Abraham Quintanilla, the father of late music icon Selena, has died at the age of 86, his family announced on December 13. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
His son, producer A.B. Quintanilla III, shared the news on Instagram, honoring his father’s life and legacy. Born in 1939 in Corpus Christi, Texas, Abraham first found success in the 1950s with his band The Dinos before helping launch Selena’s career by forming Selena y Los Dinos.
Selena became a defining voice in Tejano and Latin pop music before her tragic death in 1995. Abraham continued to protect and promote her legacy, most recently appearing in the Netflix documentary Selena y Los Dinos: A Family Legacy.
In an emotional tribute, A.B. said losing his father “hits differently,” calling him a guiding force in both life and music.
Rest in peace, Abraham Quintanilla.