Remembering Selena, 22 Years Later

By Angel Sabater | Big Stick Editor

It has been 22 years since 23 year-old, Tejano singer, Selena Quintanilla or Selena’s death on March 31, 1995. Murdered by Yolanda Saldívar (at the time was 34 year-old, but now is 56 years-old) at the Days Inn motel in Corpus Christi, Texas who was found in the parking lot in a pickup truck, holding a gun to her head, before getting arrested. Selena would have been 46 years old, this past Easter on Sunday, April 16.

“It was sad and I was shocked,” Spanish teacher, Alfredo Aguirre said. “I was studying abroad when it happened. I heard it through the news, news travels through media and different outlets of technology, there were a lot of people mourning, I wasn’t able to participate in anything.”

Most remember her as an iconic female role-model, singer, songwriter, model, actress and fashion designer; she was a daughter, sister, wife, and friend. She brought Tejano (Mexican-American or Tex-Mex music, that consists of European waltzes and polkas, country and rock) music into people’s life and heart all across the world.

“Her music brought a lot of people together,” Spanish teacher, Leticia Peralta said. “Before Tejano music, there wasn’t a lot of women in that industry. When she came into light, it just seemed like Tejano took over and she took over Tejano.”

Saldívar was a nurse who founded the fan club in 1991, with the approval of the Quintanillas, but later left her role as club president to be manager of Selena’s clothing boutique called Selena Etc., she will be eligible for parole on March 30, 2025.

“At the time I was young when Selena died and I remember being so confused and so angry at living in a world with people could follow through with acts of such heinous criminality,” English teacher, Paul Riser said. “As I’ve aged and become older, I understood when people commit acts as grave and severe as Yolanda Saldívar did, that something in their mind is broken. That’s what I’ve come to believe, that she must suffer from deep pain and deep hurt that the only way she knew how to make herself feel better was to take away something to make other people hurt too.”

The same day Selena died, Tejano 107.5, a Texas radio station, organized a candlelight vigil at the Sunken Gardens Theatre in San Antonio, Texas at 7 p.m.

“I wasn’t able to participate in her vigil in 1995,” Riser said. “I think I was more impacted than affected, because of my peer group. My family watched it on the news and they weren’t as affected as many others were. Selena made an impact on us.”

Her death may have impacted many people, but her legacy carries on and now generations have a strong love for the late singer.

“I love Selena’s music,” sophomore, Karla Clemens said. “It’s very engaging, because of the way she mixes American culture with Mexican culture to Cumbias. Yolanda Saldívar was definitely not on the right side by murdering Selena.”

Facts:

• According to TexasMonthly.com, many called Selena the “Queen of Tejano”, “Mexican Madonna” and she is also referred as “A woman of the people”.
• Selena has been nominated 89 times in total for six different award shows, but has won in total of 67 awards, including a Grammy for Best Mexican/American Album in 1994 for her album Selena Live!
• Selena had two Boutiques, one in Corpus Christi and another on Broadway by Brackenridge Park in San Antonio, which was officially closed sometime after 1999. She was scheduled to open another one in Monterrey, Mexico; but due to her death, it was never accomplished.
• Recently, presented by CITGO (A Petroleum Corporation) a two day festival on March 24-25 in Corpus Christi called Fiesta De La Flor was organized in tribute to honor the late singer. Only sold at Stripes gas station, two commemorative collectible cups for $2.99 with refills for only $.99. For more info go online to http://stripesstores.com/about-us/news.cms/2017/215/stripes-stores-announce-selena-commemorative-cups.
• According to KrisTV.com, the Fiesta De La Flor attendance numbers was released by the Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau that says 55,000 people attended.