Abraham Quintanilla Jr., the father of the late Tejano music icon Selena Quintanilla-Pérez and a significant figure in the development of her career, has died at the age of 86. The news was shared by his son, A.B. Quintanilla III, on Instagram on Saturday, December 13, 2025. A.B. Quintanilla III wrote, "It's with a heavy heart to let you guys know that my Dad passed away today".
Abraham Isaac Quintanilla Jr. was born on February 22, 1939, in Corpus Christi, Texas, to a Mexican-American family. He was a singer, songwriter, and record producer. Abraham began his music career in 1956 as a member of the singing group, Los Dinos. After marrying Marcella Samora, he briefly served in the military before dedicating himself to his family. He met Marcella while stationed in the Pacific Northwest.
Recognizing his children's musical talents, Abraham transitioned his own aspirations into nurturing their careers. He formed Selena y Los Dinos, a family band featuring Selena and her siblings, A.B. and Suzette Quintanilla. A.B. played bass, Suzette performed on the drums, and Selena's husband, Chris Pérez, later joined as a guitarist. Abraham managed the band and played a critical role in Selena's rise to superstardom in the Tejano music scene. In a 2020 interview, A.B. noted that his father's musical background helped him recognize Selena's extraordinary talent.
Selena achieved phenomenal success, breaking barriers and winning a Grammy Award for Best Mexican-American Album for "Selena Live!". Her popular songs included "Como La Flor," "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom," and "Amor Prohibido". Tragically, her life was cut short on March 31, 1995, when she was murdered by Yolanda Saldívar, the former president of her fan club. Saldívar had been accused of embezzling money from Selena’s fan club and clothing boutique. She is currently serving a life sentence for the crime.
After Selena's death, Abraham Quintanilla Jr. dedicated himself to preserving and promoting her legacy. He remained involved in various projects, including posthumous releases and the 1997 biopic "Selena" starring Jennifer Lopez, where he served as a co-producer and was portrayed by Edward James Olmos. The Quintanilla family also established The Selena Foundation, a charitable organization that utilized donations received after Selena's death. More recently, the family released a Netflix documentary, "Selena Y Los Dinos: A Family's Legacy," which featured never-before-seen footage and an interview with Marcella Quintanilla.
Abraham Quintanilla Jr.'s cause of death has not been publicly released. He is survived by his wife, Marcella, his son A.B., and his daughter Suzette. His impact on the music industry and his efforts to secure Selena's enduring legacy will be remembered for generations.
