Abraham Quintanilla, father of late Tejano singer Selena, dies at 86

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Abraham Quintanilla, the father and manager of the late singer Selena, has passed away at the age of 86.

A.B. Quintanilla III shared the sad news on Instagram Saturday that his father had passed away. The family has not yet revealed the cause of death.

Abraham Quintanilla, head of the well-known Mexican American music family, was instrumental in launching his daughter Selena’s career. Following her untimely death in 1995, he devoted himself to protecting her memory and managing her estate, including controlling how her name and image were used – sometimes sparking debate in the process.

Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1939, Quintanilla started his musical journey in 1956 with a band called the Dinos. This Chicano rock group faced prejudice from both sides: some club owners refused to let them play when they discovered the band members were Mexican American, while other musicians criticized them for not singing in Spanish.

Abraham Quintanilla Jr. once expressed a feeling of constant pressure, which became a memorable line delivered by Edward James Olmos in the 1997 film Selena. He said, “We have to be more Mexican than the Mexicans and more American than the Americans, all at the same time—it’s exhausting!”

In the 1960s, Quintanilla left the group to start a family with Marcella Samora, whom he’d met while stationed in Tacoma, Washington, during his time in the Air Force. They soon had three children – A.B., Suzette, and Selena – and Quintanilla hoped they would achieve the musical success he’d always dreamed of.

Director Gregory Nava discusses his famous film about Selena, which Chris Perez, Selena’s husband, calls the definitive account of her life.

The group, featuring A.B. on bass, Suzette on drums, and Selena as the lead singer, frequently played at their family’s restaurant, PapaGayo’s. After the restaurant closed due to the economic downturn in 1981, the family had to sell their house in Lake Jackson, Texas, and relocate to Corpus Christi. To support themselves, Selena y Los Dinos performed at street corners, family gatherings, and various events. With their father acting as manager, the band eventually signed a record deal with Freddie Records in 1984.

From a young age, Selena faced doubts as a female artist in a Tejano music world largely dominated by men, even from the head of her first record label, Freddie Martinez. Despite this, Selena and her band, Los Dinos, kept working hard, moving between different labels until they found a home with Manny Guerra’s independent labels, GP Productions and Record Producer Productions, where they released eight albums. This success allowed Selena to become a major force at the Tejano Music Awards, winning Female Vocalist of the Year in 1987.

Selena’s talent eventually impressed Jose Behar, a former executive at Sony Music Latin, who recognized her potential to appeal to a wide audience. Even though English was her first language, he signed her to EMI Latin (Capitol Records) in 1989. This led to the creation of her most famous songs, featured on five albums, including hits like “Como la Flor,” “Amor Prohibido,” and “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” as well as the touching ballad “Dreaming of You,” which was released after her passing.

Many felt another movie about Selena Quintanilla wasn’t necessary, but that changed when Suzette, Selena’s sister and the drummer for her band Los Dinos, became involved.

After Selena was tragically killed in 1995 by Yolanda Saldivar, who used to lead her fan club, Quintanilla became very protective of Selena’s public image, especially because the media often focused on sensational details.

Director Gregory Nava explained in a 2025 interview with De Los that the family wanted the film made quickly due to the tragic and very public circumstances of Selena’s death, believing it was important to honor her legacy promptly.

As a filmmaker, my main goal was to share an authentic story,” Nava explained. “The challenge wasn’t with the family themselves, but with portraying Abraham. Her father was understandably very protective of her.”

The writing process became particularly difficult when Nava started detailing the singer’s secret marriage to guitarist Chris Perez, which happened in 1992.

Nava remembered Quintanilla explaining that they couldn’t portray a situation where it was okay for a young girl to go against her father’s wishes.

Nava pointed out that the most important thing is she’s following her heart and doing what feels right, motivated by her love for Chris and his love for her.

After a lot of back and forth, Quintanilla finally agreed. According to Nava, he said he was willing to make himself look bad if it meant helping Selena succeed. Nava explained that Quintanilla was a kind person who eventually realized it was the right decision, but it took a long and intense conversation to get there.

Suzette felt the 1997 film about her father was released too early, and it led to accusations that he was motivated by money. However, she defended his choice, explaining the family felt a need to manage how his story was told.

Nava agreed.

He commented that Abraham was smart to move things forward swiftly. Selena united everyone involved, and that really secured her positive reputation. The movie completely overcame any previous bad feelings, and you can clearly experience that impact while watching it.

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2025-12-13 23:02