| ~Continued from Part 1~ | | | | producers. |
| As Selena's popularity grew placing additional demands | | | | The 1994 "Amor Prohibido" success also added to the |
| on the band (e.g. travel), Abraham removed Selena | | | | crossover delays since Selena was requested to |
| from the 8th grade, drawing immediate unwarranted | | | | appear everywhere. Nancy Brennan recounted one |
| criticism. Some accused him of violating Child Labor | | | | such episode when had been forced to postpone a |
| laws while others warned that he was ruining his kids. | | | | recording session: "This is the first time I have ever |
| "They'll be surrounded by drinking and drugs" and "it's | | | | made a debut album by an artist who was too busy |
| going to have an effect on them," the critics incorrectly | | | | to record for me. How can you tell someone, 'No I |
| predicted.[1] | | | | don't want you to play the Astrodome for 60,000 |
| Despite the skeptics, Selena remained unaffected. She | | | | people; I want you to work on your record.' Everyone |
| continued to have fun and enjoy singing. She kept her | | | | wants her."[9] |
| down-to-earth personality and refused to snub anyone, | | | | The "Amor Prohibido" album featuring four #1 Latin |
| believing that "if you treat people good, it [will] come | | | | Singles (title track "Amor Prohibido" "No Me Queda |
| back" in the end.[2] Accordingly, Selena always | | | | Mas," "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom," and "Fotos Y Recuerdos" |
| maintained a great repertoire with her fans and | | | | launched Selena's greatest year to date. When "Amor |
| audience.[3] At the same time, she also kept up with | | | | Prohibido" came out, it promptly replaced Gloria |
| her academics and earned a G.E.D. from a | | | | Estefan's "Mi Tierra" at #1 on Billboard's Latin Tracks |
| Chicago-based Correspondence School at 17. | | | | Charts and even made the top 200 on Billboard's Pop |
| As Selena was growing into a star, her brother, A.B. III | | | | Charts. It led to six awards at the Tejano Music |
| was becoming an accomplished songwriter and | | | | Awards ceremony attended by more than 45,000 |
| producer, after originally taking it up to supply his | | | | people - "Female Entertainer of the Year," "Female |
| youngest sister with the quality, original material that the | | | | Vocalist of the Year," "Orchestra Album of the Year," |
| band lacked. One of his first songs, "Dame Un Beso" | | | | Record of the Year," "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" "Song of the |
| enjoyed moderate success. Before long, A.B. III | | | | Year," and "Techno Cumbia, "Crossover Song of the |
| supplanted his father as the band's leading songwriter. | | | | Year." More than 400,000 copies had sold at the time |
| In addition, Ricky Vela, another band member also | | | | of Selena's death less than a year after its release. |
| assisted with music composition. | | | | Selena also realized two more dreams in 1994. First, |
| When the band's second album, "Alpha" was released, | | | | she opened a boutique/salon in Corpus Christi called |
| it brought Selena her first music honors. She won | | | | "Selena Etc." Since childhood, Selena had dreamed of |
| "Female Vocalist of the Year" at the 1987 West | | | | designing clothing and jewelry. Second, she played a |
| Texas Hispanic Music Awards and KFLZ Awards | | | | bit-role "Don Juan DeMarco," a film released in early |
| ceremonies and was voted "Female Vocalist of the | | | | 1995 that starred Marlon Brando and Johnny Depp and |
| Year" and "Performer of the Year" at the Tejano | | | | offered the potential of leading to greater and perhaps |
| Music Awards. This recognition introduced Selena to | | | | leading roles. Acting had been a recent dream of |
| two influential people: Rick Trevino, founder of the | | | | Selena's. |
| Tejano Music Awards and Johnny Canales, a | | | | With the impending release of Selena's cross-over |
| television personality on one of the top-rated Spanish | | | | album, "Dreaming of You," her wide-spread fame and |
| shows. Their efforts gave Selena much needed | | | | rocketing demand, a million-dollar record deal, a |
| publicity, expanding the horizons for "Selena Y Los | | | | Grammy Award, endorsements from sponsors like |
| Dinos." | | | | Coca Cola and her own line of clothing, it seemed like |
| Two more albums, "Preciosa" and "Dulce Amor" were | | | | Selena's meteoric career could only rise higher. By this |
| released in 1988 earning Selena greater recognition. | | | | time, Selena had been named "one of the most |
| With album sales exceeding 20,000, Selena's name | | | | successful Latin entertainers in the world" by "Hispanic |
| began to spread beyond Texas. Not surprisingly, | | | | Business" magazine. |
| Selena was a finalist for "Female Vocalist of the Year" | | | | The sold-out Astrodome Concert for the Houston |
| for 1988 and "Terco Corazon" and A.B. III were | | | | Livestock and Rodeo February 1995 with a crowd of |
| nominated for "Single of the Year" and "Songwriter of | | | | 61,000+, at the time, the largest in Astrodome history |
| the Year," respectively, at the Tejano Music Awards. | | | | only strengthened this belief. Yet ironically and almost |
| Despite Selena's growing fame, the Quintanillas' lifestyle | | | | prophetically, when Selena was asked to speculate on |
| had not changed much. They continued to live on | | | | her future during a July 1994 interview, she modestly |
| beans and hamburgers and shared just about | | | | stated, "I just hope still to be alive, hopefully singing still |
| everything. As a result, they had "Nobody You Know" | | | | and later on, maybe 10 years yonder, I hope to have a |
| written at the top of the band's bus, "Big Bertha's" front | | | | family by then."[10] |
| windshield. | | | | Four years earlier, Yolanda Saldivar, a self-professed |
| Their fortunes, though, changed dramatically when | | | | "biggest Selena fan" had come into Selena's life after |
| Selena was signed by Jose Behar, the former head of | | | | persistently requesting to start a fan club in her honor. |
| Sony's Latin music division and creator of the Capitol | | | | Although Abraham had initially refused, he eventually |
| EMI Latin label in 1989. The signing came about when | | | | gave in when Yolanda agreed to make it |
| Behar and a friend, Mario Ruiz, who became President | | | | "not-for-profit" and donate leftover proceeds to charity. |
| of EMI Mexico attended the 1989 Tejano Music | | | | Eventually Yolanda's relationship with the Quintanillas |
| Awards searching for new talent and discovered | | | | deepened when Selena named her Operations |
| Selena. The events went as follows according to the | | | | Manager to handle sales, customer-relations, and |
| account by Jose Behar: | | | | "Selena Etc.'s" finances. |
| "...We were standing at the back of the auditorium | | | | At the time, no one saw Saldivar's dark obsession. |
| when we saw her. Mario and I looked at each other | | | | Furthermore, no one had been aware that Yolanda |
| like, 'Wow. This is special.'" | | | | had failed to pay off a $5300 student loan, left her |
| "...I said, 'It's interesting. Women don't sell in the Tejano | | | | nursing job under suspicious circumstances, been |
| market.' And they really hadn't. Yet I said to myself, | | | | turned down by Shelly Lares, a prominent, young |
| 'This is the crossover act I'm looking for."[4] | | | | Tejano singer to form a "Shelly Lares Fan Club," and |
| Afterwards, Behar, believing that he had found the | | | | been accused of stealing $9200 from a dermatologist |
| next Gloria Estefan, a popular and successful | | | | she had worked for. |
| crossover Latin artist went backstage and met and | | | | However, by early 1995, Abraham Quintanilla began to |
| signed Selena after talking to her father. At the time, | | | | receive complaints from upset fans who reported that |
| Behar never imagined how many records Selena | | | | they were not receiving the Selena packets, consisting |
| would eventually sell. | | | | of a T-shirt, baseball cap, cassette/CD, and |
| Despite her signing with Capitol/EMI Latin and her | | | | autographed poster they had paid for in membership |
| taking "Female Vocalist of the Year" honors at the | | | | dues. Money also began to go missing from the |
| 1989 and 1990 Tejano Music Awards, and also | | | | boutiques. With their suspicions growing, the Quintanillas |
| "Female Entertainer of the Year" at the 1990 Tejano | | | | conducted an investigation and discovered that |
| Music Awards, Selena's first few new releases did little | | | | Yolanda had written four checks, including one to |
| better than her previous ones. However, another | | | | herself for $3000 from the Fan Club's books. Selena's |
| breakthrough came in 1991 when she was paired with | | | | father then angrily confronted Yolanda who claimed |
| Alvaro Torres in "Buenos Amigos." Their video soared | | | | she could explain everything if given some time. |
| to #1 on the Billboard Latin Tracks Chart giving Selena | | | | Afterwards, Saldivar purchased a .38 caliber gun. |
| national exposure. An appearance on "Donde Quiero | | | | Yet despite the mounting evidence, Selena sent |
| Que Estes" with the Barrio Boyzz, an immensely | | | | Yolanda to Mexico to assist with opening a "Selena |
| popular Latin band further enhanced Selena's rising | | | | Etc." boutique in Monterrey. Hopeful that they could |
| stature, enabling her to enter the international Latin | | | | remain friends after the confrontation, Selena was |
| market with her solo hits, "La Carcacha" and "Como | | | | willing to give Saldivar the chance she had requested - |
| La Flor." | | | | to "prove her innocence and find the missing papers." |
| Johnny Canales then helped make Selena an instant | | | | Then while in Mexico, Yolanda phoned Selena to |
| Celebrity in Mexico leading to an offer star in a leading | | | | hysterically report that the car containing the |
| role in a Mexican Soap opera, which she turned down | | | | documents had been stolen and that she had been |
| because of its steamy scenes. Though determined to | | | | raped. Yet Yolanda refused medical care when she |
| make it big, Selena wasn't about to sacrifice her | | | | returned to Corpus Christi. Instead, she requested that |
| principles. She valued her appeal to her broad audience | | | | Selena meet her at the Day's Inn motel in Corpus |
| that consisted of young children and grandparents | | | | Christi. When Selena and her husband arrived, Yolanda |
| alike. | | | | failed to produce any documents. |
| Performing in skin-tight pants, low-cut bustiers, and | | | | Afterwards, Yolanda called Selena around midnight on |
| shiny outfits was her limit. Unlike many others, Selena | | | | the morning of March 31, 1995 claiming that she was |
| did not need to forego her morals for fame. Her | | | | suffering from internal bleeding caused by the rape. |
| natural-born talent was sufficient. In addition, when | | | | During the phone conversation, Saldivar pleaded for |
| Johnny Canales compared Selena to Madonna, | | | | Selena to return alone, which she did in the morning. |
| Whitney Houston, and Janet Jackson, all pop stars, he | | | | Once there, Selena drove Yolanda to the hospital |
| declared, "I'd say [Selena] was like those people, but | | | | where she retracted her rape story. Afterwards |
| better. Those people never sang Tejano. She could do | | | | Selena drove her back to the motel where they both |
| what they do, but it would be hard for them to do | | | | argued after, it is believed, Selena fired her and planned |
| what she does."[5] | | | | to return a Faberge Egg ring funded by all of the |
| Also during this time, the Los Dinos Band was | | | | boutique employees, which she had been misled into |
| expanding, providing Selena with some of her happiest | | | | believing that Yolanda had generously given to her as |
| moments. Pete Astudillo, a Laredo, Texas native and | | | | a gift. |
| talented artist joined in 1989. Together, he and Selena | | | | Upon hearing the argument and a gunshot, a maid |
| went on to perform hit duets like "Yo Te Amo" and | | | | cleaning a nearby room looked out the window and |
| "Amame, Quiereme."[6] Accordingly the pair were | | | | saw Selena clutching her chest, screaming for help as |
| twice nominated for "Vocal Duo of the Year" at the | | | | she fled from Yolanda who clutched the .38 in her right |
| Tejano Music Awards. | | | | hand, aimed and fired again. |
| A second great addition was Chris Perez, who briefly | | | | When Selena made it to the lobby, she collapsed, |
| joined Los Dinos in 1988, left a year later to try it on his | | | | bleeding profusely from her wound. Although the desk |
| own, and then returned in 1990. Chris was a talented | | | | clerk locked the door and called 911 for an ambulance, |
| guitarist who eventually became Selena's husband. | | | | it was too late. Efforts to revive Selena, despite a |
| They were married on April 2, 1992. | | | | blood infusion and electric shocks that briefly restarted |
| Although Selena's father initially opposed the marriage, | | | | her heart, were to no avail. She was pronounced dead |
| he soon viewed Chris as "a son."[7] Afterwards, | | | | at 1:05 PM. Afterwards, tens of thousands filed past |
| Selena and Chris shared a nearby house, with her | | | | Selena's open coffin to pay their last respects as her |
| parents living next door in one house and her brother, | | | | body lay in state. |
| A.B. III and his wife and children in another. Between the | | | | Today, nearly 12 years after her death, Selena's |
| three houses there were nine dogs, five of which | | | | legacy lives on. Despite the tragedy, Selena made the |
| belonged to Selena, an avid animal lover. Later the pair | | | | crossover into mainstream and is an icon whose spirit |
| bought a piece of land a little further away with plans | | | | still lives. Reminder's of Selena's warmth, generosity, |
| to build a larger house to start a family and run a small | | | | and indelible beauty are all around Corpus Christi. |
| farm. Prior to her death, Selena had already picked out | | | | Mirador de la Flor stands along the Gulf shore while a |
| the furniture. | | | | museum dedicated to her career stands only a few |
| As Selena's career took off, she released two hit | | | | miles away. Each year thousands visit Selena's grave, |
| albums: "Ven Conmigo" featuring the hit song "Baila | | | | Mirador de la Flor, and the Selena Museum. Selena |
| Esta Cumbia" in 1990 and "Entre A Mi Mundo" featuring | | | | memorabilia remains popular with rare autographs |
| the hit songs "La Carcacha" and "Como La Flor" in | | | | going at times for more than a $1000. With her |
| 1992. The great success of these albums completed | | | | continued fame and popularity, it would not be |
| Selena's transformation from "unknown" to "star." Then | | | | surprising if the United States Post Office eventually |
| a show featuring Selena, La Mafia, and Emilia Navaira | | | | issued a stamp to honor Selena's enduring legacy. |
| at the Summit in Houston in the summer of 1991 drew | | | | __________ |
| more than 9000 people. Next followed "Selena Live" in | | | | [1] Rick Mitchell. Interactive Corpus Christi Caller Times |
| 1993, which gave the young singer her first Grammy | | | | Biography. (Houston Chronicle), 1995. |
| along with three Tejano Awards, opening the door to | | | | [2] Rick Mitchell. Interactive Corpus Christi Caller Times |
| mainstream pop. | | | | Biography. (Houston Chronicle), 1995. |
| After four years of attempts, Jim Behar, using Selena's | | | | [3] Bill Hewitt, et al. People Weekly. (Chicago, April 17, |
| soaring popularity and sales to their advantage, finally | | | | 1995) 49. |
| convinced EMI's pop division to give her the crossover | | | | [4] Rick Mitchell. Interactive Corpus Christi Caller Times |
| chance she had been dreaming of. Prior to 1993, Behar | | | | Biography. (Houston Chronicle), 1995. |
| had faced repeated setbacks and had to start over | | | | [5] Rick Mitchell. Interactive Corpus Christi Caller Times |
| each time when key executives left the Company. As | | | | Biography. (Houston Chronicle), 1995. |
| one EMI executive, Nancy Brennan, Vice President of | | | | [6] Himilce Novas. Remembering Selena: A Tribute in |
| Artist and Repertoire summarized, "All he [Behar] ever | | | | Pictures and Words. (St. Martin's Griffin: New York, |
| talked about was Selena. He was like a broken record, | | | | 1995) 43-44. |
| 'Selena, Selena...'"[8] | | | | [7] Rick Mitchell. Interactive Corpus Christi Caller Times |
| Brennan was exposed to Selena when she attended | | | | Biography. (Houston Chronicle), 1995. |
| a Billboard Latin Music Convention in Las Vegas, | | | | [8] Rick Mitchell. Interactive Corpus Christi Caller Times |
| Nevada to see Jon Secada, an immensely popular EMI | | | | Biography. (Houston Chronicle), 1995. |
| artist. There, Selena's opening made a lasting | | | | [9] Rick Mitchell. Interactive Corpus Christi Caller Times |
| impression. By December 1993, Selena had been | | | | Biography. (Houston Chronicle), 1995. |
| signed by EMI's SBK subsidiary to begin her crossover | | | | [10] Bruce Hagan, Producer; Joshua Kuvin, Editor, et. al. |
| album, which took a year-and-a-half to produce due to | | | | Dateline NBC - Obsession. (April 7, 1995). |
| the tedious effort of finding the right songs and | | | | |