H.R. No. 579
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, A Texas star was forever dimmed with the tragic
1-2 passing of the internationally acclaimed queen of Tejano music,
1-3 Selena Quintanilla Perez, on March 31, 1995, at the age of 23, and
1-4 her death has both stunned and saddened the legions of fans around
1-5 the world whose lives have been touched by her music; and
1-6 WHEREAS, Born in Lake Jackson, Texas, on April 16, 1971, this
1-7 extremely gifted young woman developed her love for music at an
1-8 early age, having begun singing at the age of six and performing
1-9 with Los Dinos, the Quintanilla family band, by the age of nine,
1-10 following her family's move to Corpus Christi; and
1-11 WHEREAS, Selena recorded her first album while still in her
1-12 early teens and, as her popularity grew, her band became known as
1-13 Selena y los Dinos; blessed with the guidance of her father,
1-14 Abraham Quintanilla, who served as her manager and booking agent,
1-15 she successfully made the transition from teen star to adult artist
1-16 and garnered her first serious recognition in 1987 when she was
1-17 named Female Vocalist of the Year and Performer of the Year at the
1-18 Tejano Music Awards in San Antonio; and
1-19 WHEREAS, With artistry and hard work she continued to build
1-20 on her success by setting a dizzying pace for herself during which
1-21 she would captivate audiences by dancing and singing in her
1-22 trademark costumes; far from limiting herself to concert
1-23 performances and recording albums alone, this dynamic entertainer
1-24 was featured on one of Latin America's most popular shows, "Siempre
2-1 en Domingo," had appeared on the renowned soap opera, "Dos Mujeres,
2-2 Un Camino," played a singer in the newly released film, "Don Juan
2-3 DeMarco," and most recently had begun a new chapter in her
2-4 multi-faceted career with the establishment of a boutique and hair
2-5 salon in Corpus Christi and San Antonio; and
2-6 WHEREAS, Selena became an internationally recognized star who
2-7 was especially revered in Mexico, Latin America, and her home state
2-8 of Texas, and, while developing her own phenomenal career, she also
2-9 was instrumental in transforming the Tejano music industry into one
2-10 of the fastest growing markets of music in the world today; and
2-11 WHEREAS, Her achievements as an entertainer gave her a means
2-12 by which to reach a broader audience, and she put her accessibility
2-13 to her adoring fans to good use, frequently speaking directly to
2-14 her female fans in the audience between songs on women's issues and
2-15 empowering them through her lyrics; Selena also taped a public
2-16 service announcement in behalf of battered women for the Houston
2-17 Area Women's Center and had expressed interest in personally
2-18 visiting the shelter and performing in a fund-raiser to advance its
2-19 deserving cause; and
2-20 WHEREAS, A positive role model for Hispanic youth and women
2-21 from all walks of life, Selena gave many young people hope and
2-22 encouragement to persevere and to follow their dreams as she did,
2-23 and she used her success to encourage students to complete their
2-24 education, to stay away from drugs, and to make healthy choices
2-25 through her support and involvement with many worthy organizations
2-26 and events, including local schools, the DARE program, the Stay in
2-27 School Jamboree, and the Coastal Bend AIDS Foundation, to name but
3-1 a few; and
3-2 WHEREAS, In 1994, Selena was awarded a Grammy for the year's
3-3 best Mexican-American album, "Selena Live," and went on to sweep
3-4 the year's Tejano Music Awards as well, winning the best album,
3-5 recording, female vocalist, female entertainer, and Tejano
3-6 crossover categories; and
3-7 WHEREAS, Selena was nominated for a Grammy again this year
3-8 for her most recent album, the quadruple-platinum "Amor Prohibido,"
3-9 which has produced three chart-topping singles and sold more than
3-10 400,000 copies in the United States alone; and
3-11 WHEREAS, A young woman of tremendous charisma and talent, she
3-12 became the first female crossover Latin artist signed to the SBK
3-13 sister label to the EMI Latin recording company and was recording
3-14 her first album in English at the time of her death in an
3-15 achievement that was widely expected to establish Selena as a
3-16 crossover star in the broader reaches of the pop music world; and
3-17 WHEREAS, Though she had attained fame and fortune as an
3-18 entertainer, Selena remained true to her roots and shared her
3-19 culture's long-standing devotion to family, keeping her music a
3-20 family affair with her husband, Chris Perez, backing her on guitar,
3-21 her sister, Suzette Quintanilla Arriaga, serving as her band's
3-22 drummer, and her brother, A. B. "Abe" Quintanilla III, assisting
3-23 her as her producer, bassist, and cowriter; and
3-24 WHEREAS, Though her life was cut tragically short, Selena
3-25 Quintanilla Perez left an indelible mark on this world and brought
3-26 dignity and honor to her culture through her vast achievements as a
3-27 performer of Tejano music, and it is fitting that she be remembered
4-1 at this time, for she is deeply mourned by the adoring family,
4-2 friends, and fans she leaves behind; now, therefore, be it
4-3 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
4-4 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Selena Quintanilla
4-5 Perez and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to
4-6 her husband, Chris Perez; to her parents, Abraham and Marcella
4-7 Quintanilla; to her brother, Abraham Quintanilla III; to her
4-8 sister, Suzette Quintanilla Arriaga; to her grandfather, Abraham
4-9 Quintanilla, Sr.; to her niece and nephew; and to all who were
4-10 moved by the beauty of her life and her music during her short time
4-11 on this earth; and, be it further
4-12 RESOLVED, That when the Texas House of Representatives
4-13 adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Selena Quintanilla Perez.