Selena

About Selena

Born in Lake Jackson in 1971, Selena grew up in a musical family. Her father Abraham Quintanilla Jr. had recorded with Los Dinos in the 1950s and 1960s, and he guided his three children into the music business. Selena, her brother A.B. on bass, and sister Suzette on drums formed a second iteration of Los Dinos alongside keyboardist Ricky Vela and guitarist Roger Garcia. The band toured constantly during Selena's adolescence while she completed her schooling through correspondence courses. She recorded her first album at nine years old and signed to Capitol EMI in 1989, releasing several successful records including the 1994 smash Amor Prohibido. A notable detail in her rise: Selena's first language was English, not Spanish, making her fluency in Tejano singing all the more remarkable.

Selena's personal life drew intense fan interest. In 1992 she married guitarist Chris Perez, who had replaced the original guitarist in the band. Despite her growing fame, she maintained deep ties to her family in Corpus Christi. Beyond music, she designed clothing and opened boutique shops bearing her name in 1994. Her achievements extended to concert history: she drew the largest crowd ever recorded at Houston's Astrodome during a February 1995 performance. Tragedy struck on March 31, 1995, when Yolanda Saldívar, who managed Selena's fan club and boutiques, shot her during a confrontation over embezzled funds. Her death resonated across Tejano communities and Latin audiences nationwide.

That summer, her album Dreaming of You, blending Spanish hits with new English-language tracks, debuted at number one on the Billboard charts. The tragedy sparked widespread memorials and cemented her legacy in American music history. A 1997 film based on her life launched Jennifer Lopez's career, and later a Netflix series explored her rise to prominence. The Groove Hunter currently tracks 5 editions of Selena's work, including Entre a Mi Mundo [Red LP], Amor Prohibido (Remasterizado 2024) (30th Anniversary) [Transparent Clear LP], and Dreaming Of You 30th Anniversary Picture.