84R3034 RA-D
By: Alonzo H.R. No. 62
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, April 16, 2016, marks the 45th anniversary of the
birth of the internationally acclaimed queen of Tejano music,
Selena Quintanilla Pérez; and
WHEREAS, Born on that day in 1971 in Lake Jackson, this
extremely gifted young woman developed her love for music at an
early age, having begun singing at the age of six and performing
with Los Dinos, the Quintanilla family band, by the age of nine; and
WHEREAS, Selena recorded her first album while still in her
teens, and as her popularity grew, her band became known as Selena y
Los Dinos; blessed with the guidance of her father, Abraham
Quintanilla, who served as her manager and booking agent, she
successfully made the transition from teen star to adult artist and
garnered her first serious recognition in 1987 when she was named
Female Vocalist of the Year and Performer of the Year at the Tejano
Music Awards in San Antonio; and
WHEREAS, With artistry and hard work, she continued to build
on her success by setting a dizzying pace for herself during which
she would captivate audiences by dancing and singing in her
trademark costumes; in addition to performing at concerts and
recording albums, this dynamic entertainer was featured on one of
Latin America's most popular shows, Siempre en Domingo, appeared on
the renowned soap opera Dos Mujeres, Un Camino, played a singer in
the film Don Juan DeMarco, and had begun a new chapter in her
multifaceted career with the establishment of a boutique and hair
salon in Corpus Christi and San Antonio; and
WHEREAS, Selena became an internationally recognized star
who was especially revered in Mexico, throughout Latin America, and
in her home state of Texas, and while developing her own phenomenal
career, she was also instrumental in transforming the Tejano music
industry into one of the fastest-growing markets of music in the
world; and
WHEREAS, Her achievements as an entertainer gave her a means
by which to reach a broader audience, and she put her accessibility
to her fans to good use, empowering women through her inspiring
lyrics and through her community involvement; and
WHEREAS, A positive role model for Hispanic youth and women
from all walks of life, Selena gave many young people hope and
encouragement to persevere and to follow their dreams as she did,
and she used her success to encourage students to complete their
education, to stay away from drugs, and to make healthy choices
through her support of and involvement with many worthy
organizations and events, including local schools, the DARE
program, the Stay in School Jamboree, and the Coastal Bend AIDS
Foundation, to name but a few; and
WHEREAS, In 1994, Selena was awarded a Grammy for the year's
best Mexican American album, Selena Live, and went on to sweep the
year's Tejano Music Awards, winning the best album, recording,
female vocalist, female entertainer, and Tejano crossover
categories; and
WHEREAS, She was nominated for a Grammy again the following
year for the quadruple-platinum Amor Prohibido, which produced
three chart-topping singles and sold more than 400,000 copies in
the United States alone; and
WHEREAS, A young woman of tremendous charisma and talent, she
became the first female crossover Latin artist signed to the SBK
sister label to the EMI Latin recording company and, at the time of
her death, was recording her first album in English; that record was
widely expected to establish Selena as a crossover star in the
broader reaches of the pop music world; and
WHEREAS, Though she had attained fame and fortune as an
entertainer, Selena remained true to her roots and shared her
culture's long-standing devotion to family, keeping her music a
family affair with her husband, Chris Pérez, backing her on guitar,
her sister, Suzette Quintanilla Arriaga, serving as her band's
drummer, and her brother, A. B. "Abe" Quintanilla III, assisting as
her producer, bassist, and cowriter; and
WHEREAS, The tragedy of her death in 1995 was so deeply felt
by the Hispanic community that the People magazine issue in honor of
Selena sold a record number of copies and ultimately spurred the
creation of the popular People En Español; and
WHEREAS, After Selena's passing, her life inspired a hit
movie, a stage musical, and a successful clothing line, and the
soaring popularity of her music resulted in Billboard naming her
"Best Selling Latin Artist of the Decade" for the 1990s with 18
million albums sold; and
WHEREAS, Though her life was cut tragically short, Selena
Quintanilla Pérez left an indelible mark on this world through her
vast achievements as a performer of Tejano music, and it is fitting
that she be remembered on the anniversary of her birth, for her
music continues to touch the lives of people the world over; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Selena Quintanilla
Pérez on April 16, 2016, the 45th anniversary of her birth.