One of the founding members of Selena y Los Dinos, a well-known Tejano band that later gave birth to Selena, one of the most renowned Latin performers of all time, was Ricky Vela. Ricky Vela joined the group as they were just starting to gain notoriety, and he remained with them until the band’s untimely demise. He is presented as the talented keyboard pianist who even Selena’s father Abraham wanted in the band in the biographical television series “Selena: The Series.” The actuality also closely resembles the truth. We have information about Ricky Vela, the composer of one of Selena’s most recognisable songs, if you’re interested.
Who is Ricky Vela?
Originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, Ricardo “Ricky” Vela has known Selena and her brother since they were children. He was one of the first non-family musicians to join Selena’s band, which up until that point consisted of Selena, her sister Suzette on drums, her brother A.B. on bass guitar, and Selena herself. Ricky reportedly became the group’s keyboard player in 1985, the same year Selena released her debut LP, “Selena y Los Dinos.”
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Ricky played a crucial role in the band and stayed a member until its dissolution. He frequently assisted A.B. in writing songs for Selena to perform. Selena’s widower Chris, who joined the group in 1989 as their guitarist, said in an interview years later that Ricky had been his hero because of his amazing musicianship. Another song by Ricky, “No Me Queda Más,” appeared on Selena’s fourth studio album, “Amor Prohibido,” in 1994 as the third single.
The song, an emotive pop ballad in the mariachi style, went on to become one of Selena’s most well-known songs and topped the Billboard Hot Latin Songs list in the United States for 7 (non-consecutive) weeks. “No Me Queda Más” literally translates to “I have no more,” and it is rumoured to have been inspired by Ricky’s own unrequited love of Selena’s sister Suzette, who married a year before Ricky wrote the song. However, Ricky himself never spoke in public about the alleged song’s origin.
Where is Ricky Vela Now?
The band split up after Selena’s terrible and premature death in 1995. After this, Ricky didn’t formally join any bands, but he kept writing and performing songs. He was also present when Jennifer Lopez paid homage to Selena at the 2015 Billboard Latin Music Awards in Miami. At the occasion, Lopez sang several of the most well-known songs by Selena and her band, including Ricky’s “No Me Queda Más.”
The keyboardist and A.B, who has continued to pursue a career as a musician and producer, collaborated once more on the song “Esperandote.” The song was a hit, enjoying a solid run on the Latin music charts and demonstrating Ricky’s continued “had it” factor. He was acknowledged in 2002 for his soundtrack work for the Venezuelan romance drama series “My Sweet Fat Valentina.” But from what we can understand, the former Los Dinos band member has now scaled up his public appearances and music career, and he only works on a select few projects.
