Mexican Las Nenas were formed in the late '80s, starting as a folk/dance group, and later becoming involved in traditional and tropical music. After touring Mexico and the U.S. in 1998, Las Nenas decided to turn to a mixture of Cumbia and norteño styles, simply known as Cumbia norteña. Soon, they signed with EMI Latin and recorded Al Rojo Vivo, which was produced by Hector Villa and Mario Pupparo. Las Nenas, led by sisters Soraya and Vanessa Manchaca, were named ONU Ambassadors to promote family values during their live performances.