Abraham Quintanilla, father and manager of Selena, dies at 86, leaving lasting legacy in Latin music

Abraham Quintanilla, who guided Selena’s career and preserved her legacy, has died at age 86

Abraham Quintanilla Jr., the father and manager who shaped the career of Tejano music icon Selena, has died at the age of 86.

The news was shared on Saturday by his son, A.B. Quintanilla III, who posted a photo of his father on Instagram, writing, “It’s with a heavy heart to let you guys know that my Dad passed away today.” A cause of death has not been disclosed.

Born on February 22, 1939, in Corpus Christi, Texas, Quintanilla began his own music career as a teenager, joining the vocal group the Dinos in 1956. He later left the band to focus on raising a family.

Recognising the vocal talent of his youngest child, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, he formed the family band Selena y Los Dinos, including siblings A.B. and Suzette Quintanilla.

As manager, he oversaw performances, shaped the band’s image, and navigated the challenges of the male-dominated Tejano music scene.

By the late 1980s, Selena y Los Dinos had become a leading force in Tejano music, setting the stage for Selena’s crossover success. Her life was tragically cut short on March 31, 1995, when she was murdered at age 23. Following her death, Abraham Quintanilla became the primary guardian of her artistic and cultural legacy.

He served as executive producer on the 1997 biographical film “Selena,” in which he was portrayed by Edward James Olmos, and remained involved in albums, documentaries, and tributes to his daughter’s work.

In 2020, he was depicted by Ricardo Chavira in the Netflix series “Selena: The Series,” and he recently appeared in the Netflix documentary “Selena y Los Dinos: A Family’s Legacy.”

Quintanilla also co-founded the Selena Foundation, supporting children in crisis, and continued mentoring new talent through his company Q-Productions. His memoir, “A Father’s Dream: My Family’s Journey in Music,” was published in 2021.

Abraham Quintanilla leaves behind a lasting influence on Latin music and a devoted role in preserving Selena’s legacy.