Abraham Quintanilla III (born December 13, 1963), known professionally as A.B. Quintanilla III or A.B. Quintanilla, is an American record producer, songwriter and musician, and the older brother of singer
Selena
Selena Quintanilla Pérez (; April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), known mononymously as Selena, was an American Tejano singer. Called the " Queen of Tejano music", her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mex ...
, known as "
The Queen of Tejano music".
Along with Selena, his other sister
Suzette, and his father
Abraham
Abraham, ; ar, , , name=, group= (originally Abram) is the common Hebrew patriarch of the Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Judaism, he is the founding father of the special relationship between the Je ...
, he became a member of
Los Dinos in 1980. As a member of Los Dinos, A.B. played bass guitar, produced, and wrote songs for Selena that became successful singles such as "
Como la Flor
"Como la Flor" ("Like the Flower") is a song that was recorded by American singer Selena for her third studio album ''Entre a Mi Mundo'' (1992). It was written by A. B. Quintanilla and Pete Astudillo. The song was conceptualized in 1982 afte ...
", "
Amor Prohibido
''Amor Prohibido'' ( en, italic=yes, Forbidden Love) is the fourth studio album by American singer Selena, released on March 13, 1993, by EMI Latin. Having reached a core fan base, the label aimed to broaden her appeal with the next
studio rele ...
" and "
No Me Queda Más
"No Me Queda Más" ("There's Nothing Left for Me") is a song by American singer Selena on her fourth studio album, ''Amor Prohibido''. It was released as the third single from the album in October 1994 by EMI Latin. "No Me Queda Más" was writ ...
" After Selena's death, he would create the bands
Kumbia Kings
The Kumbia Kings were a Mexican-American cumbia group from Corpus Christi, Texas, created by A.B. Quintanilla. Their music encompasses the styles of cumbia (hence their name), hip hop, and R&B. They produce songs in both Spanish and English. ...
and
Kumbia All Starz
Los Kumbia All Starz are an American musical group from Corpus Christi, Texas, created by A.B. Quintanilla. Kumbia All Starz are not to be confused with Los Kumbia Kings although some members are originally from Los Kumbia Kings. Their 2006 debut ...
.
Early life
Abraham Isaac Quintanilla III was born on December 13, 1963 in
Toppenish, Washington
Toppenish () is a city in Yakima County, Washington. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 8,854. It is located within the Yakama Indian Reservation, established in 1855.
Toppenish calls itself the city of Murals, as it has more than 7 ...
. He is the oldest child of
Abraham Quintanilla Jr.
Abraham Isaac Quintanilla Jr. (born February 20, 1939)Patoski page 2 is an American singer, songwriter, and producer. He is the father of Tejano singer Selena and was her manager throughout her life.
Quintanilla was born to a Mexican-American fa ...
and Marcella Ofelia Quintanilla (née Samora); and the older brother of
Suzette Quintanilla
Selena y Los Dinos ( en, Selena and the Guys, Selena And the Dinos=Selena And The Dinos) was an American Tejano band formed in 1981 by Tejano singer Selena and her father Abraham Quintanilla. The band remained together until the murder of Sel ...
and the late
Selena Quintanilla
Selena Quintanilla Pérez (; April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), known mononymously as Selena, was an American Tejano singer. Called the " Queen of Tejano music", her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mex ...
. Shortly after he was born, Quintanilla and his parents would move to
Lake Jackson, Texas
Lake Jackson is a city in Brazoria County, Texas, United States, within the Greater Houston metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 28,177.
In 1942 a portion of Lake Jackson was first developed as a company town for wor ...
, where he would be raised there and where his two younger sisters were born.
Career
While living in
Lake Jackson, Texas
Lake Jackson is a city in Brazoria County, Texas, United States, within the Greater Houston metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 28,177.
In 1942 a portion of Lake Jackson was first developed as a company town for wor ...
, A.B. learned to play the guitar and bass. Alongside Selena, his sister
Suzette, and their father, Abraham, he became a member of the successful band
Los Dinos. A.B. also became Selena's producer.
He co-wrote Selena's hit songs like "
Como la Flor
"Como la Flor" ("Like the Flower") is a song that was recorded by American singer Selena for her third studio album ''Entre a Mi Mundo'' (1992). It was written by A. B. Quintanilla and Pete Astudillo. The song was conceptualized in 1982 afte ...
" ("Like the Flower") and "
Amor Prohibido
''Amor Prohibido'' ( en, italic=yes, Forbidden Love) is the fourth studio album by American singer Selena, released on March 13, 1993, by EMI Latin. Having reached a core fan base, the label aimed to broaden her appeal with the next
studio rele ...
" ("Forbidden Love").
A.B.'s sister, Selena,
was murdered on March 31, 1995, which greatly devastated him. He helped produce "Como Te Extraño" ("How I Miss You") by
Pedro "Pete" Astudillo, which was written for Selena as well as Astudillo's late grandmother. The song earned Astudillo a
Premios Lo Nuestro
The Lo Nuestro Awards or Premios Lo Nuestro ( Spanish for "Our Thing") is a Spanish-language awards show honoring the best of Latin music, presented by Univision, a Spanish-language television network based in the United States. The awards began i ...
award for Best Song of the Year in 1996.
A.B. Quintanilla later resurfaced in 1999 by creating the
Kumbia Kings
The Kumbia Kings were a Mexican-American cumbia group from Corpus Christi, Texas, created by A.B. Quintanilla. Their music encompasses the styles of cumbia (hence their name), hip hop, and R&B. They produce songs in both Spanish and English. ...
, which mixed
cumbia
Cumbia refers to a number of musical rhythms and folk dance traditions of Latin America, generally involving musical and cultural elements from American Indigenous peoples, enslaved Africans during colonial times, and Europeans. Examples include:
...
and pop music. The Kumbia Kings went on an international tour, had several CD releases and participated on such shows as
Cristina Saralegui
Cristina María Saralegui de Ávila (born January 29, 1948) is a Cuban-born American journalist, television personality, actress and talk show host of the Spanish-language eponymous show, '. Before her television career, she worked for ten years ...
's ''El Show de Cristina''. Quintanilla also produced for such entertainers as
Thalía
Ariadna Thalía Sodi Miranda (; born 26 August 1971), known mononymously as Thalía, is a Mexican singer and actress. Referred to as the " Queen of Latin Pop", she is considered one of the most successful and influential Mexican artists. Havi ...
,
Alicia Villarreal
Martha Alicia Villarreal Esparza (born August 31, 1971), known simply and professionally as Alicia Villarreal, is a Mexican singer-songwriter.
Villarreal participated in different bands in Monterrey, before becoming the lead singer for Grupo ...
,
Verónica Castro
Verónica Castro (), full name Verónica Judith Sáinz Castro (born 19 October 1952), is a Mexican actress, singer, producer, former model and presenter.
She started her career as a television actress, where she met comedian Manuel Valdés, fa ...
and
Cristian Castro.
He produced and arranged the 2004 album, ''A.B. Quintanilla III Presents Joe Lopez'', which includes "Cuando Estoy Contigo" ("When I Am with You") and "Soy Tan Feliz" ("I'm So Happy"), co-written by Quintanilla and Luigi Giraldo.
A.B. Quintanilla left
Kumbia Kings
The Kumbia Kings were a Mexican-American cumbia group from Corpus Christi, Texas, created by A.B. Quintanilla. Their music encompasses the styles of cumbia (hence their name), hip hop, and R&B. They produce songs in both Spanish and English. ...
in mid-2006. A.B., along with new members and ex-Kumbia Kings
Chris Pérez
Christopher Gilbert Pérez (born August 14, 1969) is an American guitarist, best known as lead guitarist for the Tejano band Selena y Los Dinos. He married the frontwoman of the group, Selena, on April 2, 1992. Pérez grew up in San Antonio, Tex ...
(A.B.'s brother-in-law, Selena's widower) and
Pee Wee; started the group
Kumbia All Starz
Los Kumbia All Starz are an American musical group from Corpus Christi, Texas, created by A.B. Quintanilla. Kumbia All Starz are not to be confused with Los Kumbia Kings although some members are originally from Los Kumbia Kings. Their 2006 debut ...
in 2006. This new group had hits such as "
Chiquilla
"Chiquilla" is a song by A.B. Quintanilla Y Los Kumbia All Starz. It is the first single from their debut studio album ''Ayer Fue Kumbia Kings, Hoy Es Kumbia All Starz''. "Chiquilla" reached #7 on "Hot Latin Tracks", #9 on "Latin Regional Mexican ...
", "
Parece Que Va a Llover
"Parece Que Va a Llover" (English: "It Seems It's Going to Rain") is a charanga song composed by Spanish-Cuban composer Antonio Matas in 1947 (born in 1912 in Palma de Mallorca, he settled in Cuba in 1940). It has been covered by many artists inc ...
", and "
Speedy Gonzales
Speedy Gonzales is an animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros. ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' series of cartoons. He is portrayed as "The Fastest Mouse in all Mexico" with his major traits being the ability to run extremely fas ...
". The
Kumbia All Starz
Los Kumbia All Starz are an American musical group from Corpus Christi, Texas, created by A.B. Quintanilla. Kumbia All Starz are not to be confused with Los Kumbia Kings although some members are originally from Los Kumbia Kings. Their 2006 debut ...
have become immensely popular in South America, especially in Bolivia, where they performed a series of concerts in 2014.
A.B. Quintanilla signed with DEL Records and formed
Elektro Kumbia in 2016. In 2017, he released a single called "Piña Colada Shot".
In media
In the 1997 film ''
Selena
Selena Quintanilla Pérez (; April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), known mononymously as Selena, was an American Tejano singer. Called the " Queen of Tejano music", her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mex ...
'', Quintanilla was played by
Jacob Vargas
Jacob Vargas (born August 18, 1971) is a Mexican-American actor and performer.
Early life
Vargas was born in Michoacán, Mexico, and raised in Pacoima, Los Angeles, California. He was raised in a devout Roman Catholic family. He attended high sc ...
, while Rafael Tamayo played him as a child. In the 2020
Netflix
Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fi ...
TV series ''
Selena: The Series'', he was played by
Gabriel Chavarria
Gabriel Chavarria (born April 29, 1989) is an American actor. He played Jacob Aguilar in Hulu's ''East Los High'' and was the lead during Season One of USA Network's ''The Purge''.
Career
In 2007, Chavarria made his film debut ''Freedom Writers ...
, while Juan Martinez played him as a child.
Personal life
Quintanilla has eight children, including a son Svani (b. 1991) and a daughter Martika (b. 1989) with his first wife Vangie. Quintanilla also has five other sons and one daughter born between 2002 and 2007.
[(No author.]
"A.B. Quintanilla poses with sons for People en Espanol,"
''People'', "Moms & Babies" section, April 7, 2008. He also has one grandchild.
He married his longtime girlfriend Rikkie Leigh Robertson on November 12, 2011. On July 5, 2016, he announced after a concert that he was getting divorced from his wife. They have no children together.
Quintanilla married Anjelah O., an Argentinian woman, on September 16, 2019, in Las Vegas.
Discography
;Albums with Selena
* ''Mis Primeras Grabaciones'' (1984)
* ''Alpha'' (1986)
* ''Muñequito de Trapo'' (1987)
* ''And the Winner Is...'' (1987)
* ''Preciosa'' (1988)
* ''Dulce Amor'' (1988)
* ''
Selena
Selena Quintanilla Pérez (; April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), known mononymously as Selena, was an American Tejano singer. Called the " Queen of Tejano music", her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mex ...
'' (1989)
* ''
Ven Conmigo'' (1990)
* ''
Entre a Mi Mundo
''Entre a Mi Mundo'' ( en, italic=yes, Enter My World) is the third studio album by American singer Selena, released on May 6, 1992, by EMI Latin. In his recording debut with Selena y Los Dinos, guitarist Chris Pérez had fallen in love with Sele ...
'' (1992)
* ''
Selena Live!
''Live!'' or ''Selena Live!'' is a live album by American Tejano pop singer Selena, which was released on May 4, 1993 by EMI Latin. The album was re-released on September 22, 2002 as being part of the ''Selena: 20 Years of Music'' collection ...
'' (1993)
* ''
Amor Prohibido
''Amor Prohibido'' ( en, italic=yes, Forbidden Love) is the fourth studio album by American singer Selena, released on March 13, 1993, by EMI Latin. Having reached a core fan base, the label aimed to broaden her appeal with the next
studio rele ...
'' (1994)
* ''
Dreaming of You'' (1995)
;Albums with Kumbia Kings
* ''
Amor, Familia y Respeto
''Amor, Familia y Respeto'' (English: ''Love, Family and Respect'') is the debut studio album by Mexican-American cumbia group A.B. Quintanilla y Los Kumbia Kings and the debut studio album by Mexican-American musician A.B. Quintanilla. It was re ...
'' (1999)
* ''
Shhh!'' (2001)
* ''
All Mixed Up: Los Remixes'' (2002)
* ''
4'' (2003)
* ''
Presents Kumbia Kings'' (2003)
* ''
La Historia'' (2003)
* ''
Los Remixes 2.0'' (2004)
* ''
Fuego'' (2004)
* ''
Duetos'' (2005)
* ''
Kumbia Kings Live
''Kumbia Kings Live'' is a live album and tenth album by Mexican-American cumbia group A.B. Quintanilla y Los Kumbia Kings and the first live album by Mexican-American musician A.B. Quintanilla. It was released on April 4, 2006, by EMI Latin. The ...
'' (2006)
* ''
Greatest Hits
A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be crea ...
'' (2007)
* ''
Lo Mejor De'' (2016)
;Albums with Kumbia All Starz
* ''
Ayer Fue Kumbia Kings, Hoy Es Kumbia All Starz
''Ayer Fue Kumbia Kings, Hoy Es Kumbia All Starz'' (English: ''Yesterday Was Kumbia Kings, Today Is Kumbia All Starz'') is the debut studio album by Mexican-American cumbia group A.B. Quintanilla y Los Kumbia All Starz and the fifth studio alb ...
'' (2006)
* ''
Planeta Kumbia'' (2008)
* ''
La Vida de un Genio'' (2010)
* ''
Blanco y Negro'' (2013)
* ''
Éxitos en Vivo'' (2014)
* ''
Elektro Kumbia'' (2017)
Awards and nominations
See also
*
Selena
Selena Quintanilla Pérez (; April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), known mononymously as Selena, was an American Tejano singer. Called the " Queen of Tejano music", her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mex ...
*
Los Dinos
*
Kumbia Kings
The Kumbia Kings were a Mexican-American cumbia group from Corpus Christi, Texas, created by A.B. Quintanilla. Their music encompasses the styles of cumbia (hence their name), hip hop, and R&B. They produce songs in both Spanish and English. ...
*
Kumbia All Starz
Los Kumbia All Starz are an American musical group from Corpus Christi, Texas, created by A.B. Quintanilla. Kumbia All Starz are not to be confused with Los Kumbia Kings although some members are originally from Los Kumbia Kings. Their 2006 debut ...
*
Elektro Kumbia
*
Honorific nicknames in popular music
When describing popular music artists, honorific nicknames are used, most often in the media or by fans, to indicate the significance of an artist, and are often religious, familial, or (most frequently) royal and aristocratic titles, used met ...
*
Music of Texas
The U.S. state of Texas has long been a center for musical innovation and is the birthplace of many notable musicians. Texans have pioneered developments in Tejano and Conjunto music, Rock 'n Roll, Western swing, jazz, punk rock, country, h ...
*
Music of Latin America
References
External links
* Archived from th
originalon May 17, 2014.
*
A.B. Quintanillaat
Allmusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Quintanilla, A.B.
1963 births
20th-century American guitarists
21st-century American guitarists
American bass guitarists
American child musicians
American expatriates in Mexico
American male bass guitarists
American male guitarists
American musicians of Mexican descent
Capitol Latin artists
Cumbia musicians
EMI Latin artists
Guitarists from Texas
Guitarists from Washington (state)
Hispanic and Latino American musicians
Kumbia All Starz members
Kumbia Kings members
Latin Grammy Award winners
Latin music record producers
Latin music songwriters
Lead guitarists
Living people
Mariachi musicians
People from Corpus Christi, Texas
People from Lake Jackson, Texas
People from Toppenish, Washington
Record producers from Texas
Selena y Los Dinos members
Songwriters from Texas
Tejano pop musicians
Universal Music Latin Entertainment artists