Who Is Selena Quintanilla-Pérez? Google Doodle Celebrates Musician, Model, Designer

It’s been 22-years since the death of Selena Quintanilla, an American singer of Mexican descent, but she is still alive for her fans through her music.

Google is celebrating her legacy with a doodle Tuesday, as Selena’s self-titled official debut album was released on Oct. 17, 1989 which she had signed with EMI Latin. The doodle is animated to the tune of her popular song “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” from her album "Amor Prohibido" that was released in 1994.

Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, who wore many hats — singer, songwriter, spokesperson, model, actress, and a fashion designer — was born April 16, 1971 in Corpus Christi, Texas.

She rose to international stardom at a very early age, and her contribution to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated artists and soon she was labeled the "Queen of Tejano music."

The youngest child in the family, Selena started her music career at the age of 9 years as a member of the Selena y Los Dinos, a band started by her father, Abraham Quintanilla, Jr., and which included two of her elder siblings.

Her professional recording career began in 1982 and since then she never looked back. However, it was not easy going initially, as Tejano music was a male dominated genre, and as a female she faced resistance. She was often refused bookings at various venues in Texas and was criticized for taking up the music.

The resistance melted and her popularity grew when she won the Tejano Music Award for Female Vocalist of the Year in 1987. She went on to win the award nine consecutive times.

However, her popularity as a singer and her busy schedule had its toll on her education, and she had to drop out of school in the eighth grade. At the age of 17 years she completed her high school diploma from the American School of Correspondence in Chicago. Later she took up business administration as a major subject and enrolled herself at the Pacific Western University.

She recorded her first long playing record (LP record), “Selena y Los Dinos” for Freddie Records. Though Selena wanted to record English-language songs, she recorded Tejano music in Spanish-language with German influences of polka, jazz and country music – popular among the Mexicans living in the United States.

By 1988, Selena had released five more LP records — "Alpha" (1986), "Munequito de Trapo" (1987), "And the Winner is..." (1987), "Preciosa" (1988), and "Dulce Amor" (1988).

On October 17, 1989 the singer released her self-titled album “Selena.” Most of the songs were recorded at AMEN Studios in San Antonio, Texas, while some Sunrise Studios in Houston.

In the year 1992, Selena eloped with her guitarist Chriz Pérez and married him against her family's wishes. A month after her marriage Selena released her album "Entre a Mi Mundo" in May 1992. The album was critically acclaimed as her breakthrough album.

Apart from music, Selena began designing and manufacturing designer outfits and opened two boutiques – Selena Etc. in Corpus Christi and San Antonio in 1994. Both boutiques had in-house beauty salons as well.

Her album "Amor Prohibido" became a hit among a younger audience, and created history by winning the Best Mexican/American Album at the 37th Grammy Awards in 1995. It also won the Record of the Year at the Tejano Music Awards in 1995.

According to the Billboard magazine, she was the top selling Latin artist of the 1990s decade.

On March 31, 1995, just two weeks away from her 24th birthday, Selena was shot dead by Yolanda Saldívar, a friend and former manager at the Selena Etc boutiques.

In October 2016, Selena was inducted in the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame at the Texas Women University.

In 2017, an exhibition at the National Museum of American History, Washington D.C., focused on Selena’s influence on marketing. The Grammy award winner and cultural icon's wax statue at Madame Tussauds, Hollywood, California, was unveiled Aug. 30, 2016. Selena still remembered through various concerts, statues and festivals in her hometown.