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America. Also an advocate for anti-drug campaigns and AIDS Awareness programs, the Latin performer was considered a role model. Prior to the release of her English crossover album, the star was murdered at the age of 23.

Selena Quintanilla was born on April 16, 1971 in Lake Jackson, Texas. Her father Abraham encouraged his children to learn how to play music founding the group Selena y Los Dinos (named after his previous band) when she was nine. The group performed at their family restaurant "Papagallos" until its closure. Soon after, her family was evicted and relocated to Corpus Christi in the hopes of a better life. After several years performing at weddings, fairs, and other such gigs, Selena recorded her debut album in 1983. The album was not sold in stores until its re-release in 1995 entitled Mis Primeras Grabaciones. Her songs were recorded in Spanish however the singer's primary language was English. Often criticized for her poor Spanish vocabulary, she became fluent over the years.

Alpha was issued in 1986 earning the young star two Tejano Music Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year and Performer of the Year. Subsequent to the success of her 1988 albums Preciosa and Dulce Amor, Selena was approached by Capitol/EMI founder Jose Behar who quickly signed her to his label. Her self-titled debut album with EMI was released in 1989 and directed to a larger audience. Ven Conmigo followed a year later and featured the hit "Baila Esta Cumbia" which gained much attention from US and Mexican audiences. The album was her first to be certified gold. On April 2, 1992, she married her guitarist Chris Perez and a month later released Entre A Mi Mundo. The singer earned much praise for her song "Como La Flor" as well as "La Carcacha". In 1993, she released her first live album Selena Live! which was recorded at a show in her hometown of Corpus Christi. The album which consisted of her greatest hits and several new songs won a Grammy Award in 1994 for Best Mexican-American album.

Selena began designing and manufacturing her own clothing line in 1994 opening stores in Corpus Christi and San Antonio. Amor Prohibido was issued in the same year displaying the singer's incredible talent through hits "No Me Queda Mas", "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" and the infamous title track. The album was certified 5x platinum and peaked at number one on the Billboard Latin Tracks chart. Her newly founded commercial success sparked major interest in the possibility of a crossover album. While touring, Selena began working on her English debut as well as on a new Tejano album.

In 1995, Selena's father made the discovery that Yolanda Saldivar, the President of the fan club and manager of the Selena Inc boutiques had been stealing money from the business. When Selena approached the woman at a Days Inn demanding missing financial documents, the confrontation ended in a bitter argument. Yolanda pulled out a gun and shot Selena in the back as she was trying to escape the situation. A wounded Selena ran to the lobby for help announcing her attacker to the hotel manager. She was rushed to the hospital but died due to excessive blood loss on March 31, 1995. Saldivar was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after thirty years.

Dreaming of You, released in July 1995, consisted of a combination of English and Spanish tracks. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard Music charts selling 321,000 copies in the first week. Major hits "I Could Fall In Love" and "Dreaming of You" led the album to eventually be certified 5x platinum. Her posthumous growth in celebrity declared her the Artist of the Decade by Billboard Magazine.