Selena Quintanilla-Perez would have been 37-years old today. The Corpus Christ, Texas singer only made it to 23. She was gunned down in cold blood, literally shot in the back, by the president of her fan club in March, 1995.
She went by her first name only, and began her singing career at age 8. She was a Texas girl influenced by soul singers such as Aretha Franklin and eclectic singers such as Donna Summer. Her father Abraham had been a do-wop singer in the 50s. He realized she might have a career in in Tex-Mex music, so he taught her to sing in Spanish by rote. She spoke only English, but she ruled as Queen of Tejano Music. Bidi Bidi Bom Bom was a big hit – and this live version shows her brother, Abraham Quintanilla, on bass and her husband, Chris Perez, on lead guitar.
Selena was a huge success. She won a Grammy and had begun her own clothing line. She’d signed a major record deal and had begun recording her first English album, an album she hoped would be a crossover hit. Just a weeks before she died, she performed before the largest crowd to see a musical event in the Houston Astrodome, more than 61,000. If you think of her as a Mexican singer, you’ll be stunned at how she opened the concert.
Selena survived less than five weeks. In late March, Selena learned that her fan club president had been stealing from her, and she went to a motel in Corpus Christi to confront the woman. Inside the motel room, Yolanda Saldivar pulled out a gun. As Selena turned to run, Saldivar fired, hitting the Selena in the back. She fled to the motel office where she bled to death. Here’s a compilation of the news coverage
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Mb4ePVyOsUw
The songs Selena recorded for her crossover album were released after her death. She never got to make videos for them, but her family put together video of her life for I Could Fall In Love.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0WTMESWDWMA
Happy birthday, Selena, we miss you greatly.
The song is called Bidi Bidi Bom Bom not boom boom. Also she did not go to the hotel to confront yolanda…she went to pick up some documents needed from the fan club. Also she did not bleed to death in the office. She was rushed to the hospital in very critical condition where she later bled to death. I understand you are doing this in remembrance of Selena but please get your facts straight before writing an article. Thanks!
It’s always sad to remember those who have passed on especially when someone takes their life..Selena was a beautiful woman who was blessed with an extrodianry gift of song and encouragement..I never knew her nor was I fortunate enough to see her and the band perform live, but I do have alot of her music CD/DVD..my daughter got me hooked..lol..I keep the Quintanilla/Perez family in my prayers..good article, thanks for sharing.
Unknown, good catch on my bad typing. Several news reports at the time said that Selena and her family had a conference with yolanda (good call on not capitalizing her name – I’ll follow that) and Selena went back to talk to her alone. Whether she bled to death is the office is a matter of degree. Some reports say she died in the ambulance – something that’s pointed to in order to show that her religious faith and the family’s possible objection to blood transfusions, had nothing to do with her death. Of course she was not pronounced dead until she arrived at the hospital. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Waunda – thanks to you, too. It’s a sad, sad story.
selena i will always remember you and i love you
i just wish that you had make untill the end of your life
my hole family just love the movie you are always in our hearts
hi my name is bianca i was born in 1993 and i saw how she died on the news i was her number 1# fan i love you selena!
happy birthday selena i was born in 1993 i loved it in the past i miss you a lot i was your number 1# fan when i heard you died i throwed a fit and throwd mt tears out i couldn stop crying as my mom and dad had too grab my legs and arms i love ya mua!
i love u alot and u are always in my heart no matter what i always cry at the end of the movie…………
WE MISS U LOT AND U WILL ALWAY BE OUR HEARTS LOVE YA AND MISS YA
Selena every time i wash your movie i cry cry because i miss u and i was just one yera old when u died i love u and u to J.LO.My name is Gabrielle love u……………..
hi my name is Jennifer and i was born July 20 1989.
I saw how she died and she was and will all ways be a hero to me. she never let her dreams out of her hands and she all ways cared for others.I will all ways love her and miss her so very much. I still watch her move and i still love her songs. I love you and all ways will.
Happy Birthday Selena. Its soo hard to comprehend and accept the fact that you’re no longer here. It just doesn’t feel real. We will never forget you and we will NEVER let your beautiful legacy die. Love you always.
la alegria que nos queda es saber que SELENA ya esta descansando en el mejor lugar alla arriba, sabemos que eres la mejor y que nadie te va a remplazar, que DIOSITO guarde tu alma para siempre que bendiga a tu familia, y por siempre SELENA VIVE, i missing you, TE QUEREMOS, TE QUEREMOS, TE QUEREMOS!!!
solamente nos queda la alegria de saber que SELENA ya esta descansando en el mejor lugar alla arriba, sabemos que eres la mejor y que nadie te va a remplazar porque lo que se gana a pulso nadie te lo quita, que DIOSITO guarde tu alma por siempre y que bendiga a tu familia, i missing you, y para siempre SELENA VIVE, TE QUEREMOS, TE QUEREMOS, TE QUEREMOS SELENA!!!
solamente nos queda la alegria de saber que SELENA ya esta descansando en el mejor lugar alla arriba, sabemos que eres la mejor y que nadie te va a reemplazar porque lo que se gana a pulso nadie te lo quita, que DIOSITO guarde tu alma por siempre y que bendiga a tu familia, i missing you, y por siempre SELENA VIVE, TE QUEREMOS, TE QUEREMOS, TE QUEREMOS SELENA!!!
Te digo adiós, y acaso, con esta despedida,
tu bello recuerdo queda dentro de mi…
Pero te digo adiós, para toda la vida,
aunque toda la vida siga pensando en ti.