Singer Selena Quintanilla was one of the most promising artists of her time when she rose to fame in the 1980s and early 1990s. Though she was violently taken at a young age, let’s honor the superstar who wished to be remembered as a “person who cared a lot” on what would have been her 53rd birthday.
Having found success for years in Tejano music, which fuses Mexican and American genres. As part of The Quintanilla Family, a music group consisting of Selena and her loved ones, she worked closely with those she loved but would later explore her solo endeavors in the late 1980s. Still keeping her family close, Selena’s self-titled 1989 major-label debut allowed fans outside of her community to experience her gentle vocals and catchy hits. The EMI Latin release was partly written by her brother A.B. The ten-track project was primarily recorded in Spanish, though it displayed elements of R&B and pop. The track “My Love” was released in English, which utilized these genres, further showcasing her versatility. The album peaked at number seven on the Billboard Regional Mexican Albums chart.
Selena unveiled her second EMI Latin studio album, “Ven Conmigo,” in September 1990. One of the singles, “Baila Esta Cumbia,” would become one of Selena’s most successful records. From there, the young vocalist would release several successful LPs, including her May 1993 live album, which won a Grammy Award for Best Mexican-American Album at the 36th Grammy Awards, making her the first Tejano artist to achieve this. “Selena Live” also snagged two awards from the 1994 Billboard Latin Music Awards and three at the Tejano Music Awards that same year. In addition to her musical success, the performer was a budding entrepreneur who launched Selena Etc. The apparel company had two locations, one in Corpus Christi, Texas, and another in San Antonio. Hispanic Business Magazine once reported that the singer brought in over five million dollars from this venture.
Sadly, the world lost Selena the following year at age 23 when she was gunned down by the president of her fan club and manager of Selena Etc., Yolanda Saldívar. The singer and her sister Suzette fired Saldívar on March 9th, 1995, after learning she was stealing money from the businesses. Just weeks later, Saldívar shot Selena in the back on March 31st, 1995, when the adored entertainer met with her at a Days Inn to retrieve financial records. She was subsequently sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after thirty years.
The singer would be forever immortalized with the August 1995 posthumous release of her “Dreaming Of You” and the title track, which received critical acclaim. The 1997 biopic starring Jennifer Lopez also helped keep Selena’s memory alive.
