Abraham Quintanilla Jr., Father of Tejano Icon Selena, Passes Away at 86
Abraham Isaac Quintanilla Jr., the patriarch of the Quintanilla family, singer-songwriter, record producer, and longtime manager of his daughter Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, died on December 13, 2025, at the age of 86.
The news was announced by his son, A.B. Quintanilla III, on Instagram, who wrote, “It’s with a heavy heart to let you guys know that my Dad passed away today… Today I feel my heart is shattered in a million pieces.” No cause of death has been publicly disclosed.
Born on February 20, 1939, in Corpus Christi, Texas, Quintanilla began his own music career in the 1950s as a member of the group Los Dinos. After facing discrimination in the music industry and leaving the band, he worked at Dow Chemical while raising his family. When financial hardships hit, he formed the family band Selena y Los Dinos, featuring his children A.B. on bass, Suzette on drums, and young Selena as lead vocalist.
Under Abraham’s strict management, the band rose to stardom in the Tejano music scene, with Selena becoming the “Queen of Tejano” and achieving crossover success before her tragic murder in 1995 at age 23.
Following Selena’s death, Abraham dedicated his life to preserving her legacy. He served as executive producer on the 1997 biopic Selena (portrayed by Edward James Olmos), oversaw posthumous releases, and managed licensing for her image and music.
He co-founded Q-Productions and was involved in projects like the Netflix documentary Selena y Los Dinos: A Family’s Legacy. In 2021, he published his memoir, A Father’s Dream: My Family’s Journey in Music.
While celebrated for launching Selena’s career, Abraham was sometimes a polarizing figure, criticized by some for tightly controlling her estate and image. He defended his role, emphasizing family obligations and protection.
Abraham is survived by his wife Marcella Ofelia Quintanilla, son A.B. Quintanilla III, daughter Suzette Quintanilla, and grandchildren. Fans worldwide are mourning his loss, honoring his profound impact on Latin music through Selena’s enduring legacy.
