Who is A.B. Quintanilla III?

A.B. Quintanilla III, born Abraham Isaac Quintanilla III on December 13th, 1962, is a Latin Grammy-winning music artist and producer from Corpus Christi, Texas. He is best known for his work as the producer, songwriter, and bass player for the legendary Latin music group Selena y Los Dinos, which featured the late Queen of Tejano Music Selena. A.B. has continued to produce and write hit songs for many other artists over the years.

Early Life and Career

As a young boy, A.B. started playing music with his siblings Suzette, Ricky, and Selena in what would become Selena y Los Dinos. His father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., was a former USMC soldier who had a passion for music and taught A.B., Suzette, and Ricky to play instruments such as the bass guitar and drums. At age 17, A.B.'s musical talents landed him a spot as the bass player for Selena y Los Dinos.

Production and Songwriting Credits

In 1985, A.B., along with his father Abraham Jr., took control of Selena y Los Dinos' production company Q Productions. In 1989, he wrote two of Selena's most iconic songs “Como La Flor” and “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” which earned him two Grammys in 1994 for Best Mexican/American Album (Selena Live) and Best Mexican/American Performance (Como La Flor).

Post-Selena Career

After Selena's death in 1995 at age 23, A.B formed the band Kumbia Kings in 1998 with long-time friend Cruz Martinez who he had worked with since 1991 when they started Los Kumbia Kings (now Kumbia All Starz). He later created the groups Kumbia Queers in 2009 and Los Chicos del 512 in 2019.

Recent Projects

In 2020 A.B released his latest project “The Last Don” under Sony Music Latin which featured collaborations with various artists such as Omar Ruiz, Erika Ender, Randy Malcom Martinez and more. He also released a documentary film of the same title which chronicles the story of his life as a music artist and producer.

Conclusion

A.B. Quintanilla III has been an influential force in Latin music for over three decades. His work has earned him numerous awards including two Grammys for his work with Selena y Los Dinos in 1994 and many other accolades throughout his career.