User:AJona1992/Pete
American singer / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pedro Astudillo (born on December 1, 1963), known as Pete Astudillo, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and dancer. Referred to as the "the Latino Babyface", he is regarded as the mastermind behind Selena's sound, as he collaborated or coauthored the singer's top-selling and most popular recordings that cemented him into music history. Astudillo wrote or collaborated on some of the most popular Tejano music songs of the 1990s and was inducted into the Tejano Roots Hall of Fame in 2019. His impact on the United States Latin music scene lies in his role as a songwriter collaborator, according to Billboard magazine.
Pete Astudillo | |
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Born | Pedro Astudillo (1963-12-01) December 1, 1963 (age 60) Laredo, Texas, US |
Other names | Peter Astudillo |
Alma mater | Laredo Nixon High School (1982) |
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Parent(s) | Pedro Astudillo, Paz Astudillo |
Musical career | |
Genres | |
Years active | 1985–present |
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Formerly of |
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Website | peteastudillo |
After graduating high school, he pursued music education, realizing his desire for a career in the industry. Alongside friend Joe Ojeda, he formed Los Bad Boyz, playing at private parties and weddings. Despite initial obscurity, they gained attention after being discovered by a local DJ and were invited to perform at a nightclub. Impressed by their performance, Selena y Los Dinos invited them to open for them after their initial meeting in September 1988, leading to their integration into the group in December. Astudillo's addition involved harmonizing with Selena, performing duets with her, and taking on various roles within the band's dynamic. Astudillo's contribution to songwriting for the group began with "Besitos" (1989), co-written with the group's producer-songwriter A. B. Quintanilla, leading Selena y Los Dinos to explore the cumbia genre. His compositions for Ven Conmigo (1990) contributed to its commercial success, ranking among the longest-running albums on the US Billboard Regional Mexican Albums chart. Ven Conmigo was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" in 2021. Supported by Los Dinos and signed to Q-Productions, Astudillo released his debut solo album, Entregate a Mi, in January 1992.
Astudillo, despite pursuing a solo career, remained dedicated to Selena y Los Dinos, emphasizing his loyalty to the band. He continued to contribute songwriting while touring. Astudillo and A. B. wrote "Como la Flor" (1992), which became one of the most popular songs recorded by an artist of Mexican descent in the US. Ilan Stavans credits the rise of Latin pop in the US during the 1990s to the widespread appeal of "Como la Flor". Widely considered to be Selena's signature song and her "trademark", "Como la Flor" has become part of the Texas musical cannon. "Como la Flor" was certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) 9× platinum (Latin). At the 1994 BMI Latin Music Awards, Astudillo received Songwriter of the Year honors. Astudillo co-wrote "Amor Prohibido" and "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" for Selena's Amor Prohibido (1994), which became the two most popular tracks off the album. "Amor Prohibido" peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, becoming [[the most successful US Latin single of 1994. On March 31, 1995, Selena was shot and killed and Astudillo resumed performing during the opening of Sea World Texas, while still recovering from his mother's death the year prior.
Astudillo released, Como Te Extrano, on December 1, 1995. The title track, written by Astudillo, Ojeda, and A. B., was recorded as a tribute to Selena and Astudillo's mother, Paz. It peaked at number one on the Regional Mexican Songs chart, where it remained atop the chart for ten consecutive weeks. Fueled by the titular track, Como Te Extrano maintained its position in the top ten of the Latin music charts for nearly four months, where it peaked at number six on the Top Latin Albums chart. Astudillo received Most Promising Band honors at the 1996 Tejano Music Awards, and began to be hailed as the "next big thing" in the Tejano market. At the 1996 BMI Latin Music Awards, the songs he coauthored; "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom", "Si Una Vez" (1994), and "Amor Prohibido" received Song of the Year honors, while Astudillo tied with Juan Luis Guerra for Songwriter of the Year. Si Tu No Estas (1997) failed to replicate the commercial success achieved by its predecessor, Como Te Extrano, as well as ¿Dónde Estás Amor? (1999). Astudillo left Q-Productions in 2001 to forge his own label, Peace Rock Records and released his albums independently. After a stint as a rocker with Ruido Añejo in the early 2010s, Astudillo returned to Tejano music with his band, Pete Astudillo y Tekno-Mex. His collaboration with A. B., on "Pelón" for Boyz of Kumbia, peaked at number 38 on Billboard's Regional Mexican Songs chart in April 2021.