Celebrating the Legacy of Selena
On March 31 it will be 22 years since the legendary Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla was murdered in a Days Inn hotel in Corpus Christi, Texas. If you have never heard of Selena then this will be your introduction to an amazing woman who has continued to unite and empower the Latino community. Selena was praised for her musical talent, creativity, and her deep kindness.
Selena was born in Lake Jackson, Texas to Abraham Quintanilla Jr. and Marcella Ofelia Samora. Her father was also a singer and was in a band called Los Dinos. It was Selena’s father who discovered her musical talents when she was young. He started a band with Selena and her older brother and sister called Selena y Los Dinos. She started recording professionally in 1982 at only 11 years old. It wasn’t easy for Selena and her band to get gigs since the Tejano music was male -dominated. Yet, once she starting winning awards for her talents it all changed for her. The video below shows her singing in English at a very young age.
During her time recording music Selena created epic songs that are forever engraved in her fan’s hearts. Her ‘self titled debut album’ was released in 1989 and did well in the charts. It reached number 7 on the US Billboard Regional Mexican Albums, and her most notable single Contigo Quiero Estar hit number 8 in the US Billboard Hot Latin Tracks.
After the release of the Selena album Selena was recognized as a “sex symbol.” I don’t think she had a problem with this because she was always comfortable in her own skin. She was known for her fit figure and having a lot “junk in the trunk.” She also made a lot of her own clothes and her custom made bustier became part of her image. She was also a fashion icon, and even today her outfits continue influence the fashion world. I mean just look at the outfit she is wearing on her debut album (image above), she looks like a modern day Pocahontas. Along with being a fashion icon she was a role model to young women, and was involved in her community.
Selena was dubbed as the Queen of Tejano Music. With hits such as Como La Flor, Bidi Bidi Bom Bom, Dreaming of You, Amor Prohibido, Si una Vez, Fotos y Recuerdos, Baila Esta Cumbia, and so many more Selena won the hearts of her fans and rose to fame. She continued to get recognition through awards and her fan base grew. One particular fan named Yolanda Saldivar decided to get in contact with Selena’s father to start a fan club, and after some pushing Yolanda was granted permission to start the fan club. More on her later.
Selena married her guitarist Chris Perez in 1992. The relationship was not welcomed with open arms by Selena’s father. When Abraham Quintanilla found out about the relationship he forbid it, but Selena and Chris continued to see each other. At some point Abraham ended up firing Chris from the band to keep him from dating his daughter, but not even this kept them apart. They ended up eloping, and after sometime Abraham came around to accepting the relationship.
About three years after marring Chris Selena’s life came to a tragic end. I don’t think anyone expected for such a tragedy to happen. The fan who started Selena’s fan club weaved her way into the tight circle of Selena’s family. Yolanda managed the fan club, but was also in charge of Selena’s boutiques. Selena considered Yolanda a loving friend, but when it was discovered that Yolanda was taking money from the business everything went south. On March 31, 1995 Selena went to see Yolanda at the hotel she was staying in Corpus Christi. Selena and Yolanda got into an argument and it ended with Yolanda shooting Selena. Selena was shot on the right lower shoulder and she dead from blood loss and cardiac arrest. She was able to get down to the hotel lobby and even named Yolanda as her attacker. Selena was mourned by everyone who knew her. Radio stations in Texas played her music all day. She was buried in Corpus Christi, and to this day her fans go pay tribute to her at her graveside.
Not too long after Selena’s murder a movie was made about her life. Jennifer Lopez played Selena, and this movie was credited as her rise to fame. There was some critic of casting a Puerto Rican instead of an actress of Mexican descent, but I think Jennifer Lopez did a great job in the movie. The whole movie is very compelling, and stays true to her life since Selena’s family contributed to the movie. I highly recommend watching the film. Just watch the scene from the end of the movie. Jennifer Lopez is singing Dreaming of You, but we get real footage of Selena toward the end of the video.
I had the honor of visiting her resting place, and her museum in Corpus Christi two weeks ago. There was a sense of magic in her seeing all her awards and outfits she wore in real life. I was only four years old when she was killed, but grew up listening to her music and continue to appreciate all she did. She was too young to have been taken away, and in such a horrible way. I always wonder what we were denied by her death, I think of all the songs, all the good she could have done with her fame. May she continue to rest in peace, and may her legacy live on.
