Abraham Quintanilla, father of late singer Selena, passes away
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Abraham Quintanilla Jr., father and longtime manager of late star Selena, has died at 86, leaving a lasting legacy
Abraham Quintanilla Jr., father of the late Selena, has passed away at the age of 86.
He was instrumental in guiding Selena's rise to superstardom in the 1990s and continued to oversee her estate following her tragic death in 1995. According to his son, Abraham passed away on the morning of December 13, though no cause of death has been announced.
The news was shared publicly by Abraham “A.B.” Quintanilla III, Selena's older brother and music producer, who reflected on the profound impact of his father's passing in an emotional Instagram post.
He began by connecting the grief of the past with the present, writing that losing Selena 30 years ago “is still a daily struggle for me…But losing my Dad hits differently.”
A.B. added that he had always felt safe knowing his father's love and guidance were available whenever he needed them, and now that sense of security is gone.
He also highlighted his father's character, describing him as “a tough cookie” and emphasizing the lessons he and Selena had learned from him early on: “He taught 'SELENA' and I that from the get go.”
Transitioning to the personal toll of the loss, A.B. shared the depth of his heartbreak: “Today I feel my heart is shattered in a million pieces…I feel so sorry for my Mom who has to live with the pain of losing her baby and her husband…Life is so unfair.”
He also reflected on the bittersweet nature of the day, noting that his birthday will now forever be associated with tragedy: “Today is my BDay and now for the rest of my life will mark something tragic that happened today…Losing my father.”
Finally, he paid tribute to his father's legacy through music. A.B. mentioned the song “La Vida De Un Genio,” which he had written for his father while he was still alive, and expressed gratitude that his friend Jon Seda performed it. He concluded by honoring his father's brilliance and influence: “My Dad truly was a genius and I will miss him tremendously.”
Before rising to fame as the visionary behind Selena's legendary career, Abraham Quintanilla Jr. had his own stint as a musician, performing in the 1970s with a band called the Dinos.
He later channeled his musical experience into guiding his children; Selena, A.B., and Suzette, forming the family band Selena y Los Dinos.
By the early 1990s, he played a pivotal role in helping Selena transition from a beloved Tejano artist in Texas to an international pop sensation, with chart-topping hits like “Como la Flor,” “Amor Prohibido,” and “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom.”
After Selena was tragically killed in 1995 by Yolanda Saldívar, a fan and former employee, Abraham Quintanilla Jr. continued overseeing her estate and handling her posthumous affairs. Around 2016, he entrusted these responsibilities to his daughter Suzette. Saldívar remains in prison, with her latest parole request denied earlier this past spring.
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