Remembering Latin Music Icon Selena Quintanilla-Prez on Her 27

It’s been 27 years since Selena Quintanilla-Prez was tragically taken from us, but her music and legacy continue to live on. Join us in remembering the Latin music icon on her birthday.

Introduction

It’s been 27 years since Selena Quintanilla-Pérez was taken from us, but her memory and legacy live on through her music.

The Mexican-American singer, who was often referred to as the “Queen of Tejano music,” was just beginning to crossover into the mainstream pop market when she was shot and killed by the president of her fan club in 1995. She was just 23 years old.

Although she was taken from us too soon, Selena left behind a huge catalog of music that continues to inspire fans all over the world. On the anniversary of her death, we’re taking a look back at some of her most memorable songs.

Early Life and Career

Selena Quintanilla-Pérez was born on April 16, 1971, in Lake Jackson, Texas. Selena’s father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., was a Mexican-American DJ who owned a record label called Q-Productions. Her mother, Marcella Quintanilla, was a Mexican-American fashion designer. Selena’s older siblings, A.B. and Suzette, were also involved in the family business.

Selena’s musical roots

Selena’s musical roots can be traced back to her father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., who was a singer in the Chicano rock band Los Dinos. Selena would often sing with the band at family gatherings and public events. In 1980, Abraham Quintanilla Jr. formed Selena y Los Dinos with his daughter as the lead singer. The group played a mix of Tejano, cumbia, and regional Mexican music.

Selena y Los Dinos released their first album in 1984 and went on to release several more albums over the next decade. They became one of the most successful Tejano bands of all time and helped increase Selena’s profile both in Texas and Mexico.

During the early 1990s, Selena began exploring other musical genres, including pop and dance-pop. She released a number of successful crossover albums that helped her gain a wider audience. Her album ‘Dreaming of You’, which was released posthumously, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, making Selena the first Latin artist to achieve that feat.

Selena’s big break

Born in Lake Jackson, Texas, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez began performing with her family’s band at an early age. She first gained mainstream attention in the 1980s as a member of Los Dinos, and she subsequently established herself as a successful solo artist in the Latin music world.

In 1989, she released her debut album, Selena, which peaked at number seven on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. She achieved widespread success with her second album, Ven Conmigo (1991), which debuted at number one on the same chart and became the first album by a female Tejano artist to do so. Her third album, Entre a Mi Mundo (1992), again topped the Latin albums chart and produced four number-one singles on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart.

Her murders generated extensive international media coverage and was one of the most high-profile crimes in America during the 1990s.

Rise to Stardom

It’s been over two decades since Selena Quintanilla-Prez’s untimely death, but the Mexican-American singer’s music and legacy continue to live on. Born in Texas in 1971, Selena began performing with her family’s band, Selena y Los Dinos, at a young age. By the early 1990s, she had released her debut album and was well on her way to becoming a bonafide Latin music star.

Selena’s crossover success

Selena’s music career began in 1980 when she started performing with her siblings at local fairs and restaurants in their hometown of Lake Jackson, Texas. In 1987, the family formed a band called Selena y Los Dinos and began touring throughout the state. The following year, the band released their first album, entitled Alpha.

Selena’s breakout moment came in 1989 when she won the Tejano Music Award for Female Vocalist of the Year. This award helped Selena y Los Dinos gain popularity outside of Texas, and they began touring throughout the United States and Mexico. In 1992, Selena released her first album with EMI Latin, entitled Entre a Mi Mundo (Come Into My World). The album was an instant success, reaching #1 on both the U.S. Billboard Top Latin Albums chart and the Mexican Regional Albums chart.

Entre a Mi Mundo featured Selena’s first crossover hit, “Como La Flor” (Like The Flower), which quickly became one of her signature songs. The success of “Como La Flor” led Selena to be nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Mexican-American Performance in 1993. She ultimately lost the award to Los Lobos, but her nomination helped to increase her visibility in the mainstream music industry.

In 1994, Selena released her third studio album, Amor Prohibido (Forbidden Love). The album featured another crossover hit, “No Me Queda Mas” (I Have Nothing Left), which helped Selena achieve further mainstream success. That same year, she was nominated for another Grammy Award for Best Mexican-American Performance for her duet with Marco Antonio Solis on “Donde Quiera Que Estes” (Wherever You Are).

By 1995, Selena had become one of the most successful Latin artists in the world. She embarked on a successful world tour and was working on a crossover album that would have featured English-language versions of some of her biggest hits. However, tragedy struck on March 31st when Selena was fatally gunned down by Yolanda Saldivar, the president of her fan club. She was only 23 years old.

In the years since her untimely death, Selena has become an icon for Latin music fans all over the world. Her memory is kept alive through annual tribute concerts and celebrations on what would have been her birthday (April 16th).

The release of Selena’s last album

On October 17, 1995, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez’s self-titled album was posthumously released by EMI Latin four months after the Tejano singer was fatally shot by Yolanda Saldívar. The record, which was the last album release during Selena’s lifetime, went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Mexican/American Album at the 39th annual ceremony.

Legacy

It’s been 27 years since Latin music lost one of its brightest stars, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez. The iconic singer was just 23 years old when she was tragically murdered on March 31, 1995. Selena’s untimely death sent shockwaves throughout the music community and beyond.

Selena’s impact on Latin music

Selena’s impact on Latin music was profound. She is often credited as the artist who helped make Tejano music mainstream and introduced a new generation of Latin music fans to the genre. She also helped pave the way for other Latino artists to crossover into the mainstream, including Shakira, Ricky Martin, and Jennifer Lopez.

Her untimely death in 1995 sent shockwaves throughout the Latin music community and beyond. Selena was just beginning to reach her full potential as an artist when she was killed by her fan club president at just 23 years old. Her murder sparked an outpouring of grief from fans around the world and solidified her status as a Latin music legend.

Today, Selena’s legacy lives on through her family, who continue to celebrate her life and work through various projects, including a new TV series about her life that is set to premiere later this year. Her music continues to inspire new generations of artists and fans alike, proving that Selena’s impact on Latin music is still felt more than two decades after her death.

Selena’s influence on fashion

Selena’s fashion sense was unique and helped her stand out in the Latin music world. She popularized the use of crop tops, tight fitting jeans, and colorful body-con dresses. Her style was a reflection of her bubbly personality and served as a source of inspiration for many young Latina women. Today, 27 years after her untimely death, Selena’s fashion legacy continues to live on through the many fashion brands and designers that have been inspired by her.

Conclusion

It’s been 27 years since Selena Quintanilla-Pérez was taken from us, but her music andLegacy continue to live on. The “Queen of Tejano music” was just 23 years old when shewas tragically murdered in 1995, but in her short time here on earth, Selena left a lastingImpression on the world. She was a talented singer, songwriter, actress, and fashionDesigner whose too-short life was filled with joy, creativity, and love.