Chris Perez is globally recognised as the lead guitarist for Selena y Los Dinos. This is a legendary Tejano music band originating from Texas, USA. Aside from being a guitarist, he is also a songwriter, musician, and author. A significant boost in Chris’ popularity was witnessed after he married Selena Quintanilla Perez. At the time, she was a prominent Tejano music superstar.
Selena was the frontwoman of the band until she died in 1995. Even though Chris Perez got married again, he still tried to keep Selena’s legacy alive. Meanwhile, he has earned a lot of respect in Latin rock and Tejano Music. Keep reading further to know more about his personal and professional life. This biography blog covers his age, family, music career, net worth, Chris Perez wife and kids.
Chris Perez Biography & Wiki
The full name given to him at birth is Christopher Gilbert Perez. Speaking of which, he was born on August 14, 1969. His birthplace is situated in San Antonio, Texas, USA. By profession, Chris is a guitarist, songwriter, musician, and author. He embarked on his journey back in 1986. Since then, Chris has explored several music genres. For example, rock, latin rock, cumbia, Tejano, and heavy metal. Throughout his career, he has been a part of several music bands.
The biggest of them all is Selena Y Los Dinos. Other discontinued bands include Kumbia Kings and Kumbia All Starz. In 2000, Chris Perez won a Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album. He has worked with multiple record labels so far. This includes EMI Latin, Hollywood Records, and Q Productions. In 2012, Chris Perez published a book as an author. This book, titled ‘To Selena, With Love’, was a heartfelt memoir and tribute to his former partner who passed away.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Christopher Gilbert Perez |
| Date of Birth | August 14, 1969 |
| Age | 56 years old |
| Birthplace | San Antonio, Texas, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Guitarist, songwriter, musician, and author |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
Early Life & Upbringing
Chris was raised by Gilbert Perez and Carmen Medina in San Antonio, Texas. He spent his entire childhood in a Mexican-American household with deep Christian values. From a young age, Chris Perez was fascinated by rock bands and guitars. He developed a strong passion for music in the early 1980s.
During his teenage years, Chris used to spend multiple hours daily practicing his electric guitar skills. His biggest inspirations were bands like Van Halen, Def Leopard, and Kiss. A major tragic moment for Chris Perez was to witness the divorce of his parents. However, music helped him balance his emotions and escape the trauma.
Educational Background
Chris Perez attended several local schools located across San Antonio, Texas. In the end, he graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. After completing his schooling, Chris never went to college for higher studies. Instead, he focused entirely on learning guitar and performing with music bands.
Chris Perez Age
His date of birth is recorded as August 14, 1969. Accordingly, Chris Perez is 56 years old.
Physical Appearance
| Height | 5 feet and 8 inches |
| Weight | 75 kgs |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Skin Color | Fair complexion |
| Appearance | Average body build |
Family Members of Chris Perez
His father’s name is definitely Gilbert Perez. Chris’ mother is named Carmen Medina. In terms of siblings, he is accompanied by a sister named Patricia Perez a.k.a Patty. That’s all the information available about his family members.
Chris Perez Wife And Kids
Chris met the love of his life after joining the band Selena Y Los Dinos. He was their new lead guitarist and crossed paths with Selena Quintanilla. They started dating each other secretly before getting married in 1992. The venue of their wedding was situated in Nueces County, Texas. To this day, Chris and Selena have the most prominent love stories in the history of Latin music. It came to a tragic end when Selena was murdered on March 31, 1995. Her death absolutely broke Chris.
It was revealed that Yolanda Saldivar was the murderer. Allegedly, he was the former manager of Selena’s fan club. Losing her was a huge emotional burden for Chris Perez. He even authored and published a book for her. After several years of moving on, he got married to an actress named Vanessa Villanueva. From his second marriage, Chris welcomed a daughter named Cassie and a son named Noah. Eventually, Chris and Venessa were divorced in 2008. Since then, he hasn’t had any public relationships or romantic partners.
| First Wife | Selena Quintanilla |
| Second Wife | Vanessa Villanueva |
| Kids | Son – Noah Perez (With second wife)Daughter – Cassie Perez (With second wife) |
Beginning of His Music Career & Early Stardom
Initially, Chris Perez used to play guitar for local bands in Texas. They used to perform at small venues like bars and restaurants. At one point, AB Quintanilla noticed the talent of Chris. He was the brother of Tejano music superstar Selena. AB wanted Chris to join the music band Selena Y Los Dinos. This was a major turning point of his career.
As their lead guitarist, Chris Perez introduced a fresh rock sound to the band. According to sources, his performances contributed significantly to the success of Selena Y Los Dinos. In fact, he helped this band become one of the greatest in Latin Music history. Chris went on several concert tours along with the band. And, they even released many superhit albums.
Music Bands, Achievements, & Success
Chris Perez took a break from the music industry after the death of his wife Selena Quintanilla. Her getting murdered affected him emotionally. He avoided all kinds of public attention at the time. He made a strong comeback by forming the Chris Perez band. The release of their album called Resurrection attracted many music listeners. That’s when Chris won his first Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album.
In this album, he dedicated a song, ‘Best I Can’, to Selena. He worked with other bands like Kumbia Kings and Kumbia All Starz. People also recognise Chris Perez as a successful book author. He published a memoir book ‘To Selena, With Love’. This book has a lot of insights about their love story and personal relationship.
Chris Perez Net Worth 2026
At present, Chris Perez is known to have a net worth of USD 2 million. He accumulated this wealth through music streams, album sales, concert tours, royalties, book sales, merchandise, and collaborations. Certainly, Chris is living a comfortable and luxurious lifestyle.
Social Media Handles
| Platform | Username | Followers |
|---|---|---|
| @chrispereznow | 1.3 million+ | |
| X | @chrisperez | 38K+ |
| @ChrisPerez | 1.2 million+ |
Trivia
- At the age of 17, Chris wanted to leave his home and run away. He planned to start a rock band in Los Angeles.
- His favourite music artists and bands are Van Halen, Motley Crue, Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, the Kiss band, etc.
- With the first album release of the Chris Perez Band, he won a Grammy Award.
- A movie was dedicated to the life of Selena. Chris’ role was played by an actor named Jon Seda.
- Initially, Selena’s parents didn’t approve of her romance with Chris. Still, he dated him secretly and got married.
- After her death, Chris Perez has often shared moments of his relationship with Selena Quintanilla. He openly talks about her in documentaries and interviews.
- Before he joined a Tejano band, Christ was under a strong influence of rock and heavy metal music.
FAQs
Which high school did he attend?
Chris Perez graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio, Texas.
Who are his parents?
Their names are Gilbert Perez and Carmen Medina.
When was Chris born?
His birth took place on August 14, 1969.
Where and how did Selena Quintanilla die?
Her demise took place in Corpus Christi, Texas, USA. Selena’s cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds.
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