Pete Astudillo

Pedro Astudillo (born on December 1, 1963), is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and dancer. Referred to as "the Latino Babyface" by The Daily Journal, he is credited as a key figure behind Selena's signature music style. 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. After high school, he pursued music education, forming Los Bad Boyz with Joe Ojeda. Discovered by a local DJ, they joined Selena y Los Dinos, integrating in December 1988. Astudillo's addition involved harmonizing with Selena and performing various roles within the band. 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. Supported by Los Dinos and signed to Q-Productions, Astudillo released his debut solo album, Entregate a Mi, in January 1992. Astudillo remained dedicated to Selena y Los Dinos, contributing to songwriting while on tour. He and A. B. co-wrote "Como la Flor" (1992), which became one of the most popular songs recorded by an artist of Mexican descent in the US. At the 1994 BMI Latin Music Awards, Astudillo received Songwriter of the Year honors. He co-wrote "Amor Prohibido" and "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" for Selena's Amor Prohibido (1994), both becoming chart-toppers on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart, while the latter became the most successful US Latin single of 1994. On March 31, 1995, Selena was shot and killed...