Marc Anthony on Selena Quintanilla: ‘I was honored to be her friend’ |VIDEO

If there’s one thing that every person can agree on, it’s that Selena Quintanilla — whose 44th birthday would’ve been today– is a legendary figure in the Latino community. One singer who is very aware of her remarkable short-lived trajectory is salsa powerhouse Marc Anthony, who said nothing but cosas bonitas of the Queen of Tejano.

RELATED: 20 New facts about Selena Quintanilla via ‘Siempre Selena’

“I knew her personally. We were friends and colleagues; We started our careers at the same time,” Anthony said to the Miami press in an exclusive conference.

“We were both born here,” he added. “At first we struggled with our Spanish and we were learning to speak it together.”

Anthony was born in New York to Puerto Rican parents; whereas, Selena was born in Texas to Mexican parents. Both Latino superstars began their successful careers singing in Spanish.

“We had so much pressure to learn the language, but we would always laugh at the fact,” Anthony recalled.

The GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY winner admitted that he admires the “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” singer for many reasons.

“I had an incredible love for her. I think that Selena shines because of the way she managed her life, her talent, her career. The way she represented us [Hispanic-Americans],” he noted.

Twenty years ago, Quintanilla’s dreams were shattered after she tragically passed away on March 31st, 1995.

With just 23 years of age, the singer took by storm the Tejano industry, by being a dominate woman in the genre and adding her own, hip and fresh twist to the traditional sound.

Quintanilla won many awards including a GRAMMY before her passing. Her crossover album “Dreaming Of You” was released after her death. Quintanilla’s legacy still lives till’ this day.

“It’s important that people keep remembering her as that figure. A lot of doors opened the way she achieved to open them in the market where a U.S. citizen can make a living singing in Spanish and traditional music from their country,” Anthony said.

RELATED: Why I’m traveling from California to Texas to meet Selena Quintanilla

“Until this day we still feel the impact. You know? That’s why for me it’s an honor to say that I considered her a friend,” he finalized.

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