Chris Perez and Pete Astudillo | Courtesy photo
Pete Astudillo and Chris Pérez — once key members of the legendary Selena y Los Dinos — have reunited to honor the life and legacy of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez with a brand-new tribute cumbia, “El Ritmo Se Acabó.” The collaboration arrives just days before the highly anticipated Netflix documentary Selena y Los Dinos: A Family’s Legacy premieres on November 17.
For Astudillo, the project is deeply personal. As the writer or co-writer behind many of Selena’s most iconic hits — including “Como La Flor,” “La Carcacha,” and “Si Una Vez” — he continues to carry the emotional weight of the loss of his music partner, his friend, and the heart of Los Dinos.
Originally written and recorded as a ballad, “El Ritmo Se Acabó” didn’t feel complete to Astudillo. Something was missing. The sound, the energy — the spirit of Los Dinos. So he called on his longtime brothers in music: Chris Pérez on guitar, and Grammy Award–winning trumpeter René Gasca, who performed on classic Selena recordings like “No Me Queda Más” and “Si Una Vez.”
Together, they reimagined the track as a cumbia — the way Selena herself likely would have wanted.
The result is a moving, nostalgic piece that captures the unmistakable chemistry the musicians once shared with the Queen of Cumbia. Listening to Pérez’s signature guitar work and Gasca’s soaring trumpet layered over Astudillo’s heartfelt vocals, fans can feel both the magic and the ache of a time long gone.
“El Ritmo Se Acabó” isn’t just a song — it’s a moment. A reminder. A tribute crafted by those who knew and loved Selena most.
Pete Astudillo — El Ritmo Se Acabo (feat. Chris Perez) (Cumbia Version)
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And the timing couldn’t be more meaningful. The song arrives just before Selena y Los Dinos: A Family’s Legacy hits Netflix, offering an intimate, unprecedented look into Selena’s rise from small-town performances to global stardom. Featuring never-before-seen footage from the Quintanilla family archives, the documentary promises to reconnect fans with the artist whose influence continues to transcend generations.
For Astudillo, Pérez, and Gasca, the message behind this new tribute is simple:
Our loved ones live forever in our hearts.
“El Ritmo Se Acabó” stands as yet another beautiful reminder of that truth — and of the enduring legacy of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez.
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José Rosario contributed to this report.
