Young fans here mourn Selena's death

The Journal Sentinel staff

As youths in Milwaukee's Hispanic community mourn slain Mexican-American music queen Selena Quintanilla Perez, a record company has stepped up production of her albums to meet listeners' demand.

"I know all the words to all of Selena's songs," 9-year-old Quianna Morales said at the United Community Center, 1028 S. 9th St. "She had a wonderful voice, a beautiful figure . . . everything about her was wonderful."

Selena was shot to death Friday at a Texas motel, allegedly by a personal assistant who was accused of embezzling money from the singer's fan club.

On Tuesday, Capitol/EMI Records executives compared sales of Selena's albums to those of Elvis Presley's after his death.

Quianna said most children in her class were fans of the singer.

The Grammy Award-winner was an idol to young Hispanic women, a Mexican-American version of Madonna. The music she performed was also a favorite of many Hispanic families in Milwaukee, Quianna said.

"Whenever we have a party at my grandma's, we always play her songs," Quianna said.

Although rooted in Tejano the bouncy mixture of traditional Mexican music and German polka Selena drew together many Latino musical styles that earned her legions of fans.

Maria Yesenia Martin, 10, said she and other classmates wondered what Selena had done to deserve death at the tender age of 23.

"I don't understand it; she was famous but she didn't let it go to her head," Maria said.

Maria said she would remember Selena for the rest of her own life, and she paid the star a high tribute:

"If I have a baby, I want to name her Selena," she said.

Journal Sentinel wire services contributed to this story.

Copyright 1995
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.