Cristobal Perez was born on August 14, 1969 in San Antonio, Texas to Gilbert Perez, a computer programmer, and Carmen Medina. He is of Mexican-American ancestry. Perez's parents divorced in 1974, when he was four years old. His mother remarried in 1978.
1989--1995: Selena y Los Dinos and legal problems
Roger Garcia, lead guitarist for Selena y Los Dinos, married and left the music business in 1989. The group's bassist, A.B. Quintanilla III, had heard good things about Perez from other Tejano groups. He and other band members went to watch Chris rehearse with Shelly. Quintanilla invited Chris to one of Selena's performances, and asked if he was interested in playing with Selena y Los Dinos. Chris accepted. His decision was based on Los Dinos's sound, which was more "hip and sophisticated" than other Tejano bands, and he hoped to learn more about musical arrangement from A.B., whose work he admired.  Chris auditioned for the group's manager, A.B.'s father Abraham Quintanilla, Jr. Abraham Sr. initially disliked Chris' rocker image and insisted that he change his appearance for the band. The elder Quintanilla feared that allowing Perez in the group might affect his daughter Selena's "perfect image" and ruin her career. A.B. Jr. convinced his father to accept Perez,and encouraged Chris to explore different musical genres and mold their sounds to his own tastes. He and A.B became close friends occasionally collaborated on writing songs for Selena's next recording. Chris, like Selena, knew little Spanish, and lead keyboardist Ricky Vela tutored him.  In 1991, Chris was arrested for driving under the influence and speeding in San Antonio, Texas. A police officer became involved in an altercation with his cousin, and Chris came to his cousin's aid. After the brawl, police handcuffed Chris and his cousin, but freed their friend, telling him to "run, don't walk" and to "not even turn around". When Chris was booked, police reported that they initiated a high-speed chase and were following his car. Chris Perez reported that the officers were lying, but decided not to pursue the matter because it would be "[his] word against theirs." He was released without charges, but told Selena and Abraham about his run-in with the police. They appreciated being informed and this helped gain their trust.  Several months after his arrest, he was sharing a hotel room with two road crew members of Selena y Los Dinos when the two brothers (who were intoxicated), began wrestling. Chris was also drunk and joined in the rough horseplay. One brother knocked the door off its hinges, and holes in the wall were found inside the room. Chris decided to sleep at home instead of at the hotel. Abraham Sr. fired the brothers and Chris from the band the next morning and also forbid Selena from seeing Chris.

Q: What happened in 1989?
A: A.B. Quintanilla III, had heard good things about Perez from other Tejano groups. He and other band members went to watch Chris rehearse

Q: What legal problems did he have?
A: In 1991, Chris was arrested for driving under the influence and speeding in San Antonio, Texas.
Was he convicted for the offense?
He was released without charges,
He was released without charges,