Selena Quintanilla Facts, Worksheets & Early Life For Kids (2024)

Selena Quintanilla was one of the most celebrated Mexican-American entertainers of the late 20th century, and was hailed as the Queen of Tejano music. She was a notable proponent of Latin American music. She was a singer, songwriter, spokesperson, model, actress, and fashion designer.

See the fact file below for more information on the Selena Quintanilla or alternatively, you can download our 25-page Selena Quintanilla worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE

• Selena Quintanilla’s birthday was on April 16, 1971.
• Selena was born in Lake Jackson, Texas.
• Selena’s mother descended from Cherokee ancestors, one of the indigenous people of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States.
• Her mother’s name was Marcella Ofelia-Quintanilla.
• Selena’s father was Mexican American, and a former musician as well.
• He was Abraham Quintanilla Jr.
• In terms of spirituality, Selena’s family raised her as a Jehovah’s Witness.
• As early as the age of six, Abraham noticed young Selena’s musical talent.
• In 1981, Abraham opened a Texas-Mexican restaurant where Selena and her siblings, Abraham III and Suzette, would perform.
• Unfortunately, the restaurant was forced to shut down due to the recession caused by the 1980’s oil glut.
• The Quintanilla family went bankrupt and was evicted from their home, so they moved to Corpus Christi, Texas.

EARLY CAREER AND EDUCATION

• Abraham formed and managed a family band Selena y Los Dinos (Selena and the guys), which was a Tejano band.
• Tejano music is also known as “Tex-Mex or Texan-Mexican” music, and also música tejana.
• Tejano music is the popular music that originated from Mexican-American populations of Central and Southern Texas, just like the Quintanilla family.
• The first gigs of the band included playing on street corners, weddings, quinceañeras, and fairs.
• Selena was already out of school by eighth grade. Abraham had to pull her from school as the demand for her music career interfered with her school schedule.
• Abraham’s decision raised concern from Selena’s teachers. One of them, Marilyn Greer, threatened to report Abraham to the Texas Board of Education.
• Selena earned a high school diploma at the age of seventeen, from the American School of Correspondence in Chicago.
• Selena took a course of Business Administration at Pacific Western University.

MID-CAREER AND PERSONAL LIFE

• The band’s first tour bus was an old bus restored by their father, named “Big Bertha.”
• Selena’s first LP record called “Selena y Los Dinos” was recorded in 1984 under the record label of Freddie Records.
• Selena wanted to record songs in English, but Abraham suggested that she should sing songs close to their identity. Hence, she recorded Tejano music compositions.
• Selena wasn’t used to singing in Spanish, so her father helped her to sing while recording her first LP.
• Her first appearance on mainstream media happened in 1985, as she guested on the Johnny Canales Show, a popular Spanish radio program, in order to promote her album.
• Eventually, Selena was discovered by Rick Trevino, founder of the Tejano Music Awards.
• In 1987, she won the Tejano Music Awards as the Female Vocalist of the Year, and won for nine consecutive years.
• Selena’s success was considered revolutionary, since Tejano music was a genre dominated by men, and her band was often turned down in Mexican venues for having a female vocalist.
• Selena was signed to EMI Latin Records in 1989.
• “Selena,” her first self-titled album, was released on October 17, 1989.
• Selena’s brother became his principal record producer.
• Her first self-titled album peaked at number seven on the U.S. Billboard Regional Mexican Albums chart.
• Coca-Cola also signed Selena as their spokesperson in Texas, and produced advertisem*nts featuring her.
• Chriz Peréz, the band’s new guitarist, developed romantic feelings for Selena, despite having a girlfriend.
• However, Selena and Perez still became a couple, but chose to hide their relationship from Abraham.
• Ven Conmigo, Selena’s second album, was released in September 1990, which featured one of her most successful singles “Baila Esta Cumbia.”
• In 1992, Abraham found out about Selena and Perez and decided to stop their relationship.
• Abraham despised and fired Perez. However, the couple decided to elope on April 2, 1992.
• Selena released her third album after a month of elopement. “Entre a Mi Mundo” was her most critically acclaimed album. It lasted number eight on the charts for several months.

SELENA’S MURDER

• Yolanda Saldivar, a registered nurse, was appointed to be the head of Selena’s fan club.
• Yolanda had a sinister plan in her mind: she used the fan club to accept payments and forge checks from other fans.
• On March 31, 1995, Selena and Saldivar met at a hotel room in Corpus Christi, Texas.
• Selena demanded financial records from Saldivar, but Saldivar shot Selena with a gun.
• Saldivar was cornered by police and was sentenced to life.
• Selena was buried on April 3, 1995 at Seaside Memorial Park in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Selena Quintanilla Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Selena Quintanilla across 25 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Selena Quintanilla worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Selena Quintanilla who was one of the most celebrated Mexican-American entertainers of the late 20th century, and was hailed as the Queen of Tejano music. She was a notable proponent of Latin American music. She was a singer, songwriter, spokesperson, model, actress, and fashion designer.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

• Selena Quintanilla Facts
• La Reina del Tex-Mex
• Fact or Flawed?
• All About Tejano Music
• Primary Influences
• Lyrics Match
• Discography Check
• Heartbreaking News
• Latina Artists
• Selena Art
• Listen and React

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Link will appear as - KidsKonnect, May 7, 2020