S.C.R. No. 116
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, Selena Quintanilla-Perez, who as lead singer of the
1-2 internationally famous Tejano group "Selena y Los Dinos" was
1-3 instrumental in making the Texas Tejano music industry vibrant and
1-4 world-renowned, died March 31, 1995; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Selena was born on April 16, 1971, in Lake Jackson
1-6 and moved to Corpus Christi where in 1980, at the early age of
1-7 nine, she began working to help support her family as the lead
1-8 singer for "Selena y Los Dinos"; and
1-9 WHEREAS, This outstanding musician received her first
1-10 successes in 1987 as the Female Vocalist of the Year and Performer
1-11 of the Year at the Tejano Music Awards; in 1991 she was the first
1-12 female Tejano recording artist to receive a Gold Record with the
1-13 song "Ven Conmigo"; in 1993 she received the Grammy Award for best
1-14 Mexican American performance for her album "Selena Live"; also in
1-15 1993 she was awarded Female Singer, Song, and Album of the Year by
1-16 "Premio Lo Nuestro," long recognized as the Latin equivalent of the
1-17 Grammy Awards; in 1994 she debuted in New York, Los Angeles,
1-18 Argentina, and Puerto Rico and became the first female crossover
1-19 Latin artist signed to the SBK sister label to EMI Latin recording
1-20 company; and in 1995 Selena won six Tejano Music Awards, including
1-21 top female vocalist for the eighth time, and was nominated for her
1-22 second Grammy Award for her song "Amor Prohibido"; and
1-23 WHEREAS, Selena was as popular in Mexico as she was in Texas,
2-1 having been featured as one of the Giants of Latin Music in one of
2-2 Latin America's most-watched shows, "Siempre en Domingo," and
2-3 appearing in the internationally watched soap opera "Dos Mujeres,
2-4 Un Camino"; and
2-5 WHEREAS, What Selena had accomplished by the age of 23 others
2-6 spend a lifetime attempting to achieve and perhaps never do; and
2-7 WHEREAS, Thousands of fans are paying homage to Selena's
2-8 one-of-a-kind talent, not only in Texas but around the world; and
2-9 WHEREAS, Selena's admirable career, reflecting her ambitions
2-10 and her dedication, made positive strides toward breaking through
2-11 the ethnic, cultural, age, and language barriers that divide people
2-12 and nations; and
2-13 WHEREAS, This Corpus Christi role model inspired and
2-14 represented the hopes and dreams of millions of followers who
2-15 collectively identified with her as the young girl who grew up in
2-16 "Molina," the west side of Corpus Christi, embodying the heart and
2-17 soul of all Mexican Americans; and
2-18 WHEREAS, Selena's fame had its humble beginnings in her South
2-19 Texas community in the midst of family birthday parties, afternoon
2-20 barbecues, and "quinceaneras," representing the essence of South
2-21 Texas culture; and
2-22 WHEREAS, The loss of this special friend, who proudly
2-23 demonstrated her hometown pride in every concert and
2-24 accomplishment, will be felt by millions of fans and young Latinos
2-25 who see her not only as a peer but as a sister who personified the
3-1 coming of their generation; and
3-2 WHEREAS, With strong family support, Selena was able to stay
3-3 away from the pitfalls of the nightlife that plague many and
3-4 achieved wholesome, unprecedented fame; from the beginning she had
3-5 shown herself to be a rising, level-headed star and, in the words
3-6 of her father, Abraham Quintanilla, Jr., Selena "was starting to
3-7 bloom, not only as a person but as an artist"; and
3-8 WHEREAS, With all her stardom, fame, and fortune Selena never
3-9 forgot her humble beginnings and always took time out from her busy
3-10 schedule to speak to young people about the importance of an
3-11 education; in her words, while speaking at a "Stay in School
3-12 Jamboree" in San Antonio's Alamodome she exhorted the young crowd
3-13 to "Please remember that an education is important. . . . You can
3-14 do anything you put your mind to. . . . Remember, the impossible is
3-15 always possible"; and
3-16 WHEREAS, Education was a major factor in her life; she
3-17 persevered in obtaining her high school diploma through a
3-18 correspondence course when her singing career kept her away from
3-19 school, and she was also pursuing a college degree through a
3-20 similar correspondence program; and
3-21 WHEREAS, At a time when the youth of America need the best
3-22 leadership possible and need positive role models that will guide
3-23 them onto the path of success and teach them to capitalize on the
3-24 best of their talents, Selena introduced an educational video for
3-25 students at Cunningham Middle School in Corpus Christi; and
4-1 WHEREAS, The civic-minded young singer was actively involved
4-2 with the business of building a thriving community by working with
4-3 organizations such as DARE, the Coastal Bend AIDS Foundation, and
4-4 others; and
4-5 WHEREAS, This enterprising young Tejana worked diligently
4-6 over the years, building a multi-million-dollar singing career and,
4-7 more recently, establishing a boutique and hair salon in Corpus
4-8 Christi and San Antonio; and
4-9 WHEREAS, Selena's career was reaching new heights by breaking
4-10 into television and, most recently, playing a singer in the
4-11 soon-to-be-released film "Don Juan DeMarco" starring Marlon Brando
4-12 and Johnny Depp; and
4-13 WHEREAS, Selena was a rising star on the international music
4-14 scene, having performed in Guatemala and Argentina and drawn crowds
4-15 in Mexico normally reserved for international rock stars; and
4-16 WHEREAS, Texas' single most important resource is its people,
4-17 and the state's changing demographic composition presents a paradox
4-18 of both promises and challenges for our young people for the
4-19 future; and
4-20 WHEREAS, Selena Quintanilla-Perez tragically lost her life
4-21 two weeks before her twenty-fourth birthday; and
4-22 WHEREAS, The legacy of this native Texan star will live in
4-23 the hearts and minds of countless children and millions of adoring
4-24 fans across the world who were touched by her; now, therefore, be
4-25 it
5-1 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
5-2 hereby honor the life, career, and personal convictions of this
5-3 self-made international star and acknowledge the impact that this
5-4 young Tejana has had across the world; and, be it further
5-5 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be prepared and sent
5-6 to the members of her family: her husband, Chris Perez; her
5-7 parents, Abraham and Marcela Quintanilla; her brother, Abraham "A.
5-8 B." Quintanilla III; her sister, Suzette Arriaga; and her
5-9 grandfather, Abraham Quintanilla, Sr., as an expression of
5-10 sympathy: "En paz descanse, reina de la musica Tejana."