The tragic shooting death of Tejano singer Selena spawned a reaction within the Latino community that can be compared to the reactions to the deaths of Elvis Presley and John Lennon. An enormously popular singer in Latino communities across North America, her music crossed cultural boundaries to touch the lives of young and old alike. A flamboyant, sexy stage performer, sometimes hailed as the Latina Madonna, Selena was nonetheless considered a role model for off-stage she was family oriented, active in anti-drug campaigns and AIDS awareness programs.
She was born Selena Quintanilla to Mexican-American parents in Lake Jackson, TX. Before her birth, her father Abraham had been a member of Los Dinos. When Selena began performing at the age of ten, her father became her manager and Los Dinos became her backing band. She made her recording debut in 1983 after appearing on popular the radio show of L.A. deejay Johnnie Canales. While Selena grew up understanding Spanish, English was her first language. Her first records were recorded in Spanish and she sang the words phonetically. After her music began to catch on, she began learning Spanish formally and by the time of her death, she was fluent in the language.
In 1987, she was named Female Vocalist of the Year and Performer of the Year at the Tejano Music Awards. Two years later she signed with EMI Latin and in 1990, she and Los Dinos released their eponymous debut album. Later that year she released a singles compilation, Personal Best, and she also released Ven Conmigo. In 1991 the title track of the latter became the first Tejano record to go gold. Selena also released two more albums, including one of Cumbia music, Baila Esta Cumbia that year. Selena married Los Dinos' lead guitarist Chris Perez in April of 1992. Other group members included her brother, Abraham Quintanilla, III, who played bass and penned many of her songs, and her sister Suzette, the drummer. She won a Grammy in 1993 for Best Mexican American Performance for her album Selena Live. That same year, she released an album of love songs, Quiero, and she also opened Selena Etc, a clothing manufacturing business. In 1994, she made her feature-film debut in Don Juan DeMarco, in which she played a singer. Later that year, she and her band embarked upon a tour of New York, LA, Argentina, and Puerto Rico. Amor Prohibido was released in 1994; it was nominated for a Grammy and went gold. In 1995, Selena began preparing to make her breakthrough into the American pop mainstream.
In the spring of that year she was working on her first English-language album, when she went to a motel room in Corpus Christi, TX, to fire 34-year-old Yolanda Saldivar, the woman who managed Selena's boutique in San Antonio, and the founder of the Selena fan club. A few days before the confrontation Selena's father had unearthed paperwork proving that Saldivar had been embezzling from the fan club. Saldivar and Selena argued and as the singer left, she was shot in the back. Selena didn't die right away and managed to stagger into the lobby where she named Saldivar as the killer. An hour later, Selena died in a local hospital.
It was a death that rocked the entire Latino music industry. Saldivar was convicted for the murder of Selena on October 23rd, 1995. Three days later she was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for at least 30 years.
A special service was held in the Los Angeles Colliseum where she was to give a concert. Less than a month later, Texas governor George W. Bush declared April 16, "Selena Day," in her honor. Dreaming of You, her final album, was released posthumously in the early summer. It became the first Tejano album to reach number one in America and was double platinum by the end of the year
In March 31, of 1995 the entire world was blown away by the tragic news...a young woman had died at the age of only 23. The fact that a woman's life would end at such a young age is terrible, but this was so much worse. It was worse because the innocent victim in this horrible crime was Selena Quintanilla Perez: The Queen Of Tejano Music. A women who was admired and followed by thousands of fans in the Latin World and who would have soon been followed by millions more in the English Pop world had she lived to fulfill her crossover dream, her American Dream. To this day, almost 6 years since that terrible day, she is still not forgotten by the people who love her. And because of this, testaments of fan's admirations toward her continue to be created, spoken, and written...
______________________________
Abraham's Beginning:
To begin Selena's life story you would have to go to the time before she was born, to the 60's. Selena's father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr. had his band called "Los Dinos". Back then Los Dinos tried to make it by singing English music, but racism at that time was too great to be able to surpass. Los Dinos were unable to get gigs in American Bars and small venues simply because of their race.
So now, they turned to their own people, latinos. They sang English oldies to a latin crowd which were not accepted at all. Hispanics in Texas wanted to hear Tejano Music. Abraham knew that he had to play Tejano music because that is who he himself was. That's when he and his band cut a few Spanish albums on the Falcon Label when the group was together. Selena's father now learned something that he would teach to his daughter when her music career would begin.
______________________________
A Humble Lake Jackson Beginning:
Had Selena been born a boy as expected that April 16, 1971 she would have been Marc Anthony Quintanilla. Instead, one of the future's most important latin artist was born: Selena Quintanilla.
Home Page
______________________________
Selena: The American Dream
In March 31, of 1995 the entire world was blown away by the tragic news...a young woman had died at the age of only 23. The fact that a woman's life would end at such a young age is terrible, but this was so much worse. It was worse because the innocent victim in this horrible crime was Selena Quintanilla Perez: The Queen Of Tejano Music. A women who was admired and followed by thousands of fans in the Latin World and who would have soon been followed by millions more in the English Pop world had she lived to fulfill her crossover dream, her American Dream. To this day, almost 6 years since that terrible day, she is still not forgotten by the people who love her. And because of this, testaments of fan's admirations toward her continue to be created, spoken, and written...
______________________________
Abraham's Beginning:
To begin Selena's life story you would have to go to the time before she was born, to the 60's. Selena's father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr. had his band called "Los Dinos". Back then Los Dinos tried to make it by singing English music, but racism at that time was too great to be able to surpass. Los Dinos were unable to get gigs in American Bars and small venues simply because of their race.
Above: Abraham Quintanilla Jr. (Selena's Father), and his
original Dinos in the 1960's
So now, they turned to their own people, latinos. They sang English oldies to a latin crowd which were not accepted at all. Hispanics in Texas wanted to hear Tejano Music. Abraham knew that he had to play Tejano music because that is who he himself was. That's when he and his band cut a few Spanish albums on the Falcon Label when the group was together. Selena's father now learned something that he would teach to his daughter when her music career would begin.
______________________________
A Humble Lake Jackson Beginning:
Had Selena been born a boy as expected that April 16, 1971 she would have been Marc Anthony Quintanilla. Instead, one of the future's most important latin artist was born: Selena Quintanilla.
Above: Selena when she was a baby.
By the time Selena was born, Selena's father no longer had his band. He worked at a Texas DOW Chemical Plant and was now married to Marcela and had two other children: A.B and Suzette. Even though he was now making a good living for his family, he still loved the music. Which was his real passion.
When Selena was 6 years old, Abraham was teaching A.B how to play the guitar. Selena was jealous of the attention that A.B was getting so she picked up a microphone and began to sing along with the music her brother made. Her father was amazed at how perfect her voice was when she sang. And as he heard his daughter singing away to a song, he saw in his head a way to get back into the music business.
By the time Selena was born, Selena's father no longer had his band. He worked at a Texas DOW Chemical Plant and was now married to Marcela and had two other children: A.B and Suzette. Even though he was now making a good living for his family, he still loved the music. Which was his real passion.
He went a bought used instruments to start a family band, to be kind of a family hobby. Selena would sing, A.B would play the bass and one of Selena's cousin's was chosen to play the drums. However, her cousin had to move away, so that position was left open. That's when Abraham got the idea to have his daughter Suzette play the drums. Suzette was extremely hesitant in having to play the drums since it was not that feminine. Adding to that, all the kids did not want to play. They all simply did not like having to spend all their time indoors doing something that was not there business.
They needed to practice 15 min. a day, but to the kids it was a terrible eternity. Selena said on "Cristina" in 1994, that is was like "Pero Papi, queremos jugar" ("But Dad, we want to go play"). It was obvious that neither Selena nor her siblings wanted any part of the music world. As a matter a fact, Selena wanted to be a designer. Selena's father was quickly interviewed that same day in 1994 regarding this issue.
Cristina told him that he was the dreamer about the music, not his children. He responded by saying that it was true but that he can guarantee that now all of his kids would thank him for being strict with them and that now they are finding success in this career. Selena without any words strongly agreed by simply nodding her head.
Now that the core of Selena Y Los Dinos was formed, little did the family know that the band would soon be the family's way of survival...
______________________________
The Opening of Papa Gallos:
Abraham was simply not happy with his job at the Chemical plant, he would go home and the first thing he would do was think of the music which was the thing he loved the most. He ended his job at DOW in order to come closer to his dream. He put all of his finances into the opening of a Mexican Food Resturant called "Papa Gallos".
He had this idea because he realized that Mexican food is really popular in that area, yet no Mexican Restaurant's were around there. While that was smart thinking and a way to make a good living he did have
By this time, Selena's father wanted to teach her to sing Spanish music. Something she apparently objected to, since a.) she did not like Spanish music and b.) she did not speak Spanish! But Selena's father told her that when he was in the original Los Dinos, they were not accepted because they were not being who they actually were. He had learned that she should be proud of her Mexican roots, including the music.
Selena now learned to sing Spanish songs phonetically, until she actually started to learn the language in her late teens...
The Quintanilla's restaurant went bankrupt about a year after its opening, because of the Texas Oil Shortage that occurred which drained the economy and ruined small businesses. Since the Quintanilla's put all of their money into the restaurant they now had nothing...
BiOgRaPhY... Selena Quintanilla-Perez was born in Lake Jackson, Texas on April 16 (Easter Sunday). Her parents,Marcella and Abraham Quintanilla Jr. were very happy to the new addition to the family.Selena's brother- Abraham Quintanilla III (A.B) and Selena's sister Suzette were little children when Selena was born. Abraham always had a passion for music. In the late 50's and early 60's he was part of the group Los Dinos (The Guys). When his children were very young, he began to teach them an instrument. A.B. the bass and Suzette the drums. Suzette at first HATED the idea of playing the drums. When Selena was just 3 years old, she demanded to know why her father was leaving her out of the music. Abraham simply said she was too young. Right then Selena showed him she was not too young, she showed him her own instrument, her voice. She sang Blue Moon. Abraham couldn't believe what a beautiful sound she heard. By the time Selena was 6, she was already singing like a pro in English and in Spanish, even though she didn't speak the language, alongside her brother, sister, and father. When Selena was 9, her father started the group Selena Y Los Dinos (Selena and The Guys). The group's first performances were in Papagallos, the Quintanilla family's restaurant opened in 1980. Everyone who saw her, even at that young age, knew she was going to be a star someday. Soon the restaurant fell and the Quintanilla family went bankrupt, they were out on the streets without a roof over their head. The family moved to Corpus Christi, Texas where they piled into an old bus with all their musical equipment. They played everywhere they could, on streets, at weddings... Soon all the hard work paid off. Selena even said in some interviews that when she first started playing it was because it put food on the table. Selena recorded her first album in 1984 under the Freddie label. This album was not released just then and the original copies were bought by Abraham. However, the album was released in 1995 titled "Mis Primeras Grabaciones." Because Selena was getting even more popular and the traveling to perform was interfering with school, Abraham pulled her out of school when she was in the 8th grade. Even though she was not attending school anymore, Selena earned a high school degree from a correspondence school in Chicago. In 1986, Selena's career really began to take off. Her second album, Alpha, was released then. At the Tejano Music Awards, she took female Vocal 0f the Year (this was just the start of Selena sweeping the Tejano Music Awards for the next 10 years). Another important thing that happened in 1986 was she was discovered by two huge names in the Tejano music industry; Rick Trevilo, founder of the Tejano Music Awards, and Johnny Canales, an entertainer with one of the top Spanish television shows. In 1988, two more Selena albums were released, Preciosa and Dulce Amor. But it was in 1989 when Selena got her big break. That year, she signed with Capitol/EMI Latin label. By this time, Selena's concerts were drawing thousands of people and her band was expanding. Pete Astudillo joined Selena Y Los Dinos and can be heard on such hit duets as "Yo Te Amo" ("I Love You") and "Siempre Estoy Pensando En Ti" ("I'm Always Thinking Of You"). A.B. (who was already writing most of Selena's songs) joined Pete and wrote such it songs as "Como La Flor" ("Like A Flower"). (my fav song) In 1988, Selena met a guitarist named Chris Perez. The Quintanilla family hired him to be in the band in 1990. When Selena's father first heard of the couple's idea of getting married he was very upset and fired Chris. But soon after that Selena and Chris decided to get married and her father accepted them and hired Chris back. Selena and Chris were married April 3,1992. In 1990, a fan approached Abraham with the idea of starting a fan club. Her name was Yolanda Saldivar. Her wish was granted. She was often referred to as Selena's biggest fan. Yolanda became a very close friend of Selena's, but later on, one of her worst enemies. Ven Conmigo (Come With Me) was released in 1990. That album had such hits as "Baila Esta Cumbia" ("Dance This Cumbia"). Another hit album, Entre A Mi Mundo (Come Into My World), was released in 1992. Such hits from that album like "Como La Flor" and "La Carcacha" ("The Old Car") made Selena a star. Her 1993 Live album one her a Grammy award for Best Mexican American Performance. But 1994 was her best year, that was when she truly became a superstar. In 1994, Selena released Amor Prohibido (Forbidden Love). An album that even knocked Gloria Estefan's "Mi Tierra" off the number one spot on the charts. By March of 1995, it had sold over 400,000 copies. Amor Prohibido included such hits as "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom," the title track, "Fotos Y Recuerdos" ("Photos And Memories"), "No Me Queda Mas" ("I've Got Nothing Left"), and "El Chico Del Apartamento 512" ("The Boy Of Apartment 512"). Also in that year, Selena opened her boutique and salon, Selena Etc., in Corpus Christi. It had been her dream since she was a little girl to sell the clothing and jewelry that she loved to design. In January of 1995, another boutique opened in San Antonio, Texas. In February of 1995, Selena sold out the Houston Astrodome with her last concert for the Houston Livestock and Rodeo. A record attendance for any Tejana. Also in February, trouble started with the Selena Fan Club. People were complaining that they weren't receiving their packets they paid for. The Quintanilla family confronted Yolanda, who by this time was also manager of the boutiques. Money also started to turn up missing from the Selena Etc. account. Yolanda was stealing from them. On March 12, 1995, Selena fired Yolanda. Although she was fired, Yolanda continued to work because there were papers missing. On March 30, Selena went to where Yolanda was staying in Corpus, a Days Inn motel, to get the missing paperwork. When Selena and Chris got home that night, they found out that some of the papers were still missing. Early the next morning, Selena got up and went to face Yolanda again. There Yolanda told her she had been raped in Monterey, Mexico and needed to go to the hospital. Being the kind person that Selena was, she took her. After about an hour, Selena and Yolanda returned to the motel and argued. Selena told her that she just couldn't be trusted anymore. At 11:48 am, Yolanda took out a gun, and fired at Selena. The bullet struck her in her right shoulder. With all her strength, Selena ran towards the lobby to get help. She collapsed on the floor as the clerk called 911. Soon an ambulance came to take Selena to the hospital where she was pronounced dead at 1:05 PM. News of Selena's death spread all over the world. Selena fans mourned the loss of their queen, the queen of Tejano music. Thousands and thousands of fans passed by her coffin. The Friday she died, will always be known as Black Friday... In July of 1995, her dream of crossing over into the pop market was accomplished. The first single released from her English album Dreaming Of You, "I Could Fall In Love," instantly became a hit and was in heavy rotation all across the US. Dreaming Of You instantly hit the charts at number one, if only Selena was here to see her dream come true. Selena will always be in the hearts of her millions of fans, she will never be forgotten. We love you Selena!! Keep Selena's memory alive
About me: hi my name is carl. i'm a 33 year old country boy. i went to colleage at gscc. my course of study is carpentry.i work for my self now. i love all music. but my faviort music is gossiple. i'm 6'5 black hair brown eyes. i like to talk to everybody. it don't matter how old they are. i will not date anybody under the age of 18. but as for anybody under the age of 18 i will talk to them but that is as far as it goes. i will not talk about sex so don't ask me. if u do i will start sending u versies from the bible. i'm looking to be friends with everybody.no one person is any different then the other no matter if he or she thinks they are.because god mad us all equal. and i think if a person judges some one on the out side they are wrong for doing that. u should judge a person from the inside. because tell u the truth true beuty lays in the heart not the looks.
Throughtout life people will disrespect you and treat you bad, let God deal with them and the things they do. Cause hate in your heart will consume you too and you will be just like them."
stars layout @ Unique MySpace Layouts - Movie Layouts - Music Layouts - More MySpace Layouts! - MySpace Tools
________@@@@@@___________@@ @ __________@@@____@@@_______@@@@@ ________@@@__ ______@@_____@@@@@@@ ________@@___________@@__@@@______@@ ________@@____________@@@__________@@ __________@@________________________@@ ____@@@@@@______@@@@@___________@@ __@@@@@@@@@__@@@@@@@_________@@ __@@____________@@@@@@@@@_______@@ _@@____________@@@@@@@@@@_____@@ _@@____________@@@@@@@@@___@@@ _@@@___________@@@@@@@______@@ __@@@@__________@@@@@________@@ ____@@@@@@_______________________@@ _________@@_________________________@@ ________@@___________@@___________@@ ________@@@________@@@@@@@@@@@ _________@@@_____@@@_@@@@@@@ __________@@@@@@@ ___________@@@@@_@ ____________________@ ____________________@ _____________________@ ______________________@ ______________________@____@@@ ______________@@@@__@__@_____@ _____________@_______@@@___@@ ________________@@@____@_@@ ▒▒▒▒▒▒Make a friend, is a Gift ▒▒▒▒▒▒ ▒▒▒▒▒ Have a friend, is a Grace ▒▒▒▒▒ ▒▒▒▒ Maintain a friend, is a Virtue ▒▒▒▒ ▒▒▒▒But, having a Friend as YOU ▒▒▒▒ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ is a ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ Great Blessing! ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ ♥?♥?♥?♥?♥?♥?♥?♥?♥?♥?♥?♥?♥?♥?♥? ♥?♥?♥?♥?♥?♥?♥?♥?♥?♥?♥?♥?♥?♥?♥? Send this FLOWER to Everyone you care about including me if you care.( YOU KNOW I CARE ) See how many times you get this, if you get a dozen your loved... huggsssssssss
Hi my dear and precious friend.. Your friendship is so precious to me.. Thank you for being my friend..
As we sit here day after day sharing
our lives our dreams our fears our failures
It is still amazing to me how
YOU once a total stranger
have become some of my dearest, closest,
cherished Friends.
YOU are as important to me as
any of my personal friends,
my family or my neighbors,
YOU make me smile
when you share your joys,
YOU make me laugh
when you tell me stories!
YOU make me lonely
when you are gone.
YOU are in my thoughts each day
and I wouldn't have it any other way.
To you ... dear friend's here on the web!
I love & adore you please stay close
Online friends are people we may never meet.... We see pictures, we see
cams...It isn't the same.... We grow close...We care and love one
another.... One day we may not hear from one another.... Our hearts will
break... All we see is a name on messenger but the person we don't see
anymore..... We pray....."Please come back".... All I ask is you remember me
in the good times we had..... Keep me close to your heart....Friends
forever..."
Hope you had a fantastic day and you have a wonderful night.Take care and this week bring lots of grea
Hey Carl...I think you asked if i knew who you were.. and i do not. at least i dont think so. haha anyways How are you?? Hope all is going splendidly!! Love always&forever, Tanya Sue
Hey! Thanks for adding me.. I wanted to let you know that I just wrote and recorded two new songs called "Austin" & "Picture Un-Perfect"--they're up on my page now!! Check them out if ya get bored.
Talk to you soon!!
<3 Christen
Thank you so much for your friendship. I hope that everything is going great for you. Stop by my myspace anytime and let me know how your doing. God Bless, Krysta Nick... :) www.youtube.com/singingkrysta
hey Carl!! How are you?? Thanks for your friendship! I love chatting and meeting new people. If you ever have a chance to check out my page and tunes, please do. I'd totes appreciate that!!! Dont be a stranger and have a spectacular day!!! Love always&forever, Tanya Sue
Hello, it's me, Ruby Jane.To those who don't know me, I am a 14 year old fiddler, songwriter. I have some songs posted that are fresh out of the studio. Let me know if you like the new songs..be one of the first to hear, even before they are released!Thanks! new videos too! Ruby Jane
Thanks for the add. Hope you had a great memorial day weekend. When you get a chance, check out my new song "Jesus and George Strait". Drop me a comment and let me know what you think of it. Thanks, Dale
Thanks for the add. Hope you had a great memorial day weekend. When you get a chance, check out my new song "Jesus and George Strait". Drop me a comment and let me know what you think of it. Thanks, Dale
Online Now!
