José Behar is a Cuban-American music executive . Behar has headed EMI Latin and Univision Music Group . He is known to have signed Selena . He watched Selena perform at the 1989 Tejano Music Awards . Behar was searching for new Latin acts and wanted to sign Selena to EMI 's label . Behar thought he had discovered the " next Gloria Estefan . " Selena chose EMI Latin 's offer because of the potential for a crossover album , and becoming the first artist to sign to the label . Before Selena began recording for her debut album , Selena ( album ) , Behar and Stephen Finfer requested a crossover album for her . In 1995 , Selena was murdered . Behar said after her passing : " She would have been up there with the Janets and the Madonnas . " In July 1995 , Selena 's ' Dreaming ' Album premiered in No. 1 Spot . Behar said : " This is what the dream was about in 1989 . Seeing it all come to fruition is tremendous . " After he left EMI , Behar was appointed to run the new Univision Music Group in 2001
murdered
Murder of Selena
José Behar