By: Fredwill Hernandez
When people mention Bob Marley, many are likely unaware of or seldom discuss Danny Sims, the man who recognized something special the moment he heard Marley sing at a Rastafarian ceremony in Jamaica in 1968. Sims is credited with discovering Marley and signing him first, before eventually selling his contract to Island Records. Similarly, one could draw a parallel to Latin music veteran Jose Behar in relation to Selena Quintanilla, known artistically as Selena. Behar discovered and signed her as Selena y Los Dinos when he launched EMI Latin in 1989, even though Selena had already developed her talent and recorded several early albums with Freddie Records, Cara Records, and GP Productions before working with Behar. All of Selena’s classic hits were recorded and released under Behar’s leadership at EMI Latin.
Following Selena’s tragic passing on March 31, 1995, at just twenty-three years old, the Tejano singer known as the Queen of Tejano music became, to many including myself, a global legend and musical icon whose fame continues to grow each day. Honoring her music, popularity, and lasting impact, the City of Corpus Christi, where she was raised and lived, annually hosts what they call El Festival de la Flor (Spanish for The Festival of the Flower). Presented by CITGO, this two-day, family-friendly event took place this year on April 12-13, 2019.
“We are the organizers behind this wonderful celebration that began five years ago with the goal of honoring our beloved Selena Quintanilla. She was a remarkable representative for our city and remains an important figure today, which inspired us to create something special to celebrate her life and legacy. We joined forces with the Quintanilla family—her sister Suzette and her father Mr. Abraham Quintanilla—and together we developed the festival,” eloquently shared Teresa Rodriguez, Chief of Domestic & International Business Development at the Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). “At first, we weren’t sure how many people would attend, but we expected many fans, and the turnout exceeded our hopes. Over fifty-five thousand people came during the inaugural year. The word has been spreading, and the festival has grown each year, attracting even more fans. We’ve welcomed visitors from all across the United States at different times, and we’re very proud of that. People come from Mexico, South America, Guatemala, Colombia, Poland, the United Kingdom, to name a few, all gathering here in Corpus Christi to celebrate her legacy. The festival spans two days filled with music—various artists perform throughout the event—and simultaneously offers activities for the whole family to enjoy. You can see families coming together to honor her memory. Little girls dress up as Selena; although they never had the chance to see her in person, through their parents and her music, they have become devoted fans.”
In addition to the live shows on Friday, April 12, featuring Corpus Christi’s own JonMikael Mrez, Tejano vocal sensation Isabel Marie, 14-time Grammy/Latin Grammy winner Gilbert Velasquez and Friends (David Marez, Joe Posada, Ricardo Castillon, Oscar G, and Stevie D), and Tejano legend Little Joe y La Familia who headlined and closed the first day, the festival also offered La Plaza Food Truck Court with over 20 food trucks, El Mercado showcasing more than 80 artisans from Mexico, Central and South America, and the U.S., El Parque Kids Zone packed with games and activities including face painting for children, and the Tejano Lowrider Car Extravaganza at the American Bank Center Arena, featuring the iconic 1969 Chevy Impala convertible lowrider and an actual bumper removed during the “Anything for Selenas” movie scene.
“I was at a local custom car shop in town when they started reaching out for auditions because the lowrider scenes in the Selena movie were being filmed in San Antonio, TX – so I brought my car to one of the auditions. It won, but they wanted to make some modifications. Dayton wires sponsored the wheels, and they gave me funds to handle all the gold detailing, murals, paintwork, and custom interior—essentially, they gave me a completely revamped car to appear in the movie,” said Lewis Sevilla from San Antonio, owner of what has become a well-known lowrider. “My car was originally all original; it had a white leather interior, and the paint was plain red. It wasn’t customized at all—just stock, with no murals or extras. So all the prepping was done specifically for the film. They liked that it was a convertible, so they invested in it, adding the gold accents, new wheels, a fresh interior, and getting it movie-ready. Most of the work took place at West Coast Customs in San Antonio. I helped out a bit in the shop, and that’s where we did the majority of the modifications. We even painted the car inside their facility. For the movie scene, we gold-plated three identical bumpers. After the third attempt during filming, everything looked perfect, so I ended up with a new bumper on my car plus two extra ones to spare.”
The weather, which seemed to shift nearly every couple of hours—from chilly in the morning to hot and humid, and occasionally quite windy—did not stop Selena fans. While in Corpus Christi for the fiesta, they also made sure to visit the Selena Museum; the Mirador de la Flor statue, often called Selena’s seawall; the life-sized bronze statue of Selena created by Corpus Christi artist H.W. “Buddy” Tatus and unveiled in 1997; and her gravesite at Seaside Memorial Park, where many left flowers or took photos.
One of the most eagerly awaited events on the fiesta’s “second day,” besides the music lineup featuring JonMikael Mrez, Lucky Joe, Raulito con Grupo Remedio, Isabel Marie [who stepped in for the originally scheduled Jenny and the Mexicats], Mariachi Las Campanas, Jay Perez, Erick y Su Grupo Massore, and headliner Leslie Grace, was the “One Person Unites Us” panel. At the American Bank Center Selena Auditorium, Selena’s sister Suzette Quintanilla joined former Cheetah Girls member and current daytime co-host on The REAL, Adrienne Houghton, to chat with fiesta attendees about everything related to Selena and her lasting influence and significance today.
“Like many others, I’m obviously a big fan of Selena. When the Cheetah Girls were touring nearby in 2008, I had a day off before our show at the arena in Corpus. I decided I had to see all the landmarks—I wanted to visit the statue and stop by Selena Etc. That day, I made it to the museum, even though it was raining and actually closed. But the secretary on duty kindly let me in, and your dad, Mr. Quintanilla, gave me a private tour,” Houghton shared with the press after the One Person Unites Us panel. “When you admire someone like Selena, you connect with the whole family’s story. Meeting Suzette in person at the museum meant so much to me—not just because I was a huge fan of hers, but also because her family was incredibly sweet and welcoming. They’re so kind to fans, and I feel like we’ve become family.”
Regarding that day at the museum, Suzette Quintanilla recalled, “I didn’t realize she was actually inside the building, but I had seen the article in Corpus Christi’s Caller-Times newspaper. Someone told me that one of the Cheetah Girls, named Adrienne, is a huge Selena fan. So I said, ‘Let me contact the American Bank Center to see if we can bring her over to the Selena Museum.’ After I hung up the phone, just about two minutes later, there was a knock at my door. My dad peeked in and said someone was here to see me, and to my surprise, it was Adrienne, shouting, ‘Oh my God, Oh my God – It’s so nice to meet you.’”
Following the “One Person Unites Us” discussion, one hundred and fifty fortunate attendees, selected by wristbands distributed, were also given the opportunity for a personal meet-and-greet with Houghton.
“It feels amazing; I believe there’s nothing quite like witnessing so many people together live and in person. I love the title of what we just did, ‘One Person Unites Us,’ because it shows how many people continue to come out years later and how relevant she [Selena] remains—not just through her music, but through her spirit and the way we keep it alive. Being here means a great deal to me. Even when I checked into my hotel and saw the Fiesta De La Flor guide, I immediately packed it into my suitcase—another piece of memorabilia I’ve collected. It truly means a lot, and I think it’s wonderful to see how deeply others have been touched by Selena, just as I have. So, I believe she truly does “unite us,” Houghton added.
On the second day, the performers expressed a variety of emotions about taking part in Fiesta de la Flor and what Selena meant to each of them. However, no one was closer to Selena or spent more time around her than Raulito Nevarez. This connection came through his relationship with his late brother Emilio and Emilio’s group Río, of which Raulito was a member. Nevarez performed at the festival, featuring his son Rigo on bass and his daughter Destiny singing as Grupo Remedio.
Many years prior to his passing on May 16, 2016, Nevaira’s brother Emilio was featured and recorded a duet with Selena titled “Tu Robaste Mi Corazón” on her Selena Live! album. This album was recorded live during a free concert at the Memorial Coliseum in Corpus Christi on February 7, 1993, and earned Selena a Grammy Award for Best Mexican/American Album at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards, making it the first Tejano album to receive this honor. Emilio and Raulito, known for his signature dance move, the shuffle, also performed alongside Selena at the Houston Astrodome on February 26, 1995. This performance, recorded live, became her final well-known televised concert.
Raulito expressed with warmth, feeling honored and fortunate to attend Fiesta de la Flor for the first time. He shared that they have known Selena and the Quintanilla family for many years, having performed together on numerous occasions, creating many cherished memories. He recalled how his brother Emilio adored Selena, who was like a sister to all of them and considered part of their family. When his brother experienced a bus accident, Raulito had to keep working, and his children, who occasionally sang one or two songs at their shows, were prepared and stepped up. He never pressured them to pursue music; they simply grew up immersed in it and naturally took to it. Now, they have their own family band, similar to the Quintanillas.
Another heartfelt moment and a standout of the fiesta, rightly earned, came when Suzette Quintanilla recognized the presence of Leslie Grace’s manager, Jose Behar, who had signed Suzette as the drummer for Selena y Los Dinos back in 1989. Suzette then introduced Grace, the headliner for day two, who would pay tribute to Selena’s legacy in her own genuine and memorable style by performing a stunning medley of “No Me Queda Mas,” “Amor Prohibido,” and “Como La Flor.” Among other songs, Grace also performed “Como Duele El Silencio” with Luis Coronel, “Lunes a Jueves” alongside Farina, and “Sola” and “Si Una Vez” with Play-N-Skillz, the Grammy-winning producers and brothers from Dallas, TX.
Grace, born in 1995, was just three months old when Selena was sadly killed, but as she grew up, she learned about Selena from her older sister, who was a devoted Selena fan.
“Being here feels like a true blessing; it’s a privilege and an honor to be the headliner this year. For my entire management team and family, this moment feels like coming full circle. Many of us hold Selena close in our hearts, but there are special people on my team and in my family who have shared countless stories about her—stories filled with unforgettable moments—and tonight, we’ll all be together. Jose Behar, my manager, has spent so much time telling me inspiring stories about Selena’s life. These stories have helped me navigate many challenges, facing similar obstacles that she, as a woman, encountered early in her career and that I continue to face now. So, headlining Fiesta de la Flor and having Jose here with us, sharing this moment with the Quintanilla family and everyone gathered out of love for Selena, honoring her and feeling her presence and energy—it’s shaping up to be a truly beautiful experience, one that already has been. This is my first time in Corpus Christi, and I feel incredibly blessed and excited about tonight,” Grace shared after soundcheck. As a Bachata singer who has explored and taken on everything musical that’s come her way, she expressed her gratitude eloquently.
Regardless of what Leslie Grace achieves in the future, whether in her music or other endeavors, her performance at the 5th Annual Fiesta De La Flor and her musical tribute to Selena will forever be seen as a standout moment in her career. Those who saw it, including myself, agree it is something she will be remembered for always.
