After starting a band with his children , Abraham Quintanilla , Jr. became the group 's manager and began promoting it . The group recorded an album with Freddie Records in 1984 , though it was never released . Abraham provided two demos to Charlie Grever , father of Bob Grever owner of Cara Records , who signed then-thirteen old Selena to the recording label . Manny Guerra , who separated from Cara Records , started his own record label . Guerra wanted to sign Selena to his recording label in 1985 . Guerra dissolved the agreement between Cara Records and Selena when it was brought to his attention . Selena recorded five LP records for Manny 's GP Productions by 1988 , without a contract . Abraham expressed in an interview how he forgot to sign it , and noticed how Guerra stopped asking him about the contract after Selena became more popular . At the 1989 Tejano Music Awards , Selena was approached by Rick Trevino to be the opening act after La Sombra declined the offer . Jose Behar of newly formed EMI Latin and the heads of Sony Music attended the awards ceremony and were scouting for new acts . Behar wanted to sign Selena to his label , while Sony Music was offering twice EMI 's offer . Behar believed he had discovered " the next Gloria Estefan " , which his superior called him illogical since he had only been in Texas for a week . Abraham chose EMI Latin 's offer because of the potential for a crossover , and he wanted his children to be the first musicians to sign with the company . Before Selena began recording her debut album , Behar and Stephen Finfer requested a crossover album for her . The singer recorded three English-language songs for the heads of EMI 's pop division . Behar and Finfer 's request for a crossover album was denied and Selena was told she needed a bigger fan base to sell such an album . Behar thought EMI Records and the public did not believe that a Mexican-American woman could have " crossover potential " after Charles Koppelman denied the project . The company believed Selena had potential in Mexico and South American markets when they signed the singer in 1989
1989 Tejano Music Awards
1989 Tejano Music Awards
Selena (album)