Post by Bluejay on Jul 13, 2005 20:23:10 GMT -5
SELENA QUINTANILLA-PEREZ
1971-1995
Selena Quintanilla-Perez was born in Lake Jackson, Texas on April 16th 1971. Her parents, Marcella and Abraham Quintanilla Jr. were delighted to have a new addition to their family which already had two children; Abraham Quintanilla III (A.B.) then 8, and Suzette then 4.
Abraham always had a passion for music. In the late 50's and early 60's he was part of the group Los Dinos (The Guys). When his children were very young, he began to teach them an instrument. A.B. the bass and Suzette the drums. When Selena was just 3 years old, she demanded to know why her father was leaving her out of the music. Abraham simply said she was too young. Right there and then Selena showed him she was not too young, she showed him her own instrument, her voice. Abraham couldn't believe what a beautiful voice she had. By the time Selena was 6, she was already singing like a pro, in English and in Spanish - even though she didn't speak the language (Spanish) - alongside her brother and sister.
When Selena was 9 her father started the group Selena Y Los Dinos (Selena and The Guys). The group's first performances were in Papagayos, the Quintanilla family's restaurant which had opened in 1980. Everyone who heard her, even at that young age, knew she was going to be a star someday.
When Selena Y Los Dinos were just starting out the Quintanilla's made lights out of peach cans! "They were living on beanies and wienies," Canales says. "She lived through those hard times. That's why, for her, the good times were nothing. She never changed". This was a family who rose from 'rags to riches' only to have their dreams shattered when Selena was murdered so senselessly.
Because Selena was getting even more popular and all the travelling to performances was interfering with school, Abraham pulled her out of school when she was in the 8th grade. Even though she was not attending school anymore, Selena earned a High School degree from a Correspondence College in Chicago.
In 1986, Selena's career really began to take off. Her second album, 'Alpha', was released. At the Tejano Music Awards, she took the award for Female Vocalist of the Year (this was just the start of Selena sweeping the Tejano Music Awards until her tragic death in 1995).
In 1988 two more Selena albums were released, 'Preciosa' and 'Dulce Amor'. But it was in 1989 that Selena got her 'big break'. That year, she signed with Capitol/EMI Latin label. By this time, Selena's concerts were drawing thousands of people and her band was expanding. Pete Astudillo joined Selena Y Los Dinos and can be heard on such hit duets as 'Yo Te Amo' (I Love You) and 'Siempre Estoy Pensando En Ti' (I'm Always Thinking Of You). A.B. (who was already writing most of Selena's songs) joined Pete and wrote such songs as 'Como La Flor' (Like A Flower). Pete stayed with the band for 4 years but left in 1993 to go solo.
In 1988 Selena met a guitarist named Christopher Perez. Chris had performed with the popular singer Shelly Lares and even had his own band. In 1990 the Quintanilla family hired Chris to join their band. On April 2nd, 1992, Selena married Chris Perez.
In 1990 a fan approached Abraham with the idea of starting a fan club. Her name was Yolanda Saldivar. Her wish was granted. She was often referred to as Selena's biggest fan. Yolanda became a very close friend of Selena's, but later on, one of her worst enemies.
'Ven Conmigo' (Come With Me) was released in 1990. That album had such hits as 'Baila Esta Cumbia' (Dance To this Cumbia). Another hit album, 'Entre A Mi Mundo' (Come Into My World), was released in 1992. Such hits from that album like 'Como La Flor' and 'La Carcacha' (The Old Car) made Selena a star. Her 1993 'Live' album won her a Grammy award for Best Mexican-American Performance. But 1994 was her best year, when she truly became a Superstar.
In 1994, Selena released 'Amor Prohibido' (Forbidden Love). An album that even knocked Gloria Estefan's 'Mi Tierra' off the number one spot on the charts. By March of 1995, it had sold over 400,000 copies. 'Amor Prohibido' included such hits as 'Bidi Bidi Bom Bom', the title track, 'Fotos Y Recuerdos' (Photos And Memories), 'No Me Queda Mas' (I've Got Nothing Left), and 'El Chico Del Apartamento 512' (The Boy Of Apartment 512). Also, it was in that year that Selena opened her boutique and salon, Selena Etc., in Corpus Christi. It had been her dream since she was a little girl to sell the clothing and jewellery that she loved to design. In January of 1995, another boutique opened in San Antonio, Texas. In the beginning of 1995 Selena earned a second Grammy nomination for 'Amor Prohibido'.
Selena's final performance on February 26th, 1995, drew a record crowd of more than 61,041 to the Astrodome in Houston. Her status as a top concert attraction was indisputable. Yet Selena insisted to her father that she continue to perform at smaller venues. "I remember her saying, 'Look, these are the people that made us,' says Quintanilla. "I don't want to turn my back on them." - and for that Selena's adoring fans will be eternally grateful and appreciative. Selena sold out the Houston Astrodome with her last concert for the Houston Livestock and Rodeo. A record attendance for any Tejano.
At only 23, Selena had released two Gold albums and one Platinum, and she was recording the project that promised to launch her into the realm of true superstar success. Working with some of popular music's foremost talents, Selena seemed destined to win millions of more fans with her breakthrough, crossover album, 'Dreaming of You' (which was scheduled to be released in the Summer of 1995), and indeed she would, as fans new and old made enormous hits of 'I Could Fall in Love' and 'Dreaming of You', tender, mid-tempo ballads featuring Selena's unmistakable, sensitive voice soaring sweetly. But these 'smash hits' would be among the last recordings Selena would ever make, because on the brink of true Superstardom, her rocketing assent was cut short by a tragedy no one could have foreseen
In February 1995, trouble started with the Selena Fan Club. People were complaining that they weren't receiving the pack they had paid for. The Quintanilla family confronted Yolanda, who by this time was also manager of the boutiques. Money also started to turn up missing from the Selena Etc. account. Yolanda was stealing from them!! On March 12th, 1995, Selena fired Yolanda. Although she was fired, Yolanda continued to work because there were papers missing. On March 30th Selena went to meet Yolanda at the Days Inn Motel in Corpus Christi, where she was staying, to get the missing paperwork. When Selena and Chris got home that night, they found out that some of the papers were still missing. The next morning Selena was scheduled at Q Productions to record another song for her Crossover Album, but she decided to meet Yolanda first to get the missing paperwork. There Yolanda told her she had been raped in Monterey, Mexico and needed to go to the hospital. Being the kind person that Selena was, she took her. After about an hour, Selena and Yolanda returned to the motel and argued. Selena told her that she just couldn't be trusted anymore. At 11:48 am, Yolanda took out a gun, and fired at Selena. The bullet struck her in her right shoulder. With all her strength, Selena ran towards the lobby to get help. She collapsed on the floor as the clerk called 911. Soon an ambulance arrived to take Selena to the hospital but she was pronounced dead at 1:09 PM.
News of Selena's death spread all over the world. Selena fans mourned the loss of their Queen, the Queen of Tejano music. Thousands and thousands of fans passed by her coffin. The Friday she died, will always be known as "Black Friday"...
In April 1995, Selena became the first recording artist to place 5 Spanish Language albums simultaneously on the billboard 200. Although Selena's prospects for stardom in the English-speaking music world have been much debated since her death the posthumous release of the album 'Dreaming of you' gave ample indication that Selena was on her way to becoming a Star in the English market as well. In July 1995, her dream of crossing over into the pop market was accomplished. The first single released from her English album 'Dreaming of you', I could fall in love instantly became a hit and was in heavy rotation across the U.S. 'Dreaming of you' (her last album ) instantly hit the charts at No 1 on the American Billboard Charts realizing Selena's long dream of crossing over to the English market. If only Selena were here to see her dream come true. Unfortunately, the world will never know for certain just how far she would have gone.
And so we are left with our memories and the dreams she inspired in each and every one of us. Selena will always be in the hearts of her millions of fans, she will never be forgotten. We love you, Selena!!
Selena Quintanilla-Perez
Sunday, 16th April 1971 - Friday, 31st March 1995