It's been 14 years since popular Tejano singer Selena was gunned down in a Corpus Christi hotel by her fan club president, but many of her fans are just as faithful today as they were then. One woman told me she still listens to her music every day. Every day! I turned to her sister standing next to her, and she looked back at me and said, "Yup, EVERY day."
There was a moment of silence at her memorial along the Bayfront, followed by some dancing and singing. One Selena enthusiast dressed liked the late singer in a custom made outfit. It really looked authentic. The rest of the days events took place behind a small convenience store in her old neighborhood. One of the outside walls has a big Selena mural, and each year for the last 14 years fans have gathered to remember and hear performances of her music.
I was in high school when Selena was killed. I knew who she was because my mom liked her music, but I was not a fan myself. I remember how big of a news item it was when she died. I grew up in Lake Jackson, which is where Selena was born and lived the first few years of her life before moving to Corpus Christi. I remember a few details of that time very clearly. I remember seeing a shadowy vigil photo the next day in the local newspaper, with a teary-eyed schoolmate front and center holding a candle in Clute Park. I remember Houston news anchor Marlene McClinton calling Lake Jackson a "tiny community" as she introduced a story about her hometown. We all got a kick out of that. At one point ABC reporter John Quinones came to town for a story. Years later, I remember going to the local theater with my family, and getting such a thrill from the opening few scenes that were set supposedly set in Lake Jackson. "It really does look like Lake Jackson!" we marveled. I also remember crying at the end, mostly because I cried a lot back then, but also because her death really was tragic and unneccesary. I guess that is why I some people can't stop wondering what could have been, faithfully remembering a star they could call their own.
It's been 14 years since popular Tejano singer Selena was gunned down in a Corpus Christi hotel by her fan club president, but many of her fans are just as faithful today as they were then. One woman told me she still listens to her music every day. Every day! I turned to her sister standing next to her, and she looked back at me and said, "Yup, EVERY day."
There was a moment of silence at her memorial along the Bayfront, followed by some dancing and singing. One Selena enthusiast dressed liked the late singer in a custom made outfit. It really looked authentic. The rest of the days events took place behind a small convenience store in her old neighborhood. One of the outside walls has a big Selena mural, and each year for the last 14 years fans have gathered to remember and hear performances of her music.
I was in high school when Selena was killed. I knew who she was because my mom liked her music, but I was not a fan myself. I remember how big of a news item it was when she died. I grew up in Lake Jackson, which is where Selena was born and lived the first few years of her life before moving to Corpus Christi. I remember a few details of that time very clearly. I remember seeing a shadowy vigil photo the next day in the local newspaper, with a teary-eyed schoolmate front and center holding a candle in Clute Park. I remember Houston news anchor Marlene McClinton calling Lake Jackson a "tiny community" as she introduced a story about her hometown. We all got a kick out of that. At one point ABC reporter John Quinones came to town for a story. Years later, I remember going to the local theater with my family, and getting such a thrill from the opening few scenes that were set supposedly set in Lake Jackson. "It really does look like Lake Jackson!" we marveled. I also remember crying at the end, mostly because I cried a lot back then, but also because her death really was tragic and unneccesary. I guess that is why I some people can't stop wondering what could have been, faithfully remembering a star they could call their own. 
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