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This article is about the singer. For the eponymous biographical film, see Selena (film). For the debut EMI Latin album, see Selena (album). For other uses, see Selena (disambiguation).
Selena
DiedMarch 31, 1995(1995-03-31) (aged 23)
Corpus Christi, Texas, United States

Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), known simply as Selena, was a Mexican American singer-songwriter. She was named the "top Latin artist of the '90s" and "Best selling Latin artist of the decade" by Billboard for her fourteen top-ten singles in the Top Latin Songs chart, including seven number-one hits.[1] The singer had the most successful singles of 1994 and 1995, "Amor Prohibido" and "No Me Queda Más".[2]

Early life

Pérez]], who had his own band. Two years later, the Quintanilla family hired him to play in Selena's band and they quickly fell in love. At first her father opposed their relationship and went as far as firing Pérez from the band. He eventually came to accept the relationship.[3] On April 2, 1992, Selena and Pérez were married in Nueces County, Texas.[4]

In 1990 the album, Ven Conmigo was released, written by her brother and main songwriter Abraham Quintanilla III. This recording was the first Tejano album recorded by a female artist to achieve gold status. Around the same time, a registered nurse and fan named Yolanda Saldívar approached Selena's father with the idea of starting a fan club. Her wish was granted and she became the club's president; later she became the manager of Selena's retail enterprises.[4] In 1992, Selena’s stardom got a big boost with the song, "Como La Flor" off a new album, Entre a Mi Mundo. The next album, Selena Live! won Best Mexican-American Album at the 36th Grammy Awards.[4]

"Como La Flor" (1993)
The song Como La Flor is one of Selena's best known Spanish language songs.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The album Amor Prohibido was released in 1994. It was nominated for a Grammy award for Mexican-American Album of the Year. Selena and her band received yet more accolades in 1994. Billboard's Premio Lo Nuestro awarded them six awards, including Best Latin Artist and Song of the Year for "Como La Flor". Meanwhile, her duet with the Barrio Boyzz, "Donde Quiera Que Estés", reached number one in the Billboard Latin Charts. This prompted Selena to tour in Latin America.[5] She performed a duet with Salvadoran singer Álvaro Torres, "Buenos Amigos". By fall of 1994, Amor Prohibido was a commercial success in Mexico and made four number one Latin hits, replacing Gloria Estefan's Mi Tierra on the chart's number one spot. It sold over 400,000 copies by late 1994 in the U.S. and another 50,000 copies in Mexico, reaching gold status.[4]

Aside from music, she began designing and manufacturing a clothing line in 1994 and opened two boutiques called Selena Etc., one in Corpus Christi and the other in San Antonio. Both were equipped with in-house beauty salons.[6] Hispanic Business magazine reported that the singer earned over five million dollars from these boutiques.[7] Selena briefly played opposite Erik Estrada in a Mexican telenovela titled Dos Mujeres, Un Camino.[8] In 1995 she entered negotiations to star in another telenovela produced by Emilio Larrosa.[8]

At the peak of her career, Selena visited local schools to talk to students about the importance of education. She also donated her time to civic organizations such as D.A.R.E.. These demonstrations of community involvement won her loyalty from her fan base.[9] Selena scheduled her English album for release in the summer of 1995.

Murder

Main article: Murder of Selena

In early 1995, the Quintanillas discovered that Saldívar was embezzling money from the fan club, and they decided to fire her.[4] Three weeks later, Selena agreed to meet Saldívar in a Days Inn hotel in Corpus Christi[10] on the morning of March 31, 1995, to retrieve financial records Saldívar had been refusing to turn over. At the hotel, Saldívar once again delayed the handover by claiming she had been raped in Mexico.[11] The singer drove Saldívar to a local hospital, where doctors found no evidence of rape.[12] The two returned to the motel, where Selena again demanded the missing financial papers.[4] Saldívar drew a gun and aimed at Selena. As Selena tried to flee, Saldívar shot her once in her right shoulder, severing an artery. Critically wounded, Selena ran towards the lobby to get help. She collapsed on the floor as the clerk called 911, with Saldívar chasing her, calling her "bitch".[13] Selena died in a hospital there from loss of blood at 1:05 p.m., 16 days before her 24th birthday.[14]She is buried at Seaside Memorial Park, in Corpus Christi, Texas.[15]

Impact

Selena's death had widespread impacts. Major networks interrupted their regular programming to break the news; Tom Brokaw referred to Selena as "The Mexican Madonna".[16] It was front page news on The New York Times for two days after her death.[17] Numerous vigils and memorials were held in her honor, and radio stations in Texas played her music non-stop.[18] Her funeral drew 60,000 mourners, many of whom traveled from outside the United States.[18] Among the celebrities who were reported to have phoned the Quintanilla family to express their condolences were Gloria Estefan, Celia Cruz, Julio Iglesias, and Madonna.[19] People magazine published a commemorative issue in honor of Selena's memory and musical career, titled Selena 1971–1995, Her Life in Pictures.[18] The issue sold nearly 450,000 copies; two weeks later the company released a special issue for Selena, which sold more than 600,000 copies.[20] A few days later, Howard Stern mocked Selena's murder and burial, poked fun at her mourners, and criticized her music. Stern said, "This music does absolutely nothing for me. Alvin and the Chipmunks have more soul ... Spanish people have the worst taste in music. They have no depth." Stern's comments outraged and infuriated the Hispanic community across Texas.[21] After a disorderly conduct arrest warrant was issued in his name, Stern made an on-air apology, in Spanish, for his comments.[citation needed] Two weeks after her death, on April 12, George W. Bush, then Governor of Texas, declared Selena's birthday April 16 as "Selena Day" in Texas.[22] Selena was inducted into the "Latin Music Hall of Fame" in 1995.[20]

That summer, Selena's album Dreaming of You, a combination of Spanish-language songs and new English-language tracks, debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, making her the first Hispanic singer to accomplish this feat.[23] and the second highest debut after Michael Jackson's HIStory. On its release date, the album sold over 175,000 copies, a record for a female pop singer, and it sold two million copies in its first year.[24] Dreaming of You sold more than 330,000 copies in its first week.[25][26] The album was number 75 in the List of BMG Music Club's top selling albums in the United States.[27] Songs such as "I Could Fall in Love" and "Dreaming of You" were played widely by mainstream English-language radio, with the latter reaching number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100. Meanwhile, "I Could Fall in Love", while ineligible for the Hot 100 at the time, reached number 8 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart and the top 10 on the Adult Contemporary Chart. "Dreaming of You" was certified 3x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[28] In October 1995, a Houston jury convicted Saldívar of first degree murder and sentenced her to life in prison, with the possibility of parole in thirty years.[29] Under a judge's order, the gun used to kill Selena was destroyed in 2002, and the pieces thrown into Corpus Christi Bay.[30][31]

Posthumous commemorations and popularity

File:Selena memorial.jpg
Mirador de la Flor is a tourist attraction in Corpus Christi, Texas that was unveiled in 1997 to honor Selena.

Jennifer Lopez played Selena in a film about Selena's life. Selena was among two other Latin artists who had the best sales of records for the year 2001.[32] On March 16, 2011, the United States Post Office released a "Latin Legends" memorial stamp to honor Selena, Carlos Gardel, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, and Carmen Miranda.[33] She has sold over 60 million albums worldwide.[34]

Discography

Main articles: Selena albums discography, Selena singles discography, Selena videography, and List of Selena songs

Filmography

Film
Title Year Role Notes
Don Juan DeMarco 1995 Ranchera singer Minor role
Television
Title Year Role Notes
Johnny Canales Show 1985–1995 herself
Tejano Music Awards 1987–1995 herself
Dos mujeres, un camino 1993 herself
The Making of Selena the Movie 1997
Por Siempre Selena 1998
E! True Hollywood Story: The Murder Trial of Selena 1998
VH1 All Access: Selena 1999
Para Siempre Selena 2000
Por Siempre... Selena 2001–present
Selena !VIVE! 2005 herself honoree
Biography 2008 TV series (2 episodes)
Top Trece 2009 TV series (1 episode)
Historia de una Leyenda 2009 TV series (1 episode)
Famous Crime Scene: Selena 2010 TV series (1 episode) featured

Tours

Main article: List of Selena concert tours

See also

Citations

  1. ^ Mayfield, Geoff (December 25, 1999). "Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade". Billboard. 111 (52). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: YE–16–18. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  2. ^ -muerte-selena-quintanilla-vuelve-en-grande. E! Online (in Spanish). {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ Patoski 1996.
  4. ^ a b c d e f New York Times 1995.
  5. ^ Patoski 1996, p. 123.
  6. ^ Patoski 1996, p. 120.
  7. ^ "Selena – Life Events"[dead link]. Corpus Christi Caller Times, March 27, 2005. Retrieved on June 7, 2006.
  8. ^ a b Patoski 1996, p. 134.
  9. ^ Selena[dead link]. AllMusic.com. Retrieved on September 9, 2010.
  10. ^ "Testimony of Richard Fredrickson". Houston Chronicle, October 13, 1995. Retrieved on February 1, 2008.
  11. ^ Mitchell 1995.
  12. ^ "October 12, 1995 testimony of Carla Anthony". Houston Chronicle, October 12, 1995. Retrieved on May 21, 2008.
  13. ^ "October 12, 1995, the testimony of Norma Martinez". Houston Chronicle, October 12, 1995. Retrieved on February 1, 2008.
  14. ^ Villafranca, Armando and Reinert, Patty. "Singer Selena shot to death". Houston Chronicle, April 1, 1995. Retrieved on February 1, 2008.
  15. ^ Harvey, Bill (2003). Texas Cemeteries: The Resting Places of Famous, Infamous, and Just Plain Interesting Texans. University of Texas Press. p. 92. ISBN 0-292-73466-2.
  16. ^ "In the spirit of Selena: Tributes, a book and an impending film testify to the Tejano singer's enduring". by Gregory Rodriguez Pacific News, March 21, 1997. Retrieved on July 18, 2006.
  17. ^ Patoski, p. 174
  18. ^ a b c Mitchell, Rick. "Selena". Houston Chronicle, May 21, 1995. Retrieved on February 1, 2008.
  19. ^ Patoski, p. 165
  20. ^ a b Lannert, John (1995). "Latin pride". Billboard. 107 (23): 112.
  21. ^ Asin, Stephanie and Dyer, R.A. "Selena's public outraged: Shock jock Howard Stern's comments hit raw nerve." Houston Chronicle, April 6, 1995. Retrieved on February 1, 2008.
  22. ^ Cite error: The named reference rolemodel was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  23. ^ Hodges, Ann. "Selena legend lives on with TV movie'[dead link] Houston Chronicle, December 6, 1996. Retrieved on May 20, 2006. Template:Wayback[dead link]
  24. ^ "In the spirit of Selena: Tributes, a book and an impending film testify to the Tejano singer's enduring". Houston Chronicle, March 31, 1996. Retrieved on January 18, 2008.
  25. ^ Patoski pg. 199
  26. ^ Nilou Panahpour (1995). "Rock and Roll yearbook, the best in music, movies, and television". Rolling Stone (724/725). Straight Arrow Publishers Company: 64.
  27. ^ "List of BMG Music Club's top selling albums in the United States". BMG. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  28. ^ "RIAA – Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
  29. ^ Graczyk, Michael. "Selena's killer gets life". Associated Press, October 26, 1995. Retrieved on February 1, 2008.
  30. ^ National Briefing Southwest: Texas: Gun That Killed Singer Is To Be Destroyed The New York Times, June 8, 2002. Retrieved on July 16, 2006.
  31. ^ "Gun used in slaying of Selena destroyed". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  32. ^ Oumano, Elena (1999). "U.S. Latin Music Sales Break Records". Billboard magazine. 111 (43): 108.
  33. ^ Sara Inés Calderón (18 January 2011). "Selena, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente In U.S. Postal Stamp Form". NewsTaco. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  34. ^ Cite error: The named reference sales was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

References

  • Caller-Times (April 16, 1997). "Birthday hoopla is prohibited". Corpus Christi, Texas: Caller.com. {{cite web}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Mitchell, Rick. "Selena". Houston Chronicle, May 21, 1995.
  • New York Times (April 1, 1995). "Grammy Winning Singer Selena Killed in Shooting at Texas Motel". p. 1. {{cite news}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Patoski, Joe Nick (1996). Selena: Como La Flor. Boston: Little Brown and Company. ISBN 0-316-69378-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
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