Selena Perez By: Cyndy Trinh

Selena Quintanilla Perez was born on April, Selena Quintanilla Perez was born on April, 16, 1971.16, 1971.

At age 8, Selena worked singing at bars, At age 8, Selena worked singing at bars, weddings, restaurants, fairs, and such. The weddings, restaurants, fairs, and such. The band she worked in was called "Selena Y band she worked in was called "Selena Y Los Dinos" formed by her father, Abraham Los Dinos" formed by her father, Abraham Quintanilla. Quintanilla.

When Selena was younger, she wasn’t much When Selena was younger, she wasn’t much into dolls, but she played challenging into dolls, but she played challenging games. You can say she was a tomboy.games. You can say she was a tomboy.

Instead of having a normal childhood, her father, Instead of having a normal childhood, her father, a professional and experienced Musician and a professional and experienced Musician and ex-member of the original "Los Dinos" from the ex-member of the original "Los Dinos" from the nineteen-sixties, influenced Selena and her nineteen-sixties, influenced Selena and her three brothers to be dedicated Musicians. three brothers to be dedicated Musicians.

The Country/Tex-Mex band officially started in The Country/Tex-Mex band officially started in 1981. 1981.

The band was considered to be the "family The band was considered to be the "family business" of the Quintanilla family. business" of the Quintanilla family.

This business was the main source they relied This business was the main source they relied on to put food on the table. on to put food on the table.

In the late nineteen-eighties Selena Y Los In the late nineteen-eighties Selena Y Los Dinos gained popularity in the western Dinos gained popularity in the western states, which by then Mexican immigrants states, which by then Mexican immigrants were more prominent in the United States were more prominent in the United States than ever. than ever.

Because of her career, she stopped Because of her career, she stopped attending school, which was bad.attending school, which was bad.

She continued her education on the road.She continued her education on the road. At the 1987 Tejano Music Awards, Selena At the 1987 Tejano Music Awards, Selena

won Best Female Vocalist won Best Female Vocalist

In 1988, she released two albums, In 1988, she released two albums, PreciosaPreciosa and and Dulce AmorDulce Amor..

In 1989, José Behar, the former head of In 1989, José Behar, the former head of Sony Music Latin, signed Selena with Sony Music Latin, signed Selena with Capitol/EMI. Capitol/EMI.

He later said that he signed Selena He later said that he signed Selena because he thought he had discovered because he thought he had discovered the next Gloria Estefan. Selena signed a the next Gloria Estefan. Selena signed a contract with Coca-Cola to become one of contract with Coca-Cola to become one of its advertising spokesmen in Texas that its advertising spokesmen in Texas that same year. same year.

In 1991, her duet with Salvadoran singer Alvaro Torres "Buenos Amigos" In 1991, her duet with Salvadoran singer Alvaro Torres "Buenos Amigos" (Good Friends) (Good Friends) became her first number one song.became her first number one song.

Selena married Chris Perez, the lead guitarist of Los Dinos, on April 2nd, Selena married Chris Perez, the lead guitarist of Los Dinos, on April 2nd, 1992.1992.

In 1993, she won a Grammy for Best Mexican-American performance for In 1993, she won a Grammy for Best Mexican-American performance for her album Selena Live. Also in 1993, she began designing and her album Selena Live. Also in 1993, she began designing and manufacturing a clothing line. She opened two Selena Etc. boutiques; one manufacturing a clothing line. She opened two Selena Etc. boutiques; one in Corpus Christi and one in San Antonio. in Corpus Christi and one in San Antonio.

On February 26th 1995 she played to over 65,000 fans at the Houston On February 26th 1995 she played to over 65,000 fans at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in the Houston Astrodome. The Last Concert, a Livestock Show and Rodeo in the Houston Astrodome. The Last Concert, a DVD of her performance, was released September 2nd 2003.DVD of her performance, was released September 2nd 2003.

In 1995, she was murdered at age 23 at the Days Inn, Room 158, in Corpus In 1995, she was murdered at age 23 at the Days Inn, Room 158, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Christi, Texas.

Her DeathHer Death

Taken on the 5 year anniversary of her death.

CitationsCitations http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/selena-biography/a2442e73http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/selena-biography/a2442e73

bb17ff4448256895002bdc45bb17ff4448256895002bdc45

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selenahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selena

http://www.selenaforever.com/http://www.selenaforever.com/

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=dfl&GRid=1460http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=dfl&GRid=1460