Abraham Isaac Quintanilla Jr., the influential father of the late Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla, has passed away at the age of 86. Known for his pivotal role in shaping the career of his iconic daughter, Quintanilla’s contributions to the music world and his dedication to preserving Selena’s legacy are widely recognized.
His son, Abraham “A.B.” Quintanilla III, shared the news of his father’s passing on Instagram on Saturday, December 13. “With a heavy heart, I inform you that my Dad passed away today,” A.B. wrote. The family has not yet disclosed the cause of death.
Abraham Quintanilla Jr. was married to Marcella Quintanilla, and together they raised three children: A.B., Suzette, and Selena. Tragically, Selena’s life was cut short in 1995 when she was murdered at the age of 23 by the previous president of her fan club.
Following Selena’s untimely death, Abraham remained deeply committed to honoring her memory, ensuring that her legacy continued to thrive through her devoted fanbase. His efforts have kept Selena’s spirit and music alive for generations to come.
Abraham was married to Marcella Quintanilla, and together they had three children: A.B., Suzette Quintanilla and Selena, who was killed in 1995 at age 23 by the former president of her fan club.
Since Selena’s death, Abraham continued to oversee her legacy and helped kept her memory alive through her fans.
A musician himself, Abraham founded and managed Selena y Los Dinos, the family band that launched Selena’s career. A.B. played bass, Suzette was the drummer, and Selena’s husband, Chris Pérez, later joined as guitarist. Before managing his children, Abraham performed in his own band, Los Dinos.
In a 2020 interview with People, A.B. said his father’s background in music helped him recognize Selena’s extraordinary talent early on.
“There are a lot of families who think, ‘My kids are talented, they sing, they’re awesome,’ but my dad, as a musician, saw something that we didn’t,” he said.
Following Selena’s death, Abraham remained closely involved in preserving her legacy, working on projects including Netflix’s “Selena: The Series” and the recent documentary “Selena y Los Dinos: A Family’s Legacy.”
