List of people influenced by Selena

Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995) was an American Tejano singer, songwriter, spokesperson, actress and fashion designer. She was born in Lake Jackson, Texas, 54 miles south of Houston, and her family moved to Corpus Christi after declaring bankruptcy. Her father, a musician before her birth, formed his children into Selena y Los Dinos (with A.B. Quintanilla on bass, Suzette Quintanilla on drums and Selena singing) when he discovered her musical talent. Selena received the Tejano Music Award for Female Vocalist of the Year for nine consecutive years, beginning in 1987. She signed her first major contract with EMI Latin in 1989, releasing four Spanish-language albums which were milestones in the Latin music industry. EMI Latin then wanted her to release a crossover album, transitioning from Spanish- to English-language pop songs. On March 31, 1995, Selena was shot and killed by Yolanda Saldivar, her friend and the former manager of her boutiques. Reaction to her death was compared to the grief following the deaths of musicians John Lennon and Elvis Presley and U.S. president John F. Kennedy.

Selena's greatest influences were Donna Summer, Madonna, Gloria Estefan, Paula Abdul and Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson. According to music critics her Tejano sound incorporated contemporary R&B, disco and funk, and her roots in American pop music were believed by Ed Morales to have been inspired by Summer and Diana Ross. Selena credited Michael Jackson for inspiring her to follow in his footsteps after she saw him perform at a 1984 Astrodome concert. Onstage, she wore fashions inspired by Abdul, Madonna and Janet Jackson. Selena's husband, Chris Pérez, said that she was "open-minded" toward all musical genres, rock in particular. Since her death in 1995, entertainers have cited the singer's influence on their careers in interviews, speeches, books and music.

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