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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, 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 US 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.
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. She 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 hotel room. On 31 March 1995, Selena was killed by Saldívar. Selena's death affected people in Hispanic communities, 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. (Full article...)