Two artists have recorded as Selena: one Mexican-American, the other Dutch. 1. Selena Quintanilla Pérez (April 16, 1971 - March 31, 1995) was a Mexican-American singer who is regarded as one of the biggest stars of the Tejano genre of music. She was born in Lake Jackson, Texas and grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she began her musical career. Her father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., was a singer with the original Los Dinos from 1957-1972, and nurtured the burgeoning musical talent of his children. Selena, her brother Abe III (bass), and their sister, Suzette (drums), were a second generation of Los Dinos.