Pete Astudillo | |
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 Pete Astudillo during a concert in Laredo, Texas in 2016. | |
| Born | Pedro Astudillo December 1, 1963 Laredo, Texas, US |
| Other names | Peter Astudillo |
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| Years active | 1985–present |
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| Website | peteastudillo |
Pedro Astudillo (born on December 1, 1963), known as Pete Astudillo, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and dancer. Referred to as "the Latino Babyface" by The Daily Journal, he is regarded as the architect 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.
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 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.
Despite pursuing a solo career, 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. Widely considered to be Selena's signature song and her "trademark", "Como la Flor" has become part of the Texas musical cannon. It 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), both becoming char-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 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, as the title track served as a tribute to Selena and Astudillo's mother, Paz. The titular track peaked at number one on the Regional Mexican Songs chart, where it remained for ten consecutive weeks. 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, 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 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.