Selena – Queen of Tejano

The youngest child of the Quintanilla family, Selena became the lead singer in her family's band, Selena Y Los Dinos. The musical group started out playing weddings and clubs in their native Texas. Her father, Abraham, a former musician, managed and produced the group. Selena grew up speaking English, but her father taught her to sing in Spanish so she could resonate with the Latino community. Selena began recording professionally in 1982. In the 1980s, she was often criticized and was refused bookings at venues across Texas for performing Tejano music—a male-dominated music genre. However, her popularity grew after she won the Tejano Music Award for Female Vocalist of the Year in 1987, and for nine consecutive years after.

Selena released her self-titled debut album on October 17, 1989. Selena peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Regional Mexican Albums chart, becoming Selena's first recording to debut on a national music chart. The album performed better than other recordings from other contemporaneous female Tejano singers. That same year, she became Coca-Cola’s spokesperson.

In September 1990, Selena released her second studio album, Ven Conmigo. One of its singles, “Baila Esta Cumbia” became one of Selena's most successful single. It was around that time that Yolanda Saldívar asked the Quintanilla family about starting a fan club for Selena. In hopes of bringing more attention to the band, they agreed.

Against her father’s will, Selena eloped with Chris Pérez, the band’s guitarist. A month later, Selena released her breakthrough album, Entre a Mi Mundo. The recording peaked at number one on the US Billboard Regional Mexican Albums chart for eight consecutive months; it was certified 6x platinum by the RIAA. Entre a Mi Mundo became the first Tejano album by a female artist to sell over 300,000 copies. "Como la Flor" became Selena's signature recording; it helped Selena to dominate the Latin music charts and become immensely popular in Mexico.

In 1994 Selena began designing and manufacturing a line of clothing; she opened two boutiques called Selena Etc., one in Corpus Christi and the other in San Antonio. Both were equipped with in-house beauty salons. Saldívar managed both boutiques after the Quintanilla family were impressed with the way she managed the fan club. Hispanic Business magazine reported that the singer earned over five million dollars from these boutiques. She was ranked among the twentieth-wealthiest Hispanic musicians who grossed the highest income in 1993 and 1994.

Amor Prohibido became one of the best-selling Latin albums in the United States and has been certified 2x diamond by the RIAA. “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” was one of my favorites that went number one from this album. Amor Prohibido popularized Tejano music among a younger and wider audience than at any other time in the genre's history. Billboard magazine ranked Amor Prohibido among the most essential Latin recordings of the past 50 years and included it on its list of the top 100 albums of all-time. 

It was discovered that Saldívar had embezzled more than $30,000 via forged checks from both the fan club and the boutiques. Selena's father presented Saldívar with the inconsistencies concerning the disappeared funds. He told her that if she did not provide evidence that disproved his accusations, he would involve the local police. Saldívar also began to show obsessive tendencies with Selena. So much to the point that Mr. Quintanilla Jr. forbade Saldívar from contacting Selena. It was as if Saldívar refused to stay out of Selena's life.

Saldívar delayed handing over the bank statements and financial records with many outrageous stories. And when Selena met up with her at a Days Inn to demand the financial paperwork, Saldívar shot Selena. She was pronounced dead upon arriving at the hospital.

Selena's murder had a widespread impact. Her death was front-page news in The New York Times for two days. Numerous vigils and memorials were held in her honor, and radio stations in Texas played her music non-stop. Her funeral drew 60,000 mourners, many of whom traveled from outside the United States. On April 12, 1995, two weeks after Selena's death, George W. Bush, governor of Texas at the time, declared her birthday, April 16, Selena Day in the state. He said Selena represented "the essence of south Texas culture."

Aside from music, Selena was active in her community and donated her time to civic causes. During her childhood, Selena helped organizations such as Toys for Tots. She was active in the U.S. Latino community, visiting local schools to talk to students about the importance of education. he also donated her time to civic organizations such as D.A.R.E. and planned a fund-raising concert to help AIDS patients.

Selena has been credited for helping redefine Latin music by breaking barriers in the Latin music world. She is considered "one of the most significant Mexican American singers of the end of the twentieth century" and her death was "the most devastating loss" in Tejano music history – the Tejano market died with her. But her memory and her legacy lived on through the music that she has left behind. And who knows? One day, a little girl may hear that music and decide to bring Tejano music back to life.