Died On This Date (March 31, 1995) Selena / Popular Tejano Singer

Selena Quintanilla-Perez
April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995

Selena Quintanilla was a Texas-born Tejano star who was quickly becoming a worldwide superstar when her life was tragically cut short.  Known simply as Selena, she began building a following within the Spanish-speaking community in and around the Houston area in the mid ’80s and by 1987, she was at the top of her field when she won Best Female Vocalist at the Tejano Music Awards which she would continue to rule over the next several years.  Signed to EMI Records in the States, Selena was soon being groomed to cross over much the same way Gloria Estefan had before her.  By the early ’90s, Selena was approaching superstar status, designing her own clothing line, opening boutiques in Texas and appearing in Spanish novellas and alongside Johnny Depp, Faye Dunaway and Marlon Brando in Don Juan DeMarco.  In 1994, her Amor Prohibido was nominated for a Grammy, and she began work on an English language album.  And by 1995, she was drawing upwards of 65,000 to her concerts in Texas.  Around this time, her family discovered that Yolanda Saldivar, the president of her fan club and manager of one of her clothing stores was embezzling from the company.  After being fired, Saldivar agreed to meet Selena at her hotel in Corpus Christi to return some financial paperwork.  Instead, Saldivar shot Selena in the back as she was exiting the room.  She died later that day.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Amor Prohibido - Selena

Died On This Date (March 31, 1996) Jeffrey Lee Pierce / The Gun Club

Jeffrey Lee Pierce
June 27, 1958 – March 31, 1996

Photo by Hank Grebe

Perhaps best known as the front man for L.A. blues-infused rock band, the Gun Club, Jeffrey Lee Pierce also worked for Bomp Records, wrote for a handful of punk ‘zines, and ran the Blondie fan club.  With the Gun Club, Pierce made an influential though not commercial impact on music with their swampy blues punk sound that drew strongly from such blues giants as Charley Patton and Howlin’ Wolf.  Gun Club were a direct influence on the White Stripes, Screaming Trees and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.  By the ’90s, Pierce was struggling with personal demons and drugs, leading to a marked decline in his creative output.   He died of a brain hemorrhage on the final day of March, 1996.  He was just 37.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Fire of Love - The Gun Club

Died On This Date (March 31, 2008) Sean Levert / R&B Singer

Sean Levert
September 28, 1968 – March 31, 2008

Sean Levert was the son of O’Jays singer, Eddie Levert.  Along with his older brother Gerald Levert and friend Marc Gordon, he formed the group LeVert and scored a handful of R&B hit in the late ’80s/early ’90s,  The group earned two gold albums and received a Grammy nomination.  In March of 2008, Levert entered prison to serve a year for unpaid child support in excess of $89,000.  Within days of entering the prison, Levert was taken to a hospital suffering from high blood pressure and hallucinations.  He died in the hospital on March 31, 2008.  The cause was determined to be a combination of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, sarcoidosis and withdrawal from Xanax.  The sentencing judge claimed to have had no knowledge of his health problems prior to her ruling.

What You Should Own

Private Line - Gerald Levert

Died On This Date (March 31, 2010) Caresse Henry / Managed Madonna, Ricky Martin, Paula Abdul & More

Caresse Henry
DOB Unknown – March 31, 2010

Caresse Henry was an artist manager who helped guide Madonna’s career for several years.  After parting ways with her in 2004, Henry went on to serve as manager for the likes of Joss Stone, Ricky Martin, Jessica Simpson, Andrew Dice Clay and Paula Abdul.  Caresse Henry was 44 when she died suddenly on March 31, 2010. Cause of death was not immediately released.



Died On This Date (March 31, 1986) O’Kelly Isley / Isley Brothers

O’Kelly Isley
December 25, 1937 – March 31, 1986

Born on Christmas Day, 1937, O’Kelly Isley would, along with his brothers, Ronald Isley, Vernon Isley and Rudolph Isley grow up to write and record some of the greatest songs of R&B. Such hits as Shout,” “It’s Your Thing,” and “The Lady (Part 1).” The Isley Brothers’ songs have been recorded by the, James Brown, Eric Clapton, Yardbirds, Alicia Keys, Aaliyah, the Beatles, and many many more! And who could forget the great scene in Animal House when Otis Day & The Knights’ version of “Shout!” made a great movie even better. O’Kelly Isley passed away from a sudden heart attack in 1986. He was 48.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

The Isley Brothers