u/ericaisdancing

I’m here to dispel a little of the mystery surrounding the Selena y Los Dinos band member often listed online as “Del Balint.”

My name is Erica, and I’m his daughter.

First, one small correction: his name is actually Dale Balint, not Del. He was one of the touring guitarists with one of the early Selena y Los Dinos lineups in the early to mid-1980s. He’s still doing what he loves most, which is playing guitar.

During his time touring in Texas, he met my mom, who also traveled with the band for part of that demanding tour schedule. My dad was also friends with other musicians from that era, including Mike Dean.

I’ve noticed there isn’t much information about him online, so I thought I’d offer what I can. Ask me anything, with the caveat that what I know is limited to what my parents have shared over the years.

From everything I’ve been told, Selena and her siblings were truly just kids at the time, very much a Jackson 5-type situation. The touring schedule was intense, and for many of the adult musicians, it was simply a job and a way to make a living while helping build what would eventually become something much bigger.

Edit- Also, would like to post about screen shot related to the the publishing error of Selena - Como LA Flor by author Joe Nick Patoski who likely did the best he could, but just didn’t have all of the details about my dad. It was super long ago.