families; she was trusted and became the acting president of the fan club in 1991. lvaro Torres, a Salvadoran singer, wrote a duet he wanted to record with Selena earlier this year. "Buenos Amigos" was released by Enrique Elizondo and appeared on Torres' tenth studio album Nada Se Compara Contigo (1991).

Selena's first number one single "Buenos Amigos" debuted at number one on the US Billboard Top Latin Songs chart, earning Selena her first top-one hit. Selena and Torres were given two nominations at the 1992 Billboard Music Awards for their song "reality." At the 1992 Tejano Music Awards, the album was also voted for Duo of the Year. Selena's tour was able to tour the west and east coasts of the United States, according to biographer Deborah Parédez. "Buenos Amigos" was aided by increased airplay on regional Mexican and Tejano radio stations, which had previously rejected Selena's recordings, according to John Lannert of Billboard magazine.

Suzette, Selena's sister, said she caught Selena and Pérez flirting with each other and alerting their father right away. Pérez was escorted from the bus and told him that his Selena friendship was over. Despite Quintanilla Jr's disapproval, Selena and Pérez's friendship survived; Selena's mother Marcella accepted their relationship. After he told Selena and Pérez of their disapproval, he pulled over and a squabble ensued between him and Selena; Quintanilla Jr. Pérez was a "cancer in my family" and threatened to dissolve the company if they continued to have ties if they continued to associate.

Selena and Pérez retaliated; Quintanilla Jr. sacked Pérez from the band and barred Selena from leaving with him. Pérez and Selena's friendship peaked even more after his dismissal. Selena and Pérez married on the morning of April 2, 1992, fearing that Quintanilla Jr. would never approve of their union. Selena believed that if they were married, they would have to accept them, and that they would not have to mask their feelings for each other. The couple's elopement was confirmed within hours of their marriage.

Selena's family tried to locate her; Quintanilla Jr. didn't like the news and alienated himself for a while. Selena and Pérez also moved into a Corpus Christi apartment. Quintanilla Jr. expressed how he feared Pérez to be a machia (Spanish for male chauvinist), who would compel Selena to abandon her studies and music aspirations, a move that discouraged Quintanilla Jr. from accepting Pérez as appropriate for Selena at the time. Quintanilla Jr. apologized, accepted the marriage, and welcomed Pérez back into the party.

Selena's third studio album, Entre a Mi Mundo, was released a month after she eloped. The album was praised as her "breakthrough album." The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard Regional Mexican Albums chart for eight months; the RIAA rated it as platinum on sales of 600,000 album-equivalent units; in Mexico, it sold 385,000 units; the album was ranked as the top ten on the charts for eight months in a row; Entre a Mi Mundo was the first Tejano album by a female artist to sell over 300,000 copies.

Selena was booked for a high-profile border press tour in Monterrey, Mexico, with music journalists in a meet-and-greet conference. Tejanos were considered "hayseed pochos" by Mexican civilians at the time. During the press conference for the album in Mexico, the singer's Spanish was far from fluent; EMI Latin executives were "terrified" about the singer's limited Spanish. Selena "played her cards right" during the conference and gained over the Mexican media after newspapers hailed her as "an artist of the people," according to Patoski. "She was fair-skinned, blond-haired, and green-eyed," the newspapers found her to be a welcome departure from Mexican telenovela actress "who were fair-skinned, blond-haired, and green-eyed."

Selena was booked to appear at several concerts throughout Mexico, including one at Festival Acapulco in May 1993, which earned her critical acclaim. 70,000 people attended her Nuevo Leon performance on September 17, 1993, granting her the distinction of the country's largest Tejano act. "Como La Flor" ("Qué Creas," the album's four singles; "Como la Flor" was released. "La Carcacha" and "Amame" are two of the "amame" series. Selena's most popular album, "Como la Flor," was critically praised by music critics as a Selena career launcher.

Selena's "Como la Flor" aided it to dominate the Latin music charts and became extremely popular in Mexico, where Mexican-Americans were generally not popular among Mexicans, which was well-received by commentators. At the 1993 Tejano Music Awards, the artist was nominated for Song of the Year. The single debuted at number six on the US Billboard Top Latin Songs chart, with the single peaking at number six. Entre a Mi Mundo's 1994 was the second best-selling regional Mexican album of all time.

Selena released Live!

It was released during a free concert at the Memorial Coliseum in Corpus Christo on February 7, 1993, a year after Entre a Mi Mundo. The album featured previously released tracks as well as three studio recordings; "No Debes Jugar," "La Llamada," and "T Robaste Mi Corazón" — a duet with Tejano singer Emilio Navaira. The tracks "No Debes Jugar" and "La Llamada" reached the top of the US Billboard Top Latin Songs chart, ranked among the top ten songs on the US Billboard Top Latin Songs chart.

Live!

At the 36th Grammy Awards, she received the Grammy Award for Best Mexican/American Album.

In May 1994, Live!

The Billboard Latin Music Awards named Album of the Year for the Year.

At the 1994 Tejano Music Awards, Live!

It was named for Regional Mexican Album of the Year at the 1994 Lo Nuestro Awards, while at the 1994 Lo Nuestro Awards, it was nominated for Regional Mexican Album of the Year.

Live!

The Royal Institute of British Agricultural Exports (RIAA) awarded gold for shipments of 500,000 copies, while Mexico saw 250,000 units. Selena appeared in a Mexican televisionnovela titled Dos Mujeres, Un Camino for a brief period. In 1995, she began to audition for Emilio Larrosa's new telenovela. She appeared in two episodes, which attracted record ratings for the series.

Selena Etc. opened two boutiques in Corpus Christi and the other in San Antonio, apart from music. Both salons were equipped with in-house beauty salons. Selena Etc. was in 1994 by the time of 1994. To showcase their clothing collection, the company held two fashion shows. Selena Etc. (alongside her band Selena y Los Dinos) held a concert after Selena Etc. On December 3, 1994, the Hemisfair Arena in San Antonio hosted its second fashion preview. She and Puerto Rico were in talks to open more stores in Monterrey, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Saldvar was the head of both boutiques after the Quintanilla family was impressed with the way she handled the fan club. According to Hispanic Business magazine, the singer earned over five million dollars from these boutiques. In 1993 and 1994, she was ranked as one of the twentieth-wealthiest Hispanic musicians who earned the most money. In March 1994, Selena released Amor Prohibido, her fourth studio album. The album debuted at number three on the US Billboard Top Latin Albums chart and ranked first on the US Billboard Regional Mexican Albums charts, with the album ranked at number one. The album remained in the top ten for the remainder of the year and into early 1995 after peaking at number one on the Top Latin Albums. Amor Prohibido became the second Tejano album to reach year-end sales of 500,000 copies, which had previously only been achieved by La Mafia. It became one of the top-selling Latin albums in the United States. Amor Prohibido released four number-one singles, including "Bidi Bom Bom," "No Me Queda Más," and "Fotos y Recuerdos." Amor Prohibido was one of the best-selling albums in the United States in 1995, and the RIAA has rated it 36 percent platinum for the sale of 2.16 million album-equivalent units in the United States. The album was chosen from Tom Moon's list of the 1,000 Most Popular Songs to Hear Before You Die: A Listener's Life (2008).

Amor Prohibido popularized Tejano music among a younger and wider audience than at any other time in the genre's history. Both albums, "Amor Prohibition" and "No Me Queda Más," were the most popular US Latin singles of 1994 and 1995, respectively. At the 37th Grammy Awards in 1995, the album's commercial success earned the award for Best Mexican/American Album. At the 1995 Lo Nuestro Awards, it was named Record of the Year and Regional/Mexico Album of the Year. During her Amor Prohibido tour, Selena was dubbed "one of Latin music's most popular touring acts." Selena was deemed "bigger than Tejano" and defibuted barriers in the Latin music industry following Amor Prohibido's debut and shattered barriers in the Latin music industry. Multiple media outlets had her calling her the "Queen of Tejano music." Amor Prohibido was ranked among the top Latin recordings of the past 50 years by Billboard magazine, which also included it on its list of the top 100 albums of all time. NPR named Amor Prohibido 19th on their list of the top 100 best albums made by women in 2017. Tejano music's first commercial success in Puerto Rico was represented by the album and its titular song. Selena released "Donde Quiera Que Estés" on their album of the same name in 1994. Selena performed in New York City, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Central America, where she was not well known. Selena had fulfilled her dreams in the Spanish-speaking market in late 1994. EMI chairman Charles Koppelman agreed. He wanted to market her as an English-language solo pop artist. Selena performed while EMI began preparing the crossover album, involving Grammy Award-winning composers. Selena's crossover album was already underway by the time she appeared at a record-breaking, sold-out concert at the Houston Astrodome in February 1995. She made a cameo appearance in Don Juan DeMarco, which starred Marlon Brando, Johnny Depp, and Faye Dunaway in 1995.

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