Selena Quintanilla

Selena Quintanilla-Perez (April 16, 1971 - March 31, 1995) was a Mexican-American singer. She was born in Lake Jackson, Texas and grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she began her musical career. She had such a demand for personal apperances, she didn't have time to attend regular school. Therefore, she obtained her education through correspondence courses. Her father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., was a former singer with the original Los Dinos from 1957-1972, and was the strongest influence in her career. Selena, her brother Abe III (bass), and their sister, Suzette (drums), were a second generation of Los Dinos. Its other two members who started in the band were Ricky Vela on keyboards and Roger Garcia on guitar.

Selena made her first public appearance at her father's Mexican restaurant in Lake Jackson at eight and recorded her first record at nine. Selena signed with Capitol EMI in 1989, where her musical career took off. Chris Perez replaced Roger Garcia as guitar player, and Perez and Selena married on April 2, 1992. Chris and Selena were planing to have children after their final tour and they also had many dreams planned. Selena, Chris and the family all toured together and lived next door to each other as well.

Selena's father was approached by a lady named Yolanda Saldivar who later became Selena's fan club president and also ran Selena's boutiques. It was Selena's dream to design her own clothing line. The family found out Yolanda embezzled money and decided to fire Yolanda. Selena went back to talk to Yolanda to retrieve paperwork for tax purposes. While they talked and argued Yolanda fired a gun at Selena and shot her in the back.

There is a museum to honor Selena's memory and a bronze life-sized statue of her on Ocean Drive in Corpus Christi. In 1997, Jennifer Lopez played Selena in the movie of the same name.