Juan Gabriel, (born Alberto Aguilera Valadez) on 7 January 1950 is a Mexican[1] singer and songwriter who is one
of the most famous living representatives of the Mexican ranchera, ballad, mariachi, and pop
music.[2]
Early life
Born in Paracuaro, Michoacán, he attended boarding school
in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua[3], but he left to work as a craftsman at the age of 13. Already a songwriter, he
began his performing career in nightclubs and local television using the stage name Adán Luna. A lot of his musical skills
were also learned from an older man that befriended Alberto at an early age. He perfected playing the guitar and eventually
changed his name to Juan Gabriel to honor his friend and his father, dropping Adan Luna completely.[4] Juan became a vegetarian some years ago and is convinced of the health benefits
afforded by the diet. [1]
Juan Gabriel is best known for his hit single "Querida." In the non-Latin community, he's probably best known for falling off
the stage during an performance in Houston, Texas and breaking his wrist.
Career
In 1971, he landed a recording contract with RCA Records.
He has written and recorded over 1000 songs in a variety of music genre.[5] Changing his name to Juan Gabriel-Juan in honor of a schoolmaster for whom he held great
admiration and adopting the stage surname of Gabriel in honor of his own deceased father, Gabriel Aguilera ,[6], he gradually established himself as Mexico's leading commercial
singer-songwriter, penning in many diverse styles such as rancheras with mariachi, ballads, pop, rock, disco, with an incredible
string of hits for himself and for leading Latin singers including International star Lucia Mendez, Estela Nuñez, Angélica María, Aida
Cuevas,Enriqueta Jiménez, Lucha Villa, Ana Gabriel, Marc Anthony, Rocio
Durcal and Son del Son.[7]
Aguilera made his film debut in 1975 in the movie Nobleza
ranchera. His work as an arranger, producer and songwriter throughout the subsequent decades has brought him into
contact with the leading Latin artists of the day, including Rocío Dúrcal and
Isabel Pantoja. In addition to recording numerous hits on his own, Gabriel has produced
albums for Rocio Durcal, Lucha Villa, Lola Beltran and Paul Anka.[8][9] In
1984, he scored what is considered by many of his fans to be his greatest hit, "Querida" ("My
Dear") which stayed for over a year on the top of the hits chart.[10]
BMG Copyright Dispute
During 1986 to 1994 Aguilera refused to record any material with BMG over copyrights to his songs. During the dispute he
continued to perform live. In 2000, according to the agreement between Gabriel and BMG, he assumed complete copyright and
management resposibilities of more than 500 songs.[11]
Juan Gabriel's entire song catalogue is published by BMG Music Publishing.[12]
Aguilera is popular throughout the Spanish-speaking world and has sold over 50
million and counting.[13] One of his best albums, Recuerdos Vol. II, which included his hit "Querida", sold 1.5
million copies in one month and a half just in Mexico.[14]
He has four children and stated they are not adopted and revealed that he had them with "mi mejor amiga para toda la vida" (my
best friend for all of my life).[15]
He stated:"(¿)Por qué decirle cosas que a usted, como a muchas otras personas, no les interesa, yo pienso que soy un artista
(...) que he dado mucho con mis canciones",[16] ("Why say
things that do not interest yourself nor many other people? I consider myself an artist... who has given much with my songs.") as
to the question if he was gay, in the same interview he said that "if you are handsome,
young-hearted, and inspired, there will always be someone to call you gay."
On 14 November 2005, Aguilera was injured when he fell from
the stage at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, and was hospitalized at the Texas Medical Center[17][18]
Charity Work
He continues to do ten to 12 performances per year as benefit concerts for his favorite children's homes and habitually poses
for pictures with his fans and forwards the proceeds from the photo-ops to support Mexican orphans.[19] In 1987 Juan Gabriel founded Semjase[20], a house for orphaned and underserved children located in Ciudad Juarez,
Mexico. It serves school children between the ages of 6 to 12.[21]
Awards and achievements
- In 1986, Los Angeles Mayor Tom
Bradley declared October 5 "The Day of Juan Gabriel." [22]
- Billboard, inducted into the Latin Music Hall
Of Fame 1996[23][24]
- ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Award in
1995[25]
- A six time Grammy nominee[26]
- Sold 30 million copies of his albums [27]
- In 1995, three of his songs reached the Top 40 of Billboard magazine's "Hot Latin
Tracks" radio charts
- People's Choice Latin Music Award, 1999,(Ritmo) for best regional artist for his Con La Banda
El Recodo[28]
- La Opinion Tributo Nacional (Lifetime Achievement Award), 1999[29]
- Billboard Award of a statue of Gabriel, erected at Mexico City's Plaza Garibaldi, 2001 a favorite performance area for mariachi bands was
done by sculptor Oscar Ponzanelli.[30]
- Singer and Composer Juan Gabriel Takes home 4 Billboard Awards, 2002[31]
Notable discography of Juan Gabriel[32]
Singles
- "Yo No Se Que Me Paso," 1986
- "El Palo," 1995
- "Mi Pueblo" (with Paul Anka), 1996.
- "Te Sigo Amando," 1997
- "Asi Tu," 1998
- "El Destino," 1997
- "Hasta Que Te Conocí" ("'Til I Met You")
- "Solo Sé Que Fue En Marzo" ("I Only Know It Happened In March")
- "He Venido A Pedirte Perdón" ("I Have Come To Ask for Forgiveness")
- "Siempre En Mi Mente" ("Always In My Mind")
- "No Me Vuelvo A Enamorar" ("I Won't Fall In Love Again")
- "Inocente Pobre Amigo" ("Innocent Poor Friend")
- "Querida" ("My Dear")
- "Abrázame Muy Fuerte" ("Hold Me Tightly")
- "Inocente De Ti" ("Innocent of You")
- "Se Me Olvidó Otra Vez" ("I Forgot Again")
- "Yo Te Recuerdo" ("I Remember you")
- "Te Sigo Amando" ("I Still Love you")
- "No Tengo Dinero" ("I Have no Money") 1971
- "Pero Que Necesidad",("What's the point")1994
- "Mañana, Mañana" ("Tomorrow, Tomorrow")
- "Amor Eterno ("Eternal Love")
- "Debo Hacerlo"
- "La Diferencia" ("The Difference")
- "El Noa Noa"
- "Mis ojos tristes"
- "Amor amor es amor"
Covers
Many Latin American singers have covered Juan Gabriel's songs.
Composed
These are songs that Juan Gabriel has composed, but not necessarily sang.
Albums
- Baladas, RCA, 1978
- Siempre Estoy Pensando en Ti, RCA, 1978
- Recuerdos (Memories), Ariola, 1980
- Cosas de Enamorados, RCA, 1982
- Lo Mejor de Juan Gabriel con Mariachi, RCA, 1983
- Todo, RCA, 1983
- Recuerdos 2, RCA, 1984
- Pensamientos, RCA, 1986
- Frente a Frente, Vol. 1, RCA, 1987
- Frente a Frente, Vol. 2, RCA, 1987
- Debo Hacerlo, RCA, 1988.
- Juan Gabriel con el Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, RCA, 1990
- Juan Gabriel en el Palacio de Bellas Artes, RCA, 1990
- Con Tu Amor, Ariola, 1992
- Te Llegara Mi Olvido, RCA, 1992
- Mis Ojos Tristes, Ariola, 1992
- Inspiration, Fonovisa, 1992
- En el Palacio de Bellas Artes, BMG, 1992
- Gracias Por Esperar, BMG Latin, 1994
- Musipistas, Discos DCO, 1995
- El Mexico Que Se Nos Fue, Ariola, 1995
- El Alma Joven, Voi. 3, RCA, 1996
- Juan Gabriel Con El Mariachi De America De Jesus Rodriguez de Hijar, RCA, 1996
- Juan Gabriel Con Mariachi, Vol. 2, RCA, 1996
- Del Otro Lado, RCA, 1996
- Siempre En Mi Mente, RCA, 1996
- Mejor de Los 3 Grandes, RCA, 1996
- Me Gusta Bailar Contigo, BMG, 1996
- Espectacular, RCA, 1996
- Gabriel, Juan, RCA, 1996
- El Alma Joven, RCA, 1996
- A Mi Guitarra, BMG, 1996
- Juntos Otra Vaz, RCA, 1997
- Lo Mejor de Gabriel Y Manzanero, Polygram, 1997
- Juan Gabriel, BMG Latin, 1997
- Homenaje a Juan Gabriel, Simitar Latino, 1997
- Celebracion De los 25 Años de Juan Gabriel en Bellas Artes, (Twenty five year Celebration of Juan Gabriel in the Arts)
RCA, 1998
- Por Mi Orgullo, RCA, 1998
- Con la Banda...El Recodo, RCA, 1998
- Querida, RCA, 2000
- Juan Gabriel, RCA, 2000
- Abrazame Muy Fuerte, 2001
- Por Los Siglos, 2001
- Inocente de Ti, 2003
References
See also
External links
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