Abraham Quintanilla, father of late Tejano icon Selena, dies at 86
(Gray News) - Abraham Quintanilla Jr., the father and manager of the late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla, has died at the age of 86.
Quintanilla’s son, A.B. Quintanilla III, announced his death on Instagram Saturday.
“It’s with a heavy heart to let you guys know that my Dad passed away today,” he said in his post.
Quintanilla was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, according to KSAT.
He first gained recognition with his band, Los Dinos, in 1956. But he would gain more notoriety as Selena’s father.
According to KSAT, Quintanilla was essential in launching Selena’s career. He built the family band, Selena y los Dinos, around her and managed her earlier shows, leading her to international fame.
Selena was tragically killed by her former fan club president, Yolanda Saldivar, on March 31, 1995. She was only 23 years old.
Quintanilla and Selena’s mother, Marcella Quintanilla, dedicated their lives after her death to preserving her legacy, according to People. They recently appeared in the Netflix documentary, “Selena y los Dinos: A Family’s Legacy,” which premiered on Nov. 17.
Quintanilla’s cause of death was not revealed.
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