José Behar is a

Cuban-American Cuban Americans ( es, cubanoestadounidenses or ''cubanoamericanos'') are Americans who trace their cultural heritage to Cuba regardless of phenotype or ethnic origin. The word may refer to someone born in the United States of Cuban descent or t ...

music executive. Behar has headed EMI Latin and Univision Music Group. He is known to have signed

Selena Selena Quintanilla Pérez (; April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), known mononymously as Selena, was an American Tejano singer. Called the " Queen of Tejano music", her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mex ...

. José Behar was appointed to run the new Latin division in EMI Records. Univision Music Group in 2001.

History with Selena

He watched

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 Gloria Estefan (; born Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García; born 1 September 1957) is a Cuban-American singer, actress, and businesswoman. Estefan is a seven-time Grammy Award winner, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and has bee ...

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, ''

'', Behar and Stephen Finfer requested a crossover album for her. In 1995, Selena was

murdered Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification or valid excuse, especially the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought. ("The killing of another person without justification or excuse, especially the ...

. Behar said after her passing: "She would have been up there with the Janets and the

Madonnas In art, a Madonna () is a representation of Mary, either alone or with her child Jesus. These images are central icons for both the Catholic and Orthodox churches. The word is (archaic). The Madonna and Child type is very prevalent ...

." In July 1995,

's 'Dreaming of You' 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."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Behar, Jose American music industry executives Selena Living people 1954 births