Selena’s Father Abraham Quintanilla Jr. Passes Away at 86 — A Father’s Dream, A Daughter’s Legacy - video Dailymotion

Xplained Daily

Selena Quintanilla’s father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., has passed away at the age of 86.  For more than 30 years, he carried the legacy of the Queen of Tejano Music — as her father, her manager, and her fiercest protector. From building Selena y Los Dinos to preserving her memory after her tragic death, Abraham’s life was defined by faith, family, and sacrifice.  Today, fans around the world are reflecting on a bittersweet reunion — a father finally reunited with his daughter after three decades apart.  Watch as we remember the life, struggles, and enduring legacy of Abraham Quintanilla Jr.  ❤️ Share your favorite Selena song or memory in the comments.  00:00 — A heartbreaking goodbye 00:35 — The man behind Selena’s rise 01:10 — Abraham’s early life and musical dreams 02:20 — Discovering Selena’s talent 03:15 — Building Selena y Los Dinos 04:25 — Stardom, protection, and family 05:20 — The tragedy that changed everything 06:05 — Preserving Selena’s legacy 06:35 — A father’s final reunion and farewell  #SelenaQuintanilla #AbrahamQuintanilla #TejanoMusic #MusicLegends #XplainedDaily

Transcript

00:00Good morning, everyone. If you grew up in the 1990s listening to those unforgettable Tejano

00:05beats that made you want to dance, today's news is going to hit you right in the heart.

00:10On December 13, 2025, we lost Abraham Quintanilla Jr., the devoted father,

00:16visionary manager, and driving force behind the queen of Tejano music, Selena Quintanilla.

00:22He was 86 years old. His son, AB Quintanilla III, shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram

00:28with a simple message. It's with a heavy heart to let you guys know that my dad passed away today.

00:34No cause of death has been shared, but fans around the world are already saying the same thing.

00:39Father and daughter reunited at last after 30 long years. If this brings tears to your eyes like it

00:46does to mine, stay with me as we remember the life of the man who helped give the world Selena's magic.

00:52Welcome back, friends. For many of us, Selena wasn't just a singer. She was a cultural icon.

00:58She crossed borders, broke barriers, and touched our hearts with songs like Como La Flore,

01:04Biddy Biddy Bumboam, and Dreaming of You. And behind every step of her journey stood her father.

01:10Abraham Quintanilla Jr., he wasn't the one in the spotlight. But he was the architect of it all.

01:16Today, we honor his legacy. A story of family, perseverance, music, unimaginable loss,

01:22and unbreakable love. Abraham Isaac Quintanilla Jr. was born on February 20, 1939, in Corpus Christi,

01:31Texas, to a Mexican-American family. Music was in his blood from the very beginning.

01:36As a teenager in the 1950s, he joined a doo-wop group called Los Dinos. He sang and wrote songs

01:42at a time when opportunities for Latino artists were painfully limited. The industry wasn't ready

01:48for Mexican-American voices blending American pop with traditional sounds. And Abraham felt that

01:54resistance firsthand. By the late 1960s, he made a difficult decision. He put his own music dreams

02:00on hold. He took a steady job at Dow Chemical in Lake Jackson, Texas, to support his growing family.

02:07In 1963, he married Marcella Samora, a woman of Cherokee and Mexican heritage who became his anchor

02:14through everything. Together, they had three children. A.B., born in 1963, Suzette, born in 1967,

02:23and their youngest, Selena, born on April 16, 1971. Even while working a full-time job, Abraham never

02:32let go of music. He taught his children early. A.B. on bass, Suzette on drums, and Selena. When Abraham

02:39heard Selena sing at just nine years old, he knew instantly. Her pitch was perfect.

02:44Her timing was natural. He later said he could tell she was special from the very first note.

02:50In the early 1980s, life tested the Quintanilla family again. The Texas oil bust hit hard.

02:56Abraham lost his job. The family lost their home. But instead of giving up, Abraham saw possibility.

03:03He reformed the family band as Selena Y. Los Dinos. A.B. on bass and producing,

03:08Suzette on drums, Selena as lead singer, and Abraham as manager, songwriter, and sometimes

03:15guitarist. They toured relentlessly. Weddings, quinceaneras, county fairs, small venues across

03:21Texas. They traveled in a worn-down bus, chasing a dream most people didn't believe in.

03:28Abraham handled everything. Bookings, contracts, scheduling, even Selena's iconic stage outfits.

03:34Tejano music was dominated by men. Record labels were skeptical of a young girl leading a band.

03:41But Abraham refused to accept no. In one story he later shared, he took Selena to a small label

03:47in San Antonio. Executives hesitated because she was young and because she was female.

03:52Abraham pushed for one chance. They recorded a song. Selena was signed on the spot. From there,

03:58everything changed. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, Selena was winning Tejano Music Awards year

04:05after year. In 1994, she made history by winning a Grammy for Best Mexican-American Album for Life.

04:13She was preparing to cross over fully into English-language pop with Dreaming of You.

04:17The world was opening up to her. And Abraham was there every step of the way, protecting her,

04:23negotiating deals, keeping the family grounded in faith and values.

04:27When guitarist Chris Perez joined the band, he and Selena fell in love. They eloped in 1992.

04:34At first, Abraham struggled with the idea. But over time, he accepted Chris into the family.

04:40Because for Abraham, family always came first. Then came March 31, 1995, the day that shattered

04:48everything. Selena was murdered at just 23 years old by Yolanda Saldivar, the former president of her

04:54fan club. The loss was devastating. For Abraham, it was unimaginable. But he carried his grief with

05:01purpose. He dedicated the rest of his life to protecting Selena's legacy. He executive produced

05:07the 1997 film Selena, starring Jennifer Lopez, with Edward James Olmos portraying him. He oversaw

05:14posthumous releases, including Dreaming of You, which went multi-platinum. He founded the Selena

05:20Museum in Corpus Christi. He established the Selena Foundation to help children in need.

05:26Through Q Productions, he mentored new artists and fought tirelessly to protect Selena's image

05:31and music. In 2021, Abraham published his memoir, A Father's Dream. He also participated in Netflix's

05:38Selena, the series, and the documentary Selena Y. Los Dinos, A Family's Legacy. Some critics accused him

05:46of being controlling. Others said he held on too tightly. But Abraham always responded the same way.

05:52He wasn't exploiting Selena. He was protecting her. In interviews, he often spoke about faith,

05:58and about the day he believed he would see Selena again. Now, that day has come. Abraham Kindania Jr.

06:04outlived his daughter by 30 years. For three decades, he carried her light. He wasn't perfect,

06:10but he was a father who believed when others doubted. A father who sacrificed his own dreams

06:15so his children could live theirs. Today, fans around the world are posting the same words.

06:21Reunited at last. Thank you for giving us Selena. It feels like a full circle moment. A reminder that

06:28love doesn't end, and family never truly leaves U.S. Rest in peace. Abraham Kindania Jr. Your Dream

06:35lives on in every note Selena ever sang. If this story touched you, share your favorite Selena memory

06:41or song in the comments. I read every one. Like this video if you're sending love to the

06:47Quintanilla family. Subscribe for more stories from our generation's icons. And thank you for

06:52spending these moments with me. Take care of the people you love. I'll see you in the next one.

Selena’s Father Abraham Quintanilla Jr. Passes Away at 86 — A Father’s Dream, A Daughter’s Legacy

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended