music

Discovered at Karaoke Night, a Former Selena Impersonator Is Now Tejano’s Ascending ‘Queen’

Ashkan Roayaee
Discovered at Karaoke Night, a Former Selena Impersonator Is Now Tejano’s Ascending ‘Queen’

HIGHLIGHTED IN THE new issue of Houston CityBook, Tejano artist and Selena impersonator Amanda Solis, 28, has had a wild ride for the past five years.

It all started when a friend signed her up to sing the Selena song "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" for a karaoke competition at a gay bar. Clips of her performance hit the internet, and she was catapulted into a new career as a sought-after Selena impersonator who's been booked all over Texas and across the nation. "I would have never imagined it would evolve into what it is now," she says. "I feel so privileged and am so grateful for the opportunities I've had."

Her recently released six-song debut EP, titled Quinceañera Queen, produced by Houston label Street Science Entertainment, is in a style dubbed "Cumbia-Americano," a delicious bilingual mashup of Tejano rhythms with contemporary flourishes.

Solis' new portrait and comments appear in the spring edition of CityBook, which is the magazine's fifth annual Music Issue. Queer hip-hop artist Nate Drop, swing fiddler Ellen Story, Houston Grand Opera bass Cory McGee, busy singer-guitarist Andy Mac, retro crooner Marley Moon, and R&B standout Tia Gold are also featured in the annual portfolio, photographed by Ashkan Roayaee, with styling by Todd Ramos and hair and makeup by Edward Sanchez.

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Exclusive Furniture’s Sam Zavary Credits Luck, Hard Work and ‘Mom’s Prayers’ for His Success

Exclusive Furniture’s Sam Zavary Credits Luck, Hard Work and ‘Mom’s Prayers’ for His Success

How did you get to where you are today? I am a firm believer that hard work and having dreams that you strive to achieve will motivate and inspire people to achieve their potential. Working hard, dreaming, and making sure to take advantage of every opportunity is something I learned at a young age. I credit God and God’s grace firstly, but I know that success is a direct result of hard work. I tell my podcast subscribers and followers to continue setting goals, evolving, improving, and planning, and I practice what I preach. I am proud to have started my business in the fastest growing major city in the United States, and I attribute a lot of the success of Exclusive Furniture to the family culture we create in the best city — Houston’s diversity, philanthropy, and innovation have helped me achieve a lot of the milestones in the furniture business (and the “low prices”) you see today!

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Leadership in Action: Clothiers Murry and Karen Penner Celebrate Family Business’ 50-Year Anny

Al Torres

Murry & Karen Penner, Owners, M PENNER

How did you get where you are today? We’ve stayed true to the vision of the store’s founder, Morris Penner, who relentlessly sought out unique product, with exceptional quality being a key element. Morris always used to say, “The fastest way to lose a customer is to bore him” and we agree. A percentage of every season’s budget is allocated to something new and unique. While product is key, it’s not enough. Having an excellent staff and discipline in business practices is also critical.

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Leadership in Action: For Bianca Bucaram, ‘Strong Network and Family’ Are Essential

Sofia van der Dys

Bianca Bucaram, founder of The Bucaram PR Group and BXM Music

Get to Know Bianca:

Bianca Bucaram, founder of The Bucaram PR Group and BXM Music, is a dynamic force in the public relations industry. She is known for her tenacity, empathy, and bilingual communication skills. As a local publicist with national reach, she blends local insights with broader impact, telling compelling stories that foster business growth and create opportunities.

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