Name___________________________ Hour___________

Selena

Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, “The Queen of Tejano Music”

Selena was born in Lake Jackson, Texas on April 16, 1971. Selena began singing at the age of six. Three
years later, her father founded the singing group Selena y Los Dinos, which she fronted. They originally
performed at the Quintanilla family's restaurant, Pappa-Gayo's, but the restaurant failed shortly
afterwards. The Quintanilla family soon went bankrupt and was evicted from their home. Taking their
musical equipment in an old bus, they relocated to Corpus Christi, Texas. There, they performed
wherever they could: at street corners, weddings, quinceañeras, and fairs. Their efforts at spreading their
names and talents paid off in 1985 when the fourteen-year-old Selena recorded her first album for a
local record company.
Selena did well in school, but as she grew more popular as a musical performer, the travel demands of
her performance schedule began to interfere with her education. Her father pulled her out of school
altogether when she was in eighth grade. She continued her education on the road with the help of tutors.
At the age seventeen she earned a high school diploma from The American School of Correspondence in
Chicago, Illinois.
In early 1995, the Quintanillas discovered that Yolanda Saldívar, the president of Selena's fan club and
the manager of her boutiques, was embezzling money from the fan club. Selena was murdered on the
morning of March 31, 1995 at the age of 23 by Yolanda Saldívar following an argument over the
missing funds at a local hotel. Selena passed away 2 weeks before her 24th birthday.
Selena was one of the most popular and successful Latino artists of all time. 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 and the
second highest debut after Michael Jackson's HIStory album. Her next album Selena Live! won Best
Mexican-American Album at the 36th Grammy Awards.
1. When and where was Selena born? -- Selena was born in Lake Jackson, Texas on April 16, 1971

2. Selena began singing at what age? -- Selena began singing at the age of six

3. Selena’s father founded which group? -- her father founded the singing group Selena y Los Dinos

4. When did Selena record her 1st album? -- 1985

5. Where did Selena attain her high school diploma? -- The American School of Correspondence in
Chicago, Illinois.
6.
7. When did Selena pass away? -- March 31, 1995 at the age of 23

8. Who was responsible for Selena’s death? -- Yolanda Saldívar😡😡😡😡😡😡

9. List 2 of Selena’s major accomplishments. Selena's album “Dreaming of You’ debuted at number one in
the U.S. Billboard 200.