A legend lost far too soon. Selena Quintanilla, born April 16, 1971 in Lake Jackson, Texas, was the “Queen Of Tejano Music”, so famous she became known by just “Selena”. The Texas-born talent first rose to prominence in the late 80s before being signed to a major Latin label in the late 80s. From there, hits began to pour out of her. Songs like “Como la Flor”, “Amor Prohibido”, and “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” still play on the radio today.
In 1994 she won Best Mexican/American Album at the Grammy Awards, becoming the first recording by a female Tejano artist to do so. Tragedy followed not long after, however. Selena was shot and killed by her friend and former employee Yolanda Saldívar in 1995, at age 23. Her posthumous English crossover album ‘Dreaming of You’ (1995), debuted atop the Billboard 200. Today Selena is remembered by fans around the globe.
Today, Selena’s music, style, and legacy continue to inspire generations — and her story is being introduced to an entirely new audience through the upcoming Netflix documentary Selena y Los Dinos, which features rare, never-before-seen footage of her early life and rise to stardom.
To see photos of Selena, check out the gallery.
