Biography
Selena had that something that no other artist had. She had that personality, a laugh that was catchy a smile that would brighten up the room when she walked in it, a voice of an angel. She was very popular and rich but that didn’t go to her head she stayed true to herself and to the people that made her famous [her fans] You will never find another artist like Selena.
She was called many of things like The Queen of Tejano, The Mexican Madonna, Artist of the People. Unfortunately we will never know what she could of done on March 31, 1995 at the tender age of 23 Selena was shot and killed by her fan club president Yolanda Saldivar. This is the story of a little girl that had a dream and had the courage to make it come true.
Selena was born on April 16, 1971 to Mexican-American parents Marcella and Abraham Quintanilla. At the tender age of 6 Abraham learned that his youngest daughter Selena could sing with that: a band was formed with her older brother A.B. on the bass [8 years older than Selena] and her older sister Suzette on drums [4 years older than Selena]. Selena y los Dinos was formed At the age of 9 years old Selena y los Dinos hit the road full time making it their lively hood.
Selena y los Dinos made there first record in 1983 from Freddie Records. There first hit record was in 1986 which she won her first of many awards from Tejano Music Awards ” Female Entertainer of the Year” and “Female Vocalist of the Year” In 1989 Selena y los Dinos was signed to EMI Latin which Selena y los Dinos was their first act ever signed. Also in 1989 Chris Perez joined the band and in 1991 Selena and Chris told each other how they felt at a Pizza Hut across the street from where they were playing that night. On April 2, 1992 Chris and Selena were married [eloped] since Selena’s father Abraham forbidden Selena and Chris to see each other.
1993 Selena recored one of her famous concert ‘Live’ that earned her a Grammy in 1994. In 1994 Selena had put out one of her most famous record ‘Amor Prohibido’ which in 1995 was nominated for another Grammy [which she didn't win] Also Selena opened up her boutiques called ‘Selena Etc.’ Which Saldivar became the manger.
1995 is the year we will never forget Feb.26th Selena held a concert at the Houston Astrodome which set a record for the biggest attendance ever on a Sunday night. 95 also marked Selena a record holder for winning 8 years straight to win “Female Entertainer of the Year” and “Female Vocalist of the Year” at the Tejano Music Awards. Not only that Selena also was nominated for another Grammy for the album “Amor Prohibido.” On March 31st is the day we lost Selena:
Selena was suppose to be at the recording studio this day but instead she went to the hotel that Saldivar was staying at to get the papers that she had [Saldivar was confronted by Abraham and Selena for stealing money from Selena's fan club and boutiques] Selena took Saldivar to the hospital for a check up and when they returned to the hotel Saldivar shot Selena in the back hitting a major artery in the back of her right shoulder. Selena died at 1:05 pm on Friday March 31st from lose of blood.
Selena was suppose to have a concert on April 1, 1995 in Los Angeles, California at the Sport Arena instead people held candle light vigils. April 2nd over 50,000 fans from around the country and from Mexico came and payed there respects to Selena at the Bayfront Plaza and on April 3rd Selena was layed to rest 
Little did anyone know, Selena would become bigger than ever, and it would be just the beginning.
July 18, 1995, EMI Latin released the highly anticipated album, Dreaming of You. The 4 tracks that Selena had been working on for the past 2 years, were finally being released. The album was also filled with her classic songs, such as Como La Flor and Bidi Bidi Bom Bom, but remixed, to give a fresh listen. Also included was some mariachi tunes, that were previously unreleased tracks from her cameo appearance on Don Juan DeMarco. As hours before the midnight release started approaching, lines started forming outside of record stores all across Corpus Christi and the rest of the country. Dreaming of You was released in 39 countries and the first single, I Could Fall In Love became a smash hit, coming in at #2. The album debuted on Billboard 200 at #1.
The album was well received by critics, and was just a peek at what Selena would have accomplished on the mainstream charts. Dreaming of You followed as the second single, which hit the top 20, coming in at #11. Followed by I’m Getting Use To You, Tu Solo Tu {hitting #1, giving Selena 7 #1 hits}, and Techno Cumbia Remix. Dreaming of You solidified Selena, and caused Billboard Magazine to proclaim her “Artist of the Decade”. The huge success of Dreaming of You has been compared to the histories of Elvis Presley, John Lenon, Kurt Cobain, and Tupac Shakur with continuous album sales and commercial hits even in death. Dreaming of you sold more copies in one day than what Mariah Carey’s album ‘Day Dream’ sold in one week.
In March 1997, the Selena Movie, premiered across the country. The movie telling the life about the Tejano singer. Starring Jennifer Lopez and Edward James Olmos. The movie launched Jennifer Lopez’s name nation wide and her career. The movie was received well by critics and was directed by Gregory Nava. Over 12,000 people auditioned for the role of Selena.
April 7, 2005, at the Reliant Stadium in Houston hosted a tribute concert, Selena ¡VIVE!. Held a week after the 10th anniversary of her death, over 65,000 fans attended the concert, which featured high-profile artists including Gloria Estefan, Pepe Aguilar, Thalía, Paulina Rubio, Ana Barbara, Alejandra Guzmán, Ana Gabriel, and Fey. The artists performed renditions of Selena’s music, as did her brother, A.B. Quintanilla, who performed with his band Kumbia Kings backed with footage of Selena singing “Baila Esta Cumbia”. Broadcast live on the Univision network, Selena ¡VIVE! is the highest-rated and most-viewed Spanish-language show in American television history. The show, which lasted over three hours, scored a 35.9 Nielsen household rating.
But that day when we had to say good-bye to our Tejano Queen we gained a Latin Angel.
written for the site by: Latin Angel
