Thought of as the Queen of Tejano
music, Mexican-American singer Selena Quintanilla (known as Selena
to all of her fans) brought her style of music to mainstream culture
in America. Tejano, a blend of polka, pop, country and blues (1),
was a form of music that had never had any substantial impact
on America until Selena brought it here. Selena paid a high price
for her fame: her life. Selena's life came to a tragic end on
March 31, 1995 when she was shot once in the back by her dear
friend, and president of her fan club. After Selena accused Yolanda
Saldivar of embezzling money from the fan club, she shot Selena
in the back once. This one gunshot wound killed Selena, thus ending
her short-lived career. Saldivar is not serving a life sentence
in a Texas prison (2). This act of jealousy and self-indulgence
was ironically what brought Selena's name onto the mainstream
of American culture.
Selena's life ended precisely where it began, in the state of
Texas. As a young girl, she loved to sing, and her parents formed
a band, Selena y Los Dinos, comprised of Selena and her siblings.
When the family fell on hard times, they took the band out on
the road to perform throughout Texas (3). The fan response was
huge, as Selena's ostentatious clothing and warm personality won
over fans everywhere. Growing up speaking English, Selena's father
had to teach her Spanish when she was eight years old so that
she could sing songs in Spanish. Although she eventually recorded
songs in English, she originally won her fans over by singing
in Spanish(4) . Her Spanish music earned her a Grammy award for
her 1994 album "Selena Live". She was also the first
Tejano singer to ever enjoy the success of a gold record (Ven
Comingo, 1991). She also endorsed products, such as Coca Cola,
and she had two of her own clothing boutiques in Texas. She made
over five million dollars through her music, clothing and endorsements.
this made her one of the top twenty wealthiest Hispanic entertainers
in the world, according to Hispanic Business Magazine.
While
her death was tragic, it was sadly probably one of the best things
that ever happened for her career. In America, no one had ever
heard of Selena until her death, however after she died her name
became widespread. She came to be thought of as the "Mexican
Madonna" all throughout America. Her first English album
was almost completed at the time of her death, which would have
most definitely made her a star in America.
Selena became the first recording artist ever to have five Spanish
albums on the Billboard top 200 simultaneously. She recorded two
gold albums, and her 1994 release Amor Prohibido was certified
platinum(3) . Selena's rise to the top climaxed as she drew a
record crowd to Houston's Astrodome for a concert. The show sold
out as 61,000 adoring fans came to see Selena perform. She was
finally "crossing over". She was the number one Latina
artist in both the United States and in Mexico. Her much-anticipated
English album was awaiting release as her stardom swept across
America. She received nationwide praise, as TIME Magazine called
her "The embodiment of young, smart, hip Mexican-American
youth - wearing
midriff-baring boustiers and boasting a tight-knit family and
down-to-earth personality, a Madonna without the controversy."
The New York Times noted that Selena was "fearless in the
non-Latino market". She was well on her way to becoming a
star in English music at the time of her death. Selena was comfortable
with who she was, and never tried to be anyone but herself. She
always remained true to her roots, and formed personal connections
with fans, thus making her an icon in the Latino community(6)
.
After her death, Warner Brothers made a movie about Selena's life
and death. Puerto Rican actress Jennifer Lopez was cast for the
role of Selena. There was an outcry in both the Mexican, and Puerto
Rican communities when Lopez was given this role. Although controversial,
this movie brought Selena's death to the public eye, and catapulted
her name onto the mainstream. At last everyone knew who Selena
was. She was no longer Tejano's hidden treasure, but now she was
the Queen of Tejano Music. According to EMI Latin president Jose
Behar,"Gloria Estefan left the door ajar for Hispanic artists,
but it was Selena who blew it wide open." (7)
Selena.org The only site on the web that is authorized by Selena's father
1. Voltaire, Reign, Source Tribute, Inc. ©1998
2. Entertainment Weekly, March 26, 1999
3. Voltaire
4, Voltaire
5. Time Magazine, March 24, 1997
6. Entertainment Weekly
7. Entertainment Weekly
"A Sad Note." Entertainment Weekly, 26 March, 1999. <http://web1.infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/session/718/50/16092493w3/5lxrn_1_0A54179969>
"Via Selena!" Time Magazine, 24 March, 1997 <http://web1.infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/session/718/50/16092493w3/5lxrn_7_0A54179969>
Voltaire, Reign, "The Queen of Tejano Music." 15 November 2000. http://www.sourcetribute.com/page.cmf/1640
