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Honoring the Queen A tribute band pays homage to late singer-songwriter, Selena. by Norma Huerta
Photo courtesy of music zirconia tribute band agency
like her, started singing at a young age. “I grew up with Selena. All my family listened to her, so I grew up listening to her music. She was part of my childhood,” Perez Ruiz says. She also happens to look a lot like Selena. “People started suggesting that I do a tribute to her,” Perez Ruiz recalls. “They said, ‘You resemble her voice and her image, so you should give it a shot.’” In 2017, she officially joined the Como La Flor Band revives the music and the spirit of Selena. as lead singer of Como La Flor. But there’s more to performing a Selena tribute than just singing her songs. There’s also the matter of stage presence. An icon in Latin communities across the “I started practicing her videos and her moves country, Selena Quintanilla was known for to emulate her on stage, not just vocally, but in crossing cultural boundaries and breaking every sense,” Perez Ruiz says. “What we aim to records. do is to try to give the people that didn’t have Topping the Latin charts in the early ’90s the chance to see her live to get that experience.” with singles including “Como la Flor” and “Bidi She, along with the rest of the band will be Bidi Bom Bom,” her career changed the performing at Ace of Spades for Selena music industry and opened doors Fest, where attendees can dress up for female Latin singers when in their favorite Selena-inspired there were very few artists that outfits, hit the dance floor and “I’m blessed to be looked like her. On stage, she honor the career of a woman styled with bold red lipstick able to do what I do. who redefined Tejano, and long dark hair, and Not only do I enjoy myself cumbia and Latin pop proudly flaunted her signamusic. as a musician, but I enjoy ture curves in costumes of Although it may seem her own design. myself as a fan” like big shoes to fill, for Selena’s life was Perez Ruiz it’s an honor to Nira Perez Ruiz tragically cut short when, imitate the late icon. Each lead singer, at 23, she was shot by the performance is done with a Como La Flor Band president of her fan club, lot of love and respect. Yolanda Saldívar. Her death “I’m blessed to be able to do made international news and what I do. Not only do I enjoy myself forever immortalized Selena in pop as a musician, but I enjoy myself as a fan,” culture history. she says. “People actually say, ‘Wow, I’m reliving More than 20 years since her passing, my childhood,’ or, ‘I never got to see her, and I Selena’s music lives on through tribute acts such feel like I’m actually seeing her.’ So that means as the Como La Flor Band, which plays Ace of a lot to me.” Ω Spades in Sacramento on Friday, Dec. 13. Founded in 2011 in Holtville, a small city in Imperial County, the eight-member group has spent the last few years touring the country and performing a medley of the late singer’s hit celebrate selena fest with the como la flor band 7 p.m., friday, dec. 13 at ace of spades, 1417 r st. tickets are $25. songs to sold-out audiences. Lead singer Nira Perez Ruiz is a lifelong fan of Selena and, just
put your favorite bands and musicians on the ballot! new categories this year: • Revival/back from the dead band, • Spoken word (with music)
Nominations end
01.18.20 Levi Mozes SAMMIES 2019 Nominee R&B/Soul
Nominate your favorites now at
sammies.com 12.12.19
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