1. Early Performances: Selena began performing with her family's band, Los Dinos, at local events, weddings, and quinceañeras in their hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas. Abraham served as the band's manager, and Selena gradually started to sing more lead vocals as her confidence and skill developed.
2. Spanish-language Albums: In 1984, Selena released her debut album, Selena Y Los Dinos, with Freddie Records, a small local record label. The album consisted mostly of cover songs and some original material. Selena's sophomore album, Alpha, followed in 1986, and it featured more of her own songwriting.
3. Crossover Success: Selena's third album, Selena Y Los Dinos, released in 1987, marked a turning point in her career. The album included the hit single "La Bamba," a cover of a traditional Mexican folk song. "La Bamba" became a massive success, reaching number one on the Billboard Top Latin Tracks chart and crossing over to the mainstream pop charts.
4. Record Deal with EMI Latin: Selena's success with "La Bamba" paved the way for a lucrative record deal with EMI Latin, a major record label. Her first album under EMI Latin, Ven Conmigo (1990), was a commercial and critical success, further cementing her status as a rising star in Latin music.
5. Growing Popularity: Throughout the early 1990s, Selena released a series of hit albums, including Entre A Mi Mundo (1992), Selena Live! (1993), Amor Prohibido (1994), and Dreaming of You (1995), a posthumously released album. She became one of the most successful and influential Latin artists of all time, breaking numerous records and touring extensively throughout the United States, Latin America, and Europe.
Selena's career was tragically cut short when she was shot and killed by Yolanda Saldívar, the president of her fan club, on March 31, 1995. Despite her untimely death at the age of 23, Selena's impact on music and pop culture continues to be felt to this day.