Selena Quintanilla was born in Lake Jackson, Texas, a small town located approximately 50 miles southeast of Houston, to Abraham Quintanilla Jr. and Marcella Quintanilla. Her father, Abraham, owned a Mexican restaurant called Papagayo in Lake Jackson, where Selena's musical talents were first discovered when she was just nine years old. This revelation led her father to form a band consisting of Selena on vocals, her brother A.B. Quintanilla on bass, and her sister Suzette Quintanilla on drums, which they called Los Dinos, a name inspired by a band Abraham was a part of in the 1950s and 1960s.
The group frequently performed at Papagayo, and as Selena's talent grew, her father began booking the band for weddings and parties, eventually becoming their primary source of income. In 1981, the family relocated to Corpus Christi, Texas, where Abraham continued to manage the band's bookings and Selena's music career.
Selena's big break came in 1987 when she won the Tejano Music Award for Female Entertainer of the Year at the age of 15. This prestigious award led to a major record-label contract with Capitol Records and the release of six successful albums. By 1992, Selena had expanded her brand by launching her own clothing line and marrying her guitarist, Chris Pérez.
In 1994, Selena won her first Grammy Award for Best Mexican-American album, "Selena Live!", and that same year, she opened her first boutique in Corpus Christi, Texas. Tragically, Selena's life was cut short on March 31, 1995, when she was murdered by Yolanda Saldivar, her friend and president of her fan club. Despite her untimely death, Selena's music and legacy continue to inspire and influence generations of fans around the world.
