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54 years ago today, Marcella Quintanilla was helped into a hospital bed at Freeport Community Hospital in Texas, USA to give birth to her third child – a daughter, Selena.
It was only six years later that her father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., realized that the child could really sing.
Born into a family of aspiring musicians, Selena’s father introduced her to music at an early age, and he was astounded by what he heard come from his daughter’s lips. Abraham Jr. himself was a musician, touring with the “Dinos” in the 1950s and 1960s, but he was convinced he had something truly special with the idea of a family band, with Selena as the singer.
So when Selena was nine years old she started performing at her father’s Tex-Mex restaurant, with her brother Abraham III on guitar and her sister Suzette on the drums. While the restaurant’s lifespan was short-lived, their band “Selena y Los Dinos” began to thrive, and when the family moved to Corpus Christi they began touring in a bus called ‘Big Bertha.’
Although Selena didn’t speak Spanish, she began to learn from her father, who wanted her to make music related to their heritage. He taught her phonetically, and encouraged her to sing in Spanish at every available opportunity – opening her to the spectacular, yet male-dominated, world of Tejano music.
Despite the fact that first few years of touring were tough – the family made little money, and were often criticized or booted from venues for performing songs of that genre – it all started to pay off after Selena won the Tejano Music Award for Female Vocalist of the Year in 1987 (and for nine consecutive years after).
Because what Selena had wasn’t just a voice – she had a persona that was genuine, ebullient, and captivating. A true fashionista at heart, she would design her unique stage outfits and create clothing lines that matched her free spirit. She brought the contemporary sounds of singers like Janet Jackson into a genre known for its male voices, and was generous about spending time with her fans.
“Selena had a rare ability to connect with people in a genuine way. She was real – what you saw on stage or in interviews was exactly who she was in everyday life. She never put on a front or acted like she was above anyone,” said Andrew Longoria, who holds the record title for largest collection of Selena memorabilia.
“She made her fans feel seen, heard, and recognized. Whether it was through her music, the way she interacted with people, or how she stayed true to herself, she had this warmth that made you feel like you mattered.”
In 1989, Selena signed with EM Records and released her self-titled debut album, featuring hits like "Sukiyaki" and "My Love," the latter of which she wrote. Her brother was the principal music producer songwriter, and her father was her manager, so her career truly was a family affair.
But it wasn’t until 1992, and her release of her third album Entre a Mi Mundo, did Selena have her ‘breakthrough.’ It became the first Tejano album by a woman to sell over 300,000 copies, and the hit "Como la Flor" became one of her most popular songs (particularly in Mexico), written because of her love for white roses. The album peaked at number one of the Billboard Regional Mexican Charts for eight months in a row, and the Live! (1993) record performance of the album got her a 1994 Grammy award for Best Mexican/American Album.
“For many, especially in the Latino community, her story is personal,” said Andrew. “She represented hard work, family values, and chasing your dreams. She grew up balancing two cultures – Mexican and American – at a time when that wasn’t always easy. She proved that you could embrace both sides of your identity and succeed.
“She wasn’t just an artist, she was someone people saw themselves in.”
She was also riding high in 1992 after eloping with her guitarist, Chris Pérez – and although he had a complicated relationship with her family, he was a close part of Selena’s life.
Around this time too, she began to experiment more with fashion, designing clothing lines for boutiques in Texas that inspired her nickname as ‘the Mexican Madonna’ for her fun, yet somewhat provocative, styles.
In 1994, Selena released what would become her fourth and most popular album, Amor Prohibido. It quickly became one of the best-selling Latin albums in the United States, was certified platinum 36x by the RIAA, and was ranked #479 of the Rolling Stone Best 500 Albums of All Time. With a modern take on classic Tejano sounds, featuring Selena’s iconic voice and an addictive synthesizer-sound, the album popularized Latin/Tejano music among a wider audience than any before.
The album led her to her second Grammy for Best Mexican/American Album in 1995, and won Record of the Year at the 1995 Tejano Awards. Selena began to be known as the ‘Queen of Tejano Music,’ whose tours drew in massive crowds, and whose persona had international appeal.
After the release of Amor Prohibido, Selena’s managers were convinced she was ready to break into the global market, and they wanted her to record her first crossover album in English and Spanish.
Sadly, before she had the chance to secure her stardom, Selena was killed by former president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldívar, in a sudden and shocking shooting in Corpus Christi, Texas, on 31 March 1995. Saldívar, who was entrusted with managing Selena’s boutiques, was recently fired after she was found to be embezzling money from the company – Selena, wanting to confront Saldívar in person, approached her at a Days Inn Motel, and she shot the singer. Selena was 23.
The news of her death was devastating for her fans and for her community, who knew the star as a sweet and generous soul. Fans lined up over a mile for her funeral service, and over 78,000 signed the book of condolences.
Reactions to her death were reminiscent of the announcements regarding the deaths of singers like Elvis Presley or John Lennon – broadcasters interrupted their programming to declare the shocking news, and radio stations in Texas played her music non-stop out of respect.
Two weeks after her death, Texas governor at the time George W. Bush declared her birthday – today, 16 April, Selena Day in the state, saying she was “the essence of south Texas culture.”
Her posthumous album, Dreaming of You (1995) also became a huge hit, featuring previously unreleased tapes and some of her biggest hits.
Meanwhile, Saldívar was convicted of first-degree murder, and her recent request for parole was just denied.
Yet still today, Selena’s legacy lives on through her music, fashion, and film appearances, and she is immortalized in films like Selena (1997) starring JLO and the upcoming Selena y Los Dinos (2025) documentary.
And she still has six Guinness World Records titles: for biggest-selling Latin album in the U.S., first Latin solo artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, first solo artist with a posthumous No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200, most wins of Female Entertainer of the Year at the Tejano Music Awards, most weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart (for a single album), and first female vocalist to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with an all-Spanish-language album.
“Selena’s legacy is still strong, and that speaks volumes. Not many artists remain relevant decades after their passing, but she does,” said Andrew. “She wasn’t just a talented musician – she was a cultural icon who paved the way for Latin artists in the United States.
“Her legacy isn’t just about what she accomplished – it’s about how she made people feel. And that’s something that will never fade.”
“The best way to start is with her music. Amor Prohibido and Dreaming of You are two essential albums that showcase who Selena was as an artist. Amor Prohibido has some of her biggest hits, like "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" and "No Me Queda Más," while Dreaming of You blends her Tejano roots with the English-language pop career she was about to launch.
If you want to go deeper, Entre a Mi Mundo is another must-listen, especially since it's getting a new vinyl release this year. That album includes "Como La Flor," which became one of her signature songs.
For movies and documentaries, the 1997 Selena movie starring Jennifer Lopez is a great introduction to her story, and now we have Selena: The Series on Netflix, which gives a more detailed look at her journey, especially her early years with Los Dinos. The upcoming Selena y Los Dinos documentary will offer even more insight straight from the people who knew her best.
If you're into books, To Selena, With Love by Chris Pérez is another great read because it gives a personal look at her life beyond the stage.
No matter where you start, what’s important is understanding why Selena mattered – not just as a singer, but as a person who broke barriers and brought so much joy to people. Her music is timeless, and once you start listening, it’s easy to see why she continues to be celebrated.”
Biggest-selling Latin album in the U.S. – Dreaming of You (1995)
First Latin solo artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 – Selena Quintanilla-Pérez
First solo artist with a posthumous No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200 – Dreaming of You (1995)
Most wins of Female Entertainer of the Year at the Tejano Music Awards – nine
Most weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart (for a single album) – Amor Prohibido (1994), 97 weeks
First female vocalist to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with an all-Spanish-language album – Selena Quintanilla-Pérez
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