Daisy Garcia

Mr.Andrade
Contemporary Media
February 02, 2016
Selena Quintanilla
Selena Quintanilla was born on April 16,1971 in Lake jackson Texas. She was an American
singer, songwriter, spokesperson, actress, and fashion designer. Called the Queen of Tejano music .
Billboard Magazine named her the "top Latin artist of the '90s" and the "best selling Latin artist of
the decade". Selenas father Quintanilla, Jr. noticed her musical abilities when she was six years old.
Selena was the youngest child of the Quintanilla family, she debuted on the music scene in 1980 as
a member of the band Selena y Los Dinos, which also included her elder siblings A.B. Quintanilla
and Suzette Quintanilla. Selenas father had a restaurant and the restaurant was forced to close after
a year because of a recession caused by the 1980s oil glut. The family declared bankruptcy and
were evicted from their home. They settled in Corpus Christi, Texas; Quintanilla, Jr. became
manager of the newly formed band Selena y Los Dinos and began promoting it. They needed money
and played on street corners, at weddings, at quinceaeras, and at fairs.
Selenas popularity as a singer grew, the demands of Selena's performance and travel schedule
began to interfere with her education. Her father took her out of school when she was in the eighth
grade. At seventeen, Selena earned a high school diploma and enrolled at Pacific Western
University, taking up business administration as her major subject. Quintanilla, Jr. refurbished an old
bus and he named it "Big Bertha" and the family used it as their tour bus. Selena won the Female
Vocalist of the Year award in 1987 and for nine consecutive years after. Chris Perez auditioned for
the group's manager, Abraham. Abraham instantly disliked Chris' rocker image and insisted that he
change his appearance for the band. Abraham noticed chris and selena flirted and demanding them
to end their relationship. The couple continued their relationship secretly despite Abraham's
disapproval. Soon Abraham fired him from the band and prevented Selena from running off with him.
On the morning of April 2, 1992, Selena pounded on chris hotel room door. Selena wanted to get
married that day, but Chris argued it wasn't the right thing to do at the moment. Chris agreed and
they eloped in Nueces County, Texas.
Media announced their elopement over the radio within hours of the marriage ceremony. Abraham
eventually approached them, apologized, accepted the marriage and Chris back into the band.
Her father, Abraham Quintanilla, Jr., appointed Yolanda Saldvar president of Selena's fan club in
1991 after Saldvar had repeatedly asked permission to start one. In January 1994, Saldvar was
promoted to manager of the singer's boutiques. Selena's employees, fashion designer, and cousin
began complaining about Saldvar's management style. In January 1995, Quintanilla, Jr., began
receiving telephone calls and letters from angry fans who had sent membership payments and had
received nothing in return. He began investigating their complaints and found evidence that Saldvar
had embezzled $60,000 from the fan club and the boutiques using forged checks. After the
Quintanilla family confronted her, Saldvar bought a gun, lured Selena to a motel room, and shot her
in the back. Although doctors tried to revive Selena, she was pronounced dead from loss of blood
and cardiac arrest.
Selena died on March 31, 1995 at Corpus Christi, Texas. I decided to go with Selena because
Selena she was the most celebrated Mexican-American entertainers of the late 20th century.

Selenas death was a huge impact. Selena represented "the essence of south Texas culture." On
April 12, 1995, two weeks after Selena's death, George W. Bush, governor of Texas at the time,
declared her birthday, April 16, Selena Day in the state.