Selena Quintanilla-Perez- Biography
Selena Quintanilla-Perez, mononymously known by just her first name, Selena, was a singer and songwriter.
Selena Quintanilla- Perez’s Net Worth & Salary
Selena Quintanilla-Perez, also known by her first name Selena, was a singer and songwriter who had a net worth of $5 million at the time of her death in 1995.
Despite her untimely death, Quintanilla-Perez is still regarded as the “Queen of Tejano music.” Selena was a huge influencer in the worlds of fashion and cosmetics in addition to music.
Despite the fact that the Tejano genre is typically dominated by men, Selena helped to popularize it and became one of the most well-known Tejano artists of all time.
Quintanilla-Perez was shot and killed by a close friend in 1995, not long after her mainstream breakthrough in 1992. Selena has been honored by a number of people since her death.
In Texas, her birthday was dubbed “Selena Day,” and some of her albums were released posthumously to great acclaim.
Jennifer Lopez starred in a film based on her life, which was released in 1997. Quintanilla-Perez has sold over 30 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling female Latin artists of all time.
Selena Quintanilla-Perez’s Birth, Parents, Siblings & Education
Selena Quintanilla-Perez was born in Lake Jackson, Texas on April 16, 1971. Selena’s singing abilities were quickly recognized as she grew up in a Jehovah’s Witness family.
Selena and her siblings would entertain customers at her father’s Mexican restaurant, Abraham Quintanilla Jr. However, the restaurant was forced to close due to a recession in the 1980s, and the family was later forced to declare bankruptcy and vacate their home.
The Quintanillas eventually settled in Corpus Christi, and Selena was a member of her father’s band, Selena y Los Dinos.
This band assisted the family in paying their bills by performing at weddings and even on street corners. Selena’s father pulled her out of school in the eighth grade because it was clear that she was destined for a successful music career.
Despite this, she graduated from high school at the age of 17 and was accepted to Pacific Western University. She majored in business administration.
Selena began her foray into Tejano music during this time period. This genre, which combines polka, jazz, and country with Latin and German influences, is extremely popular among Mexicans living in America.
Selena Quintanilla-Perez’s Career
Selena rose to prominence in the Tejano community after releasing an album with Selena y Los Dinos in the mid-1980s. She signed a contract with EMI Latin Records after releasing a number of LPs.
Selena released her self-titled album in 1989, and it peaked at number seven on the Billboard charts. With her commercial success, Selena began working on commercial jingles for major brands such as Coca-Cola.
She released “Ven Conmigo,” an album that included the massively popular song “Baila Esta Cumbia,” in 1990. She released her third album, “Entre a Mi Mundo,” in 1992.
This was her mainstream breakthrough, and the album went on to be certified 10x platinum. This success also allowed her to gain popularity in Mexico, where Tejano artists were previously despised. Selena toured extensively throughout Mexico over the next few years.
Selena began a clothing line and opened two Texas boutiques in 1994. These turned out to be seven-figure enterprises. During this time, she was one of the world’s highest-paid Latin musicians. “Amor Prohibido,” her fourth album, was released in 1994.
At this point, she had done more to popularize Tejano music among younger generations than any other musician in history. By 1995, EMI Records had plans for her to become a crossover English-language star in the future. She also began to appear in films for the first time.
Selena Quintanilla-Perez’s Murder
Quintanilla-Perez hired a woman named Yolanda Saldvar to manage Selena’s boutiques in 1994. However, because Yolanda lacked management skills, this proved to be a poor business decision.
She allegedly fired and mistreated employees she didn’t like. While Selena didn’t seem concerned about this woman’s behavior, her family warned her to be cautious around Yolanda.
Selena’s boutiques began to suffer, and Selena’s family later discovered that Yolanda was running a scam in which she stole money from people attempting to join Selena’s fan club.
The family then issued her with an ultimatum: provide proof of your innocence or we will involve the police. Despite this, Selena maintained her friendship with Yolanda and refused to stop spending time with her.
Things came to a head when Yolanda refused to hand over important banking information that Selena needed to file her taxes. Quintanilla-Perez then confronted Yolanda at a motel. When Selena asked her to give her the banking information again, Yolanda pulled a gun from her purse. Yolanda shot Selena in the lower right shoulder as she attempted to flee the room.
Selena made it to the lobby and informed the staff of what had occurred. Police were called, and they apprehended Yolanda as she fled in her pick-up truck. Selena bled profusely as a result of the gunshot wound severing an artery.
When she arrived at the hospital, she had no pulse, prompting an emergency room physician to attempt to resuscitate her. Selena then developed an irregular heartbeat, which necessitated surgery. She was pronounced dead 50 minutes into the surgery.
Selena’s vigil drew over 3,000 supporters, and her death was deeply upsetting for many in the Latino community. Yolanda Saldvar was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in 1995. In 2025, she will be eligible for parole.
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Quick Facts of Selena Quintanilla-Perez
- Selena Quintanilla-Perez, mononymously known by just her first name, Selena, was a singer and songwriter who had a net worth of $5 million at the time of her death in 1995.
- Not long after her mainstream breakthrough in 1992, Quintanilla-Perez was shot and killed by a close friend in 1995.
- In total, Quintanilla-Perez has sold more than 30 million records, which makes her one of the best-selling female Latin artists of all time.
- Selena tried to run out of the room, and Yolanda shot her in the lower right shoulder.
- In 1995, Yolanda Saldívar was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
