Abraham Quintanilla Jr., Selena Quintanilla’s Father, Dies at 86
In this June 24, 2011 photo, Abraham Quintanilla, the father of late singer Selena, poses for pictures in front of the outfit that his daughter wore in her last concert in Corpus Christi, Texas. (AP Photo/Paul Iverson photo)
Abraham Quintanilla Jr., the father of Selena Quintanilla, has died at the age of 86.
The news was shared on Saturday, Dec. 13, by his son, Abraham “A.B.” Quintanilla III, who confirmed his father’s passing in an Instagram post earlier that morning.
“It’s with a heavy heart to let you guys know that my Dad passed away today,” A.B. wrote.
Quintanilla was a central figure in the early foundation of Selena’s career. He formed Selena y Los Dinos, the family band that included his children and helped launch Selena onto the path that would eventually make her one of the most influential Tejano artists of all time. Alongside his wife, Marcella Quintanilla, he raised their three children: A.B., Suzette Quintanilla, and Selena.
Selena’s life was tragically cut short in March 1995, when she was murdered by her former fan club president, Yolanda Saldívar. She was 23 years old and on the brink of global superstardom as a Tejano artist.
In 2021, Quintanilla reflected on his family’s journey in his memoir, A Father’s Dream: My Family’s Journey in Music. Speaking with 3News at the time, he shared why it took him years to write the book, explaining that he had initially hesitated in the aftermath of Selena’s death.
“I didn’t want to do it at the time because I thought that people, right away, would jump to the conclusion that I’m just trying to make money off of her,” he said. “So, time went by and of course time waits for nobody.”
Further details surrounding Abraham Quintanilla Jr.’s death, including a cause, have not yet been made public.