Selena

**Selena Quintanilla-Perez** (April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), known mononymously as **Selena**, was an American singer and songwriter. She was named the "Queen of Tejano music" and was also known as the "Mexican Madonna". She was born as the youngest child of a Mexican-American father. She released her first LP record at the age of 12 with her band **Selena y Los Dinos**. At the 1987 Tejano Music Awards, she won the Female Vocalist of the Year award. She won this award eight times in a row. Selena signed a record agreement with EMI Latin in 1989. She released five Spanish a languages albums with them, each having chart and sales success.

"Como La Flor" became one of her signature songs after it got to number six on the US *Billboard* Hot Latin Tracks chart in 1992. The next year, *Selena Live!* won a Grammy Award for Best Mexican/American Album. In 1994, *Amor Prohibido* was released and five of the singles became number one hits. Selena became the first Hispanic singer to do this. The album became the fastest-selling Latin album of all time. *Amor Prohibido* and the song of the same name were nominated for a Grammy Award. In late 1994, Charles Koppelman, the chairman of EMI Latin, believed that Selena was ready to release a cross over album. Selena would then begin recording songs in English instead of Spanish, which would expand her career.

On March 31, 1995, Selena was murdered by Yolanda Saldívar, a friend and former manager of her Selena Etc. clothing stores. Selena's death affected people in Hispanic communities. Many as other memorials from fans. Two weeks later, Governor of Texas at the time, George W. Bush, made April 16 "Selena Day" in Texas. Her crossover album *Dreaming of You*, which was not finished, was released on July 18, 1995. In 1997, Warner Bros. released a movie about her life. Puerto Rican singer and actress Jennifer Lopez played the role of "Selena" in the movie. The role Jennifer Lopez become famously as role "Selena the movie in 1997".

In 2005, a tribute concert called *Selena ¡VIVE!*  on Univision. The show had the highest  in the channel's history. It was also the most-watched Spanish-language show in the history of American television. It was watched by more than 37 million people in the United States. In 2006, a Selena museum was built in Q-Productions. Mirador de la Flor, a bronze life-sized statue, was created in memory of Selena. These memorials are in Corpus Christi, Texas. The statue is visited by hundreds of fans every week. As of April 2025, Selena has sold over 80 million albums worldwide.

## Early years
Selena Quintanilla was born on April 16, 1971 in Lake Jackson, Texas. Her mother, Marcella Ofelia Samora, is half Mexican American and half Cherokee and Chickasaw Native American, while her father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr, was Mexican-American. Selena was raised as a Jehovah's Witness.

Abraham was a musician, but he abandoned his musical ambitions to support his family. Selena began singing along with Abraham's guitar picking.

Abraham organized his children into a band called "Selena y Los Dinos" ("Selena and The Boys"). 'Dinos' is a Spanish slang word.

In 1982, Abrahm opened a Mexican restaurant called "PapaGayos" (). The family declared bankruptcy, and were evicted (forced to move from their home). They settled in Corpus Christi, Texas. Abraham asked people in town to hire Selena y Los Dinos. They needed money and played wherever they could get a gig. They performed at street corners, weddings, quinceañeras and fairs.

In 1984, Selena recorded her first LP record for Freddie Records. Selena learned Spanish by listening to others speak. The album was not sold in stores. Freddie Records did not believe a female singer could sell a record. Her father bought all of the original copies.

Selena was bullied in school by other girls. When Selena was in the eighth grade, her father took her out of school. Her performance  was getting bigger. Which was too hard for Selena to stay in public school. The album was not sold in stores because of copyright problems. Selena became a music guest on the *Johnny Canales Show*. In 1986, she released *Alpha*. The album became her first LP to be released successfully. It helped her to be discovered by Rick Trevi, the founder for the Tejano Music Awards. She also released two more LPs: *And the Winner Is...* and *Muñequito de Trapo*. She became the first artist to sign with them. She also made Tejano music popular among younger people. Jose Behar said that he signed Selena because he thought he found the next Gloria Estefan. However, EMI did not want to start the crossover, while telling Selena that she needed a bigger fan base. She released her first album that same year. The lead single "Contigo Quiero Estar" got to number eight on the US *Billboard* Hot Latin Tracks chart in 1989.

In the same year, Chris Pérez, who was a rock guitarist, was asked to join Selena y Los Dinos. Abraham did not like Pérez because of his  and believed he would be a bad  on his children. Selena's brother tried to tell Abraham that Pérez would change. Abraham agreed, because they were missing a guitarist. In 1990, Selena released *Ven Conmigo*. The album became the first album by a Tejano singer to reach gold status. Around this time, Pérez and Selena fell in love with each other. Abraham was angry about this and fired Pérez from the band. Selena was warned never to see him again by her father. The two eloped on April 2, 1992. Abraham accepted the relationship and Pérez into the family. He later said that he felt . He said this because he thought that it was his behavior that Selena and Pérez eloped.

A registered nurse and fan named Yolanda Saldívar asked Selena's father to start a fan club in San Antonio, Texas. Saldívar had the idea after she had attended one of Selena's concerts. Abraham approved Saldívar's request. Abraham believed the fan club would bring in new fans. Saldívar soon became a close friend to Selena and the family. She was trusted and became the president of the fan club. In 1992, Selena released *Entre a Mi Mundo*. The song "Como La Flor" became Selena's signature song. The album and the single helped her to tour in Mexico. Selena recorded a duet with Salvadoran singer Alvaro Torres called "Buenos Amigos" in 1991. The song got to number one on the Hot Latin Tracks. This became Selena's first number one song. Because of this, Selena was asked to perform "Buenos Amigos" in El Salvador.

In 1993, Selena released *Selena Live!*. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Mexican/American Album. She hired Saldívar as the manager. Selena also acted in a Spanish soap opera called *Dos Mujeres, Un Camino* in 1993. When her episode premiered, it had a record . In December 1993, Selena was signed with SBK Records to begin her cross over album. However, recording would not begin until late-1994.

### Later success 
In 1994, Selena released *Amor Prohibido*. The album became the best-selling Latin album of all time. Five singles from the album reached number one on the Hot Latin Tracks chart. Selena was the first Hispanic artist to do this. The album was certified double platinum by the end of the year. She also won awards from Premio Lo Nuestro including Best Latin Artist and Song of the Year. Selena recorded a duet with the Barrio Boyzz called "Donde Quiera Que Estes". The song got to number one on the Hot Latin Tracks. This allowed Selena to tour in New York City, Argentina, Puerto Rico and Central America, where she was not well known. The album and the single of the same name were nominated for a Grammy Award. "Amor Prohibido" and "No Me Queda Mas" became the most successful singles of 1994 and 1995 on the Hot Latin Track charts, according to *Billboard* and Nielson SoundScan. She was then called the "Queen of Tejano music".

In late 1994, EMI chairman Charles Koppelman felt that Selena had succeeded her goals in the Spanish market. He wanted to release a cross over album with Selena. Grammy Award-winning composers began writing songs for her to record. In February 1995, Selena performed at the Houston Astrodome. She performed for a record-breaking audience of over 60,000 fans. This was more than country singers such as George Strait, Vince Gill, Clint Black and Reba McEntire.

Selena was called the "Mexican Madonna", but unlike Madonna, Selena valued family and never cursed. She also was known for her "sexy stage costumes" that she wore while performing. Her friends and family called her a .

## Murder and trial 
''''

Saldívar was an employee and manager for Selena's clothing stores and fan club. Saldívar was stealing money from these businesses and was eventually caught. At the hotel, Selena demanded that Saldívar give her the missing financial papers. Saldívar then claimed that she was raped in Mexico. This made Selena very upset. She decided to end her friendship with Saldívar. When they returned to the hotel, they began arguing. and pulled the trigger, shooting Selena in the back. She was seen holding her chest screaming repeatedly, "Help me!, I've been shot!". Saldívar chased her and called her a "bitch". Selena fell to the floor and named Saldívar as the shooter. By the time Selena arrived at a local hospital, she was pronounced dead. She was two weeks away from her 24th birthday and three days from her third wedding anniversary with Pérez. The SWAT and the FBI Crisis Negotiation Unit were called. Reactions to Selena's death were compared to reactions to Elvis Presley and John Lennon's deaths. George W. Bush, Governor of Texas at the time, declared April 16 as "Selena Day" in Texas. Selena's death was called "Black Friday" in Texas. Most White Texans were offended that Selena Day would be celebrated on Easter. Many of them also wrote to the *Brazosport Facts* that "Easter is *more* important than Selena Day". Mexican Americans in Texas wrote negative replies to the comments that were made. One Mexican American wrote that some comments made were "rude". Radio host Howard Stern mocked Selena's funeral and death. Many fans disapproved of such actions and held public .

## Legacy
In 1997, Warner Bros. released a movie about Selena's life. Jennifer Lopez played Selena. The role helped Lopez become famous. Music critic David Bauder believed that if Selena were alive, she would have broken the record sales of Madonna, Gloria Estefan, Paula Abdul and Whitney Houston. By 1996, Selena held the record for more wins at the Latin Music Awards than any other artist. In 2006, a Selena museum was built in Q-Productions. Mirador de la Flor, a bronze life-sized statue, was created in memory of Selena. These memorials are in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The Guinness Book of World Records named Selena as the "most dominating artist". Selena also became the first Hispanic singer to have an album sung mostly in Spanish to reach number one. She also became the first female to place five albums at the same time on the *Billboard* 200 chart. The only other artists to have done this were Elvis Presley, The Beatles and Garth Brooks. *Billboard* wrote that the release of *Dreaming of You* was "a historic day in Latin music history". The album helped Selena to become the second-fastest selling female artist that year, behind Janet Jackson. *Dreaming of You* became the second-highest debut that year, behind Michael Jackson.

*People* magazine released a tribute issue for Selena. The company released three more runs, and all sold out in two weeks. The American Bank Center in Corpus Christi renamed its 2,526-seat "Bayfront Auditorium" to "Selena Auditorium".
A tribute concert, *Selena ¡VIVE!*, premiered on Univision on April 7, 2005. The concert marked the 10th anniversary of Selena's murder. The show included other Latin artists performing covers of Selena's songs. The show was the highest  and most-watched Spanish-language show in American television history. The show had about 37 million viewers, more than the number of viewers of that night's episode of *American Idol*. The show had the highest ratings in Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and New York City.

Selena's fan base continues to stay strong. Selena is considered one of the most widely known Mexican-American artists and the most popular Latin artist in the United States. As of 2012, Selena has sold over 60 million albums worldwide.

Selena was also honoured in a collaboration with cosmetics company MAC, who worked with her sister Suzette to create 14 products, including lipstick and gloss, mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow, and a compact.  “I am so excited that M.A.C Cosmetics will be releasing a collection in honor of my sister Selena," her sister Suzette says, “Helping to create this collection brings me back to all those late-night conversations on our tour bus when she spoke of having her own makeup line one day. If Selena were here she would be beyond ecstatic to have this happening. History is being made.” 

## Discography 
* *Selena* (1989)
* *Ven Conmigo* (1990)
* *Entre a Mi Mundo* (1992)
* *Selena Live!* (1993)
* *Amor Prohibido* (1994)
* *Dreaming of You* (1995)

## Filmography 
## References 
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* Thomas, Amanda (2016), *Mac Cosmetics Launched A Selena Collection*, Beauty RSVP, http://www.beautyrsvp.com/2016/10/03/mac-cosmetics-launched-a-selena-collection/ 

## Other websites 
* Official website
* Selena at Find A Grave
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