Selena Quintanilla known as “The Queen of Tejano Music” has been a great influence for many Latino singers and a great inspiration to her fans, who still remember her great legacy. It has been 23 years since her death on March 31, 1995, yet she is still known as a music legend.

“The Queen of Tex Mex”, was born on April 16, 1971 in Lake Jackson, Texas. At the early age of ten, Selena became the lead singer in her family’s band Selena y los Dinos. They started playing at weddings and at clubs, Selena grew up speaking English but her father, Abraham Quintanilla, a former musician, taught her to sing in Spanish so she could be closer to the Latino community. Eventually, she started to speak Spanish fluently.

In 1987, Selena won “Best Female Vocalist of the Year” and “Performer of the Year” at the Tejano Music Awards. She made many groundbreaking songs like “Como La Flor,” “No me Queda Mas,” “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom”, “El Chico del Apartamento 512” and countless other beautiful songs that Latino’s still remember to this day.

A groundbreaking moment in Selena’s career was in 1994 when she became the
first Tejano artist to ever receive a Grammy Award. “When I am singing, I believe that if I respect the public, then they will respect me and I know it. It’s noticeable”. Selena had a great vibe and aura that she emitted not only on stage, but in person. She respected others and therefore was respected. Valeria Fierro (22) says “Selena Quintanilla died before I was born but Latino families usually play her music during weddings, quinceaneras and other special traditions she is very well known in Central and South America and many cherish her legacy and still listen to her songs”