Abraham Quintanilla Jr., father of Tejano music star Selena Quintanilla, has passed away, the family confirmed on social media. His son, A.B. Quintanilla III, shared the news in an Instagram post, stating, “It’s with a heavy heart to let you guys know that my Dad passed away today,” according to KSAT. No cause of death has been released.
Abraham Quintanilla Jr. was a prominent figure in the music industry, known for his work with the Dinos beginning in 1956 and for managing his daughter Selena’s early career. He played a key role in forming and guiding the family band, Selena y Los Dinos, which included Selena’s siblings A.B. Quintanilla and Suzette Quintanilla, as per Fox San Antonio.
Following Selena’s death in 1995, Quintanilla Jr. played a key role in preserving her legacy. He helped establish the Selena Museum in Corpus Christi and oversaw the posthumous release of her music and related projects, ensuring her contributions to Tejano music continued to reach new audiences.
Quintanilla Jr., 86, was also a businessman and producer, and recently appeared in the Netflix documentary Selena Y Los Dinos: A Family Legacy. His contributions to his daughter’s career and legacy were recognized by public figures, including Texas Senator Jose Menendez, who called him a visionary and credited him with helping bring Tejano music to mainstream audiences.
