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Selena

SelenaAKA Selena Quintanilla

Born: 16-Apr-1971
Birthplace: Lake Jackson, TX
Died: 31-Mar-1995
Location of death: Corpus Christi, TX [1]
Cause of death: Murder
Remains: Buried, Seaside Memorial Park, Corpus Christi, TX

Gender: Female
Religion: Jehovah's Witness
Race or Ethnicity: Hispanic
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Singer

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Crossover Tejano music star

One of the leading stars of Tejano music, Selena first began publicly performing at the age of 10, with a band which included both her siblings and her father. As Selena and Los Dinos, they would entertain patrons of her father's restaurant in Texas, eventually releasing their first album in 1983. By 1986, Selena's steadily-growing popularity earned her both Female Vocalist of the Year and Performer of the Year honors at the Tejano Music Awards. This led to the interest of EMI Latin, who signed her to a lucrative recording contract in 1989.

Between 1990 and 1993, EMI released three Selena albums -- the second, Ven Conmigo, achieved gold status, and the third, Selena Live, earned her a Grammy award. During this time period, the singer eloped with her Los Dinos guitarist, Chris Perez, despite her father's opposition to the relationship. Also during these years, Selena opened Selena Etc., a pair of Texas fashion boutiques that further capatalized on her escalating popularity. As with so many popular singers, the inevitable venture into acting was made when Selena appeared in the 1994 romantic comedy Don Juan De Marco.

In the first few months of 1995, work got underway for Selena's first major crossover album, to be released by the EMI-associated label SBK. Following an attendance-breaking concert at the Houston Astrodome in March, the singer discovered that the president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldivar, had been embezzling funds from her fashion boutiques; a confrontation was made with Saldivar at a hotel, who subsequently shot Selena to death with a handgun. The partially-completed album, Dreaming of You, was released in July and reached the number one position on the mainstream charts.

A film based on Selena's life, in which the singer was portrayed by singer/actress Jennifer Lopez, was released in 1997.


[1] Days Inn, 901 Navigation Blvd., Corpus Christi, TX.

Father: Abraham Quintanilla (musician)
Mother: Marcella Zamora
Sister: Suzette Quintanilla (musician)
Brother: A.B. Quintanilla (musician)
Husband: Chris Perez (m. 2-Apr-1992)

    Shot Corpus Christi, TX (31-Mar-1995)
    Autopsy
    Mexican Ancestry

    FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
    Don Juan DeMarco (7-Apr-1995) · Singer



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