Abraham Quintanilla, the father and manager of the late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla, has passed away at the age of 86. The news was shared by his son, Abraham “A.B.” Isaac Quintanilla III, on Instagram on December 13.
Quintanilla’s music career began in the late 1950s with Los Dinos before he took a step back to focus on raising his family with his wife, Marcella Ofelia Samora. It was through recognizing Selena’s musical talents that he formed the family band, Selena y Los Dinos, which eventually signed with Freddie Records in 1984.
In 1989, José Behar, the former head of Sony Music Latin, signed the group to EMI Latin, propelling them to superstardom. Behar likened Selena to the next Gloria Estefan, recognizing her immense talent.
Following Selena’s tragic murder in 1995, Quintanilla dedicated his life to preserving her memory by forming The Selena Foundation and executive producing the biopic, Selena, in 1997. The film starred Jennifer Lopez as his late daughter, with Edward James Olmos portraying Quintanilla.
Apart from A.B. and his daughter Suzette, Quintanilla is survived by his wife, Marcella Ofelia Quintanilla.
Quintanilla’s cause of death remains unknown, leaving many to reflect on his legacy as a pivotal figure in Selena’s career and the lasting impact she has left on the music industry. His contributions to the success of Selena y Los Dinos paved the way for future Latinx artists to break into the mainstream music scene.
The iconic presence of Abraham Quintanilla will forever be intertwined with the legendary legacy of Selena Quintanilla, creating an enduring family narrative that continues to inspire fans worldwide.
Peace Nero is a writer and blogger who loves to explore different topics of self-development. She shares her personal experiences in order to help people discover their true purpose in life.