Suzette Quintanilla

June 29, 2025

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Suzette Quintanilla, born on June 29, 1967, is one very talented woman. She consistently proves to be dynamite, a force to be reckoned with, and she defies all odds. She does backing vocals and plays drums and percussion for Selena y Los Dinos. She works for Q Productions, Inc. and oversees the Selena museum. She is one of the executive producers of the Netflix biographical drama “Selena: The Series.” Let’s celebrate.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Suzette Michelle Quintanilla

Birth date:

June 29, 1967

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Cancer

Height:

5' 8.1"

Relationship Status:

Married

Net Worth:

$3 million

Background

Suzette Michelle Quintanilla was born in Lake Jackson, Texas, on June 29, 1967, to Abraham Quintanilla Jr. and Marcella Samora. . Her father, Abraham Quintanilla, is a film producer, record producer, singer, guitarist, and lyricist. Marcella Samora, her mother, is of Cherokee and Mexican origin. Her siblings include A.B. Quintanilla, a record producer, composer, and songwriter, and her late sister, Selena, a songwriter, model, and fashion designer, among other things.

Quintanilla hails from a musical family, and her father, who played in the band Los Dinos, encouraged her enthusiasm and love for music. Her siblings all acquired this passion from their father. Her sister sang lead vocals, her brother played bass guitar, and she played the drums. They performed on the streets, at weddings, and at fairs to help the family financially after being forced to shut down the restaurant. The band changed its name to Selena y Los Dinos and gained fame before being offered a record deal by Freddie Records. Numerous albums and songs by the group, such as “Munequito De Trapo,” “Preciosa,” and “Dulce Amor,” to name a few, were also released. Quintanilla works for Q-Productions, Inc., her father’s company, and manages the Selena Museum. She’s also an executive producer for the Netflix series “Selena: The Series.”

In 1993, Quintanilla tied the knot with Bill Arriaga, her longtime boyfriend, and in 1998 the couple gave birth to a baby boy whom they named Jovan. In 2018, they also celebrated their 25th anniversary.

Career timeline

1980

She Begins Performing in Papa Gayo's

Quintanilla begins performing as a teenager together with her siblings in her father's new Tex-Mex restaurant.

1984

She Releases a Full-Length Album

As a group, Selena y Los Dinos releases an album titled "Selena y Los Dinos - Mis Primeras Grabaciones."

1993

She Ties the Knot

Quintanilla ties the knot with her longtime boyfriend, Arriaga.

1995

She Stops Playing Music

After the tragic death of her sister, Quintanilla decides to stop playing music professionally.

Why We Love Suzette Quintanilla

She gives back to society
Quintanilla has honored her sister Selena in many ways, one of which is by participating in charitable endeavors. She has been engaging in charitable work through a foundation that her family established following the death of her sister. The Selena Foundation seeks to assist young people who are in need.
She's passionate
After the passing of her sister, Quintanilla decided to leave the group and stop playing music professionally. She's also been attending events in memory of her sister and protecting and spreading her legacy since her passing.
She's unique
Female drummers are uncommon, and we must confess that there aren't many of them. Quintanilla stands out and is particularly intriguing because one wouldn't often equate drumming with a feminine figure.

5 Surprising Facts

She enjoyed drumming
Quintanilla started playing drums when she was only a teenager.
She never wanted to play drums
Quintanilla never dreamed of playing drums; she had no interest but did it anyway after her father persuaded her.
She cried watching "Selena: The Series"
Quintanilla sobbed during the scene in which Selena was performing the song ‘Feelings’ because of the history and memory associated with it.
She loves Jennifer Lopez's portrayal of Selena
After the release of "Selena," a 1997 film where Lopez played Selena's character, Quintanilla was genuinely happy about the depiction.
Her admirer
Quintanilla had an admirer, Ricky Vela, who expressed his unrequited love for her through a song he wrote titled 'No Me Queda Más.’

Suzette Quintanilla FAQs

What happened to Selena Quintanilla?

She was shot and killed in Corpus Christie, Texas, on March 31, 1995.

Who was responsible for Selena Quintanilla's death?

Yolanda Saldívar, the woman who founded her fan club.

What does Suzette Quintanilla do now?

Quintanilla has since stopped playing the drums but has remained connected to music in her endeavors to keep her sister’s legacy alive. She currently serves as the C.E.O. and president of Q Productions, the Latin music production company Abraham founded in 1993.