Selena’s widower back in spotlight
SELENA’S HUSBAND, CHRIS PEREZ, RETURNS TO THE SPOTLIGHT.
There’s a scene in the self-titled 1997 film based on the life of Tejano icon Selena, soon after she and bandmate Chris Perez share their first kiss, when the singer confesses her feelings to her mom.
“Mom, he is so funny,” Selena says.
“Mija, he hardly talks!” her mom quips.
Perez says he understands the perception. For years after Selena’s death, he was portrayed as the shy, quiet, grieving widower. It was partly self-imposed. But it was also an easy storyline played for ratings.
“Of course, I had my moments. But I didn’t walk around 24/7 being that guy that was being represented, especially on these afternoon Spanish-speaking shows,” Perez says. “It was like, ‘Ugh.’ ”
The San Antonio native turned 50 years old this month. He’s well-spoken, bracingly honest and has worked hard
to reshape the narrative over the past two decades. Perez has used Instagram and Facebook to his advantage, frequently interacting with fans. He’s alternately silly, serious and sarcastic, posting about food and his two children, music and movies.
And, yes, he posts regularly about Selena, from fan memorabilia to personal memories. It’s rarely somber and often joyous.
“I feel like I have a voice now because of social media and the internet,” Perez says. “People have decided to kind of ease up on that part of it and appreciate her legacy and the icon that she’s become.”
Focusing on his music
He’s kept busy with music, lending his guitar talents to Tejano acts over the years, but also focusing on his love of rock riffs. And he’s finally ready to strike out on his own, again, as a bandleader. Perez performs Saturday at Warehouse Live, a one-off show meant to test the waters for the future. The lineup includes singer John Garza and former Selena keyboardist Joe Ojeda, the same guys who helped Perez earn a Grammy for 1999 album “Resurrection.” He’ll also be joined by bassist Adriel Ramirez and drummer Robin Lopez.
The Chris Perez Band released two albums, including 2002’s “Una Noche Mas,” and even opened for Mexican rock band Maná before calling it quits. They likely could have ridden the momentum much longer. But Perez says he was “over