Misplaced Pages

Selena: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 03:16, 17 October 2013 view source24.20.30.62 (talk)No edit summary← Previous edit Revision as of 08:11, 17 October 2013 view source Joce1231 (talk | contribs)1 editNo edit summaryTags: possible vandalism Mobile editNext edit →
Line 33: Line 33:
Selena was born in ], Texas,{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=30}} as the youngest of three children born to a Mexican American<ref name="BaylorHSA">, ] press release, November 4, 1999. Retrieved October 13, 2006.</ref> father, ] and a half-] mother,{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=20}} Marcella Ofelia (née Samora)<!--Samora is correct NOT Zamora-->.<ref>Ware, Susan. ''Notable American Women: A Biographical Dictionary'', Harvard University Press 2005. ISBN 0-674-01488-X</ref> She was raised as a ].{{sfn|''Caller-Times|April 16, 1997|p=}} Selena began singing at age three. When she was nine years old, her father launched a vocal group consisting of several of his children, ].{{sfn|''New York Times''|1995|p=}} They initially performed at a restaurant the family operated,<ref name="rolemodel">Orozco, Cynthia E. . The Handbook of Texas online. Retrieved on May 29, 2009</ref> but went bankrupt soon thereafter. They moved to ], Texas, where they performed wherever they could - street corners, weddings, '']s'', and fairs.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=53}} As Selena grew more popular, the demands of her performance and travel schedule began to interfere with her education. Her father took her out of school when she was in the eighth grade.{{sfn|Mitchell|1995|p=}} At seventeen, she earned a high school diploma by the American School Program.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=59}} Selena was born in ], Texas,{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=30}} as the youngest of three children born to a Mexican American<ref name="BaylorHSA">, ] press release, November 4, 1999. Retrieved October 13, 2006.</ref> father, ] and a half-] mother,{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=20}} Marcella Ofelia (née Samora)<!--Samora is correct NOT Zamora-->.<ref>Ware, Susan. ''Notable American Women: A Biographical Dictionary'', Harvard University Press 2005. ISBN 0-674-01488-X</ref> She was raised as a ].{{sfn|''Caller-Times|April 16, 1997|p=}} Selena began singing at age three. When she was nine years old, her father launched a vocal group consisting of several of his children, ].{{sfn|''New York Times''|1995|p=}} They initially performed at a restaurant the family operated,<ref name="rolemodel">Orozco, Cynthia E. . The Handbook of Texas online. Retrieved on May 29, 2009</ref> but went bankrupt soon thereafter. They moved to ], Texas, where they performed wherever they could - street corners, weddings, '']s'', and fairs.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=53}} As Selena grew more popular, the demands of her performance and travel schedule began to interfere with her education. Her father took her out of school when she was in the eighth grade.{{sfn|Mitchell|1995|p=}} At seventeen, she earned a high school diploma by the American School Program.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=59}}


The band's efforts paid off in 1985, when fourteen-year-old Selena recorded her first album for a record company. Her father bought all of the original copies.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=49}} It was re-released in 1995 as ''Mis Primeras Grabaciones''.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=288}} Over the next three years, not under a recording contract, she released six more albums. The band's efforts paid off in 1985, when fourteen-year-old Selena recorded her first album for a record company. Her father bought all of the original copies.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=49}} It was re-released in 1995 as ''Mis Primeras Grabaciones''.{{sfn|Patoski|1996|p=288}} Over the next three years, not under a recording contract, she released six more albums. NO MATTER WHAT SELENA WILL FOREVER LIVE IN OUR HEARTS!!


==Success== ==Success==

Revision as of 08:11, 17 October 2013

This article is about the singer. For other uses, see Selena (disambiguation).
Selena
Background information
Birth nameSelena Quintanilla
Also known asSelena
Born(1971-04-16)April 16, 1971
Lake Jackson, Texas, United States
DiedMarch 31, 1995(1995-03-31) (aged 23)
Corpus Christi, Texas, United States
GenresTejano, Mexican cumbia, Ranchera, Latin pop, R&B, Pop
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, actress, dancer, model, designer, entrepreneur
InstrumentVocals
Years active1982–1995
LabelsFreddie Records, Cara Records, GP Productions, EMI Latin, Q-Productions, SBK Records
Websitewww.q-productions.com
Musical artist

Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), known mononymously as Selena, was an American singer-songwriter, fashion designer and entrepreneur. Selena was born as the last child of a Mexican American father and a half-Cherokee mother. She released her first LP record at the age of twelve with her Selena y Los Dinos band. At the 1987 Tejano Music Awards, she won Female Vocalist of the Year; she won the award eight consecutive times after that starting in 1989. She landed her first major recording contract with EMI Latin in 1989 and released her debut album with them that same year. Her brother and principal record producer, A.B. Quintanilla III, began writing materials for Selena to record. "Como La Flor", the lead single for Entre a Mi Mundo (1992), peaked at number six on the U.S. Billboard Hot Latin Tracks. It launched Selena's Mexico tour which expanded her fan base and gained critical acclaim from critics who cite it as being her signature song and as well as being a fan favorite recording.

On April 2, 1992, Selena and her guitarist Chris Pérez eloped, despite disapproval from her father who later accepted the relationship. Her Live! (1993) album garnered her first Grammy Award for Best Mexican/American Album, becoming the first Tejano recording artist to win a Grammy. That same year, Selena opened her Selena Etc. boutique store in Corpus Christi, Texas and named Yolanda Saldívar as president. Selena's decision was made after Saldivar helped her fan club reached an unprecedented number of fans. According to Hispanic Business magazine, Selena earned $5 million from these establishments. In 1994, Amor Prohibido was released and debuted atop the Top Latin Albums and Latin Pop Albums chart and became one of the best-selling Latin albums being certified 20× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of 2,000,000 copies. Four number-one singles including, the title track, "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom", "No Me Queda Más" and "Fotos y Recuerdos", received a positive reception from music critics. Selena had the most successful singles of 1994 and 1995 for "Amor Prohibido" and "No Me Queda Más". She was then called "The Queen of Tejano music" and the Mexican equivalent of Madonna.

The chairman of EMI Records at the time, Charles Koppelman, launched Selena's crossover contract. He believed that Selena reached her peak in the Spanish-speaking market and wanted to propel her as an American solo pop artist to expand her career. After performing at a sold out concert at the Houston Astrodome in February 1995, Selena's father and manager, Abraham Quintanilla, Jr. noticed that money was missing from Selena's boutique. Abraham, Selena and her sister and drummer Suzette Quintanilla held a meeting with Saldívar to discuss inconsistencies concerning disappearing funds. Saldívar was then banned by Abraham from his recording studio Q-Productions. Saldívar bought a gun a few weeks later and tried luring Selena to meet her alone at her motel room. On 31 March 1995, Selena was killed by Saldívar. Selena's death stunned people in the Hispanic community, many candlelight vigils took place, as well as other memorials from fans. Two weeks later, Governor of Texas at the time, George W. Bush, declared 16 April as "Selena Day" in Texas.

Her crossover album Dreaming of You, which was not finished, was released on 18 July 1995 and became the first vast majority Spanish-language album to top the Billboard 200 and sold 175,000 units its first day of release, a then-record for a pop singer. In 1997, Warner Bros. released a biographical film based on her life which starred Puerto Rican-American actress Jennifer Lopez as "Selena" in the movie, which became her breakout role. Selena was named the "top Latin artist of the '90s" and "Best selling Latin artist of the decade" by Billboard for her fourteen top-ten singles in the Hot Latin Songs chart, including seven number-one hits. Selena's life was also the basis of the musical Selena Forever starring Veronica Vazquez as Selena. To commemorate her tenth anniversary of her death, Univision produced Selena ¡VIVE! in April 2005 which scored a 35.9 Nielsen household rating. It became the most-watched and highest-rated Spanish-language program in American television history. In June 2006 Selena was commemorated with a life-sized bronze statue (Mirador de la Flor in Corpus Christi, Texas) and a Selena museum. As of 2012 she has sold over 90 million albums worldwide, making her one of the best-selling artists of all time.

Early life

Selena was born in Lake Jackson, Texas, as the youngest of three children born to a Mexican American father, Abraham Quintanilla, Jr. and a half-Cherokee Native American mother, Marcella Ofelia (née Samora). She was raised as a Jehovah's Witness. Selena began singing at age three. When she was nine years old, her father launched a vocal group consisting of several of his children, Selena y Los Dinos. They initially performed at a restaurant the family operated, but went bankrupt soon thereafter. They moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, where they performed wherever they could - street corners, weddings, quinceañeras, and fairs. As Selena grew more popular, the demands of her performance and travel schedule began to interfere with her education. Her father took her out of school when she was in the eighth grade. At seventeen, she earned a high school diploma by the American School Program.

The band's efforts paid off in 1985, when fourteen-year-old Selena recorded her first album for a record company. Her father bought all of the original copies. It was re-released in 1995 as Mis Primeras Grabaciones. Over the next three years, not under a recording contract, she released six more albums. NO MATTER WHAT SELENA WILL FOREVER LIVE IN OUR HEARTS!!

Success

At the 1987 Tejano Music Awards, Selena won Best Female Vocalist, an award she would dominate for the rest of her life. In 1989, José Behar, the former head of Sony Music Latin, signed Selena with Capitol/EMI. Behar later explained signed her because he thought he had discovered the next Gloria Estefan. In 1988, she met Chris Pérez, who had his own band. Two years later, the Quintanilla family hired him to play in Selena's band and they began dating. At first her father opposed their relationship and went as far as firing Pérez from the band. He eventually came to accept the relationship. On April 2, 1992, Selena and Pérez were married in Nueces County, Texas.

In 1990, her debut album Ven Conmigo was released, written by her brother and main songwriter Abraham Quintanilla III. This recording was the first Tejano album recorded by a female artist to achieve gold status. Around the same time, a registered nurse and fan named Yolanda Saldívar approached Selena's father with the idea of starting a fan club. He approved and Saldívar became the club's president; later, she worked as the manager of Selena's retail enterprises. In 1992, Selena’s stardom got a big boost with the song, "Como La Flor" off a new album, Entre a Mi Mundo. The next album, Selena Live! won Best Mexican-American Album at the 36th Grammy Awards.

"Como La Flor" (1993) The song Como La Flor is one of Selena's best known Spanish language songs.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The album Amor Prohibido was released in 1994. It was nominated for a Grammy award for Mexican-American Album of the Year. Selena and her band received yet more accolades in 1994. Billboard's Premio Lo Nuestro awarded them six awards, including Best Latin Artist and Song of the Year for "Como La Flor". Meanwhile, her duet with the Barrio Boyzz, "Donde Quiera Que Estés", reached number one in the Billboard Latin Charts. This prompted Selena to tour in Latin America. She performed a duet with Salvadoran singer Álvaro Torres, "Buenos Amigos". By fall of 1994, Amor Prohibido was a commercial success in Mexico and made four number one Latin hits, replacing Gloria Estefan's Mi Tierra on the chart's number one spot. It sold over 400,000 copies by late 1994 in the U.S. and another 50,000 copies in Mexico, reaching gold status.

Aside from music, she began designing and manufacturing a clothing line in 1994 and opened two boutiques called Selena Etc., one in Corpus Christi and the other in San Antonio. Both were equipped with in-house beauty salons. Hispanic Business magazine reported that the singer earned over five million dollars from these boutiques. Selena briefly played opposite Erik Estrada in a Mexican telenovela titled Dos Mujeres, Un Camino. In 1995 she entered negotiations to star in another telenovela produced by Emilio Larrosa.

At the peak of her career, Selena visited local schools to talk to students about the importance of education. She also donated her time to civic organizations such as D.A.R.E.. These demonstrations of community involvement won her loyalty from her fan base. Selena scheduled her English album for release in the summer of 1995.

Murder

Main article: Murder of Selena

In early 1995, the Quintanillas discovered that Yolanda Saldívar was embezzling money from the fan club and decided to fire her. Three weeks later, Selena agreed to meet Saldívar at a Days Inn motel in Corpus Christi to retrieve financial records Saldívar had been refusing to turn over. Saldívar once again delayed the handover by claiming she had been raped in Mexico. Selena then drove Saldívar to a local hospital, where doctors found no evidence of rape. They returned to the motel, where Selena again demanded the missing financial papers. Saldívar drew a pistol from her purse and pointed it at Selena. Selena tried to flee, but Saldívar shot her once in her right shoulder, severing an artery. Critically wounded, Selena ran towards the lobby for help. She collapsed on the floor as the clerk called 911, with Saldívar still chasing her and calling her a "bitch". Selena died in a hospital from loss of blood at 1:05 p.m. on March 31, 1995, 16 days before her 24th birthday.

Selena was buried at Seaside Memorial Park, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Impact

Selena's murder had a widespread impact. Major networks interrupted their regular programming to break the news; Tom Brokaw referred to Selena as "The Mexican Madonna". It was front page news on The New York Times for two days after her death. Numerous vigils and memorials were held in her honor, and radio stations in Texas played her music non-stop. Her funeral drew 60,000 mourners, many of whom traveled from outside the United States. Among the celebrities who were reported to have phoned the Quintanilla family to express their condolences were Gloria Estefan, Celia Cruz, Julio Iglesias, and Madonna. People published a commemorative issue in honor of Selena's memory and musical career, titled Selena 1971–1995, Her Life in Pictures. This issue sold nearly 450,000 copies. Two weeks later, the company released a special issue for Selena, which sold more than 600,000 copies. A few days later, Howard Stern mocked Selena's murder and burial, poked fun at her mourners, and criticized her music. Stern said, "This music does absolutely nothing for me. Alvin and the Chipmunks have more soul ... Spanish people have the worst taste in music. They have no depth." Stern's comments outraged and infuriated the Hispanic community in Texas. After a disorderly conduct arrest warrant was issued in his name, Stern made an on-air apology, in Spanish, for his comments. On April 12, 1995, George W. Bush, then Governor of Texas, declared Selena's birthday April 16 as "Selena Day" in Texas. Selena was inducted into the "Latin Music Hall of Fame" that same year.

That summer, Selena's album Dreaming of You, a combination of Spanish-language songs and new English-language tracks, debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, making her the first Hispanic singer to accomplish this feat. and the second highest debut after Michael Jackson's HIStory. On its release date, the album sold over 175,000 copies, a record for a female pop singer, and it sold two million copies in its first year. Dreaming of You sold more than 330,000 copies in its first week. The album was number 75 in the List of BMG Music Club's top selling albums in the United States. Songs such as "I Could Fall in Love" and "Dreaming of You" were played widely by mainstream English-language radio, with the latter reaching number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100. Meanwhile, "I Could Fall in Love", while ineligible for the Hot 100 at the time, reached number 8 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart and the top 10 on the Adult Contemporary Chart. "Dreaming of You" was certified 35× Platinum (Latin field) by the Recording Industry Association of America. In October 1995, a Houston jury convicted Saldívar of first degree murder and sentenced her to life in prison, with the possibility of parole in thirty years. Under a judge's order, the gun used to kill Selena was destroyed in 2002, and the pieces thrown into Corpus Christi Bay.

Posthumous commemorations and popularity

File:Selena memorial.jpg
Mirador de la Flor is a tourist attraction in Corpus Christi, Texas, that was unveiled in 1997 to honor Selena.

Jennifer Lopez portrayed Selena in a film about Selena's life. Selena was among two other Latin artists who had the best sales of records in 2001. On March 16, 2011, the United States Post Office released a "Latin Legends" memorial stamp to honor Selena, Carlos Gardel, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, and Carmen Miranda. She has sold over 60 million albums worldwide.

Discography

Main articles: Selena albums discography, Selena singles discography, Selena videography, and List of Selena songs

Filmography

Film
Title Year Role Notes
Don Juan DeMarco 1995 Ranchera singer Minor role
Television
Title Year Role Notes
Johnny Canales Show 1985–1994 herself
Tejano Music Awards 1987–1995 herself
Dos mujeres, un camino 1993 herself
E! True Hollywood Story: The Murder Trial of Selena 1996
The Making of Selena the Movie 1997
Por Siempre Selena 1998
VH1 All Access: Selena 1999
Para Siempre Selena 2000
Por Siempre... Selena 2001–present
Selena ¡VIVE! 2005 herself honoree
Biography 2008 TV series (2 episodes)
Top Trece 2008 TV series (1 episode)
Historia de una Leyenda 2009 TV series (1 episode)
Famous Crime Scene: Selena 2010 TV series (1 episode) featured
Reel Crime Story: Selena 2012 TV series (1 episode) featured

Tours

Main article: List of Selena concert tours

See also

Citations

  1. ^ Mitchell 1995. sfn error: no target: CITEREFMitchell1995 (help)
  2. ^ New York Times 1995.
  3. Patoski 1996, p. 30.
  4. HSA Banquet Features Father of Late Tejano Star Selena, Baylor University press release, November 4, 1999. Retrieved October 13, 2006.
  5. Patoski 1996, p. 20.
  6. Ware, Susan. Notable American Women: A Biographical Dictionary, Harvard University Press 2005. ISBN 0-674-01488-X
  7. Caller-Times & April 16, 1997. sfn error: no target: CITEREFCaller-TimesApril_16,_1997 (help)
  8. ^ Orozco, Cynthia E. Quintanilla Pérez, Selena. The Handbook of Texas online. Retrieved on May 29, 2009
  9. Patoski 1996, p. 53.
  10. Patoski 1996, p. 59.
  11. Patoski 1996, p. 49.
  12. Patoski 1996, p. 288.
  13. "Fans, Family Remember Selena". CBSNews.com, October 17, 2002. Retrieved on July 9, 2006.
  14. Patoski 1996.
  15. Patoski 1996, p. 123.
  16. Patoski 1996, p. 120.
  17. "Selena – Life Events". Corpus Christi Caller Times, March 27, 2005. Retrieved on June 7, 2006.
  18. ^ Patoski 1996, p. 134.
  19. Selena. AllMusic.com. Retrieved on September 9, 2010.
  20. "Testimony of Richard Fredrickson". Houston Chronicle, October 13, 1995. Retrieved on February 1, 2008.
  21. "October 12, 1995 testimony of Carla Anthony". Houston Chronicle, October 12, 1995. Retrieved on May 21, 2008.
  22. "October 12, 1995, the testimony of Norma Martinez". Houston Chronicle, October 12, 1995. Retrieved on February 1, 2008.
  23. Villafranca, Armando and Reinert, Patty. "Singer Selena shot to death". Houston Chronicle, April 1, 1995. Retrieved on February 1, 2008.
  24. Harvey, Bill (2003). Texas Cemeteries: The Resting Places of Famous, Infamous, and Just Plain Interesting Texans. University of Texas Press. p. 92. ISBN 0-292-73466-2.
  25. "In the spirit of Selena: Tributes, a book and an impending film testify to the Tejano singer's enduring". by Gregory Rodriguez Pacific News, March 21, 1997. Retrieved on July 18, 2006.
  26. Patoski, p. 174
  27. ^ Mitchell, Rick. "Selena". Houston Chronicle, May 21, 1995. Retrieved on February 1, 2008.
  28. Patoski, p. 165
  29. ^ Lannert, John (1995). "Latin pride". Billboard. 107 (23): 112.
  30. Asin, Stephanie and Dyer, R.A. "Selena's public outraged: Shock jock Howard Stern's comments hit raw nerve." Houston Chronicle, April 6, 1995. Retrieved on February 1, 2008.
  31. Hodges, Ann. "Selena legend lives on with TV movie' Houston Chronicle, December 6, 1996. Retrieved on May 20, 2006. Archived 2006-06-28 at the Wayback Machine
  32. "In the spirit of Selena: Tributes, a book and an impending film testify to the Tejano singer's enduring". Houston Chronicle, March 31, 1996. Retrieved on January 18, 2008.
  33. Patoski pg. 199
  34. Nilou Panahpour (1995). "Rock and Roll yearbook, the best in music, movies, and television". Rolling Stone (724/725). Straight Arrow Publishers Company: 64.
  35. "List of BMG Music Club's top selling albums in the United States". BMG. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  36. "RIAA – Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
  37. Graczyk, Michael. "Selena's killer gets life". Associated Press, October 26, 1995. Retrieved on February 1, 2008.
  38. National Briefing Southwest: Texas: Gun That Killed Singer Is To Be Destroyed The New York Times, June 8, 2002. Retrieved on July 16, 2006.
  39. Compiled, Items (June 11, 2002). "Gun used in slaying of Selena destroyed". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  40. Oumano, Elena (1999). "U.S. Latin Music Sales Break Records". Billboard magazine. 111 (43): 108.
  41. Sara Inés Calderón (January 18, 2011). "Selena, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente In U.S. Postal Stamp Form". NewsTaco. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  42. "A 17 años de su trágica muerte, Selena Quintanilla vuelve en grande". E! Online (in Spanish). Retrieved February 17, 2012.

References

  • Caller-Times (April 16, 1997). "Birthday hoopla is prohibited". Corpus Christi, Texas: Caller.com. {{cite web}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Mitchell, Rick. "Selena". Houston Chronicle, May 21, 1995.
  • New York Times (April 1, 1995). "Grammy Winning Singer Selena Killed in Shooting at Texas Motel". p. 1. {{cite news}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Patoski, Joe Nick (1996). Selena: Como La Flor. Boston: Little Brown and Company. ISBN 0-316-69378-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

External links

Selena
Studio albums
Soundtrack albums
Live albums
Remix albums
Compilation albums
Video albums
Family
Related articles
Selena songs
Selena
Ven Conmigo
Entre a Mi Mundo
Selena Live!
Amor Prohibido
Dreaming of You
Siempre Selena
Collaborations
Other songs
Selena y Los Dinos
Studio albums
Compilation albums
Songs
Concerts
Related articles

Template:Persondata

Template:Link FA

Categories: