Alberto Aguilera Valadez (born January 7, 1950), better known by his stage name
Juan Gabriel, is a Mexican singer and songwriter who is one of the most famous living representatives of the Mexican
rancheraThe ranchera is a genre of the traditional music of Mexico. Although closely associated with the mariachi groups which evolved in Jalisco in the post-revolutionary period, rancheras are also played today by norteño or banda groups...
,
balladA ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative and set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later North America, Australia and North Africa. Many...
,
mariachiMariachi, in relation to the music of Mexico, may also be defined in relation to the conditions associated with its historical development. A mariachi ensemble is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the colonial era. Throughout the history of...
, and
pop musicPop is a music genre particularly intended for teenagers and young adults. This type of music produced in Mexico is called Mexican pop.Mexico is the country that exports the most entertainment in Spanish language...
.
Early life
Born in
ParacuaroParácuaro is a municipality of Michoacán. It is a Chichimeca word for "Place where has it own sticks for one roof".-History:The precedents that introduce the municipality of Parácuaro in the history date back of the prehispanic epoch in which it thinks that it was lived by nahuas and later...
,
MichoacánMichoacán formally Michoacán de Ocampo , is one of the 31 constituent states of Mexico. It borders the states of Colima and Jalisco to the west, Guanajuato and Querétaro to the north, México to the east, Guerrero to the south-east, and the Pacific Ocean to the south.Michoacán has an area of...
, he attended boarding school in
Ciudad JuárezCiudad Juárez, also known as just Juárez and formerly known as Paso del Norte, is a city and seat of the municipality of Juárez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Juárez has an estimated population of 1.5 million people. It stands on the Rio Grande , across the U.S. border from El Paso, Texas...
, Chihuahua, 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. Juan became a vegetarian some years ago and is convinced of the health benefits afforded by the diet.
http://www.aarpsegundajuventud.org/english/entertainment/spring-2002/3.juangabriel.htm
Juan Gabriel is best known for his first hit single "Querida" and his recent "Abrázame Muy Fuerte."
Career
In 1971, he landed a recording contract with
RCA RecordsRCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1983 and a partner from 1983 to 1986.-The RCA family of labels:RCA is the name of three different co-owned record...
. He has written and recorded over 1000 songs in a variety of music genre. 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 ,, 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 MaríaAngélica María is an American actress and singer-songwriter.Born Angelica Hartman in New Orleans, LA, she is the daughter of the American teacher Arnold Hartman and Sonia Brianson, a theater producer. When she was 15 years old, Angélica's parents divorced and she moved with her mother to Mexico...
,
Gualberto CastroGualberto Antonio Castro is a Mexican / singer entertainer best known for singing with Los Hermanos Castro and for hosting the television program La Carabina de Ambrosio.- Early Life :Castro began singing at an early age...
,
Aida CuevasAida Cuevas is a Mexican singer and actress also known as "The Queen of Mariachi Music". She has released 27 albums and has won numerous awards including a Grammy Award....
,Enriqueta Jiménez, Lucha Villa,
Ana GabrielAna Gabriel is a Mexican singer and composer....
,
Marc AnthonyMarc Anthony is an American & Latin Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter, actor and producer. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Marc Anthony is the top selling tropical salsa artist of all time. The five-time Grammy winner has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide...
,
Rocio DurcalRocío Dúrcal , born as María de los Ángeles de Las Heras Ortíz, was a Spanish singer and actress. Her birth and death both occurred in Madrid, Spain.- Biography :...
and Son del Son.
Gabriel 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 DúrcalRocío Dúrcal , born as María de los Ángeles de Las Heras Ortíz, was a Spanish singer and actress. Her birth and death both occurred in Madrid, Spain.- Biography :...
and
Isabel PantojaIsabel Pantoja is a popular contemporary Spanish singer, of Romani origin, born on 2 August 1956, in the Triana district of Seville, Spain...
. In addition to recording numerous hits on his own, Gabriel has produced albums for
Rocio DurcalRocío Dúrcal , born as María de los Ángeles de Las Heras Ortíz, was a Spanish singer and actress. Her birth and death both occurred in Madrid, Spain.- Biography :...
, Lucha Villa,
Lola BeltranLola Beltrán was an actress and one of the most acclaimed Mexican ranchera singers, nicknamed Lola la Grande .-Biography:...
and
Paul AnkaPaul Albert Anka, OC is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor. He became a naturalized US citizen in 1990.Anka first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s with hit songs like "Diana'", "Lonely Boy", and "Put Your Head on My Shoulder"...
. 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.
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 responsibilities of more than 500 songs.
Juan Gabriel's entire song catalogue is published by BMG Music Publishing.
Personal life
He has four children and stated they are not adopted and revealed that he had them with his life-long best friend.
Juan Gabriel, as he was interogated about him being gay, replied
"Lo que se ve no se pregunta mijo. Yo no tengo 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". ("What is seen is not asked about, son. I have no reason to tell you things, nor tell others, since they are none of your concern. I feel I am an artist who has contributed much with my songs").
http://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/13816.juan-gabriel-se-queja-del-pri.html
On 14 November 2005, Juan Gabriel was seriously injured when he fell from the stage at the
Toyota CenterThe Toyota Center is an indoor arena located in downtown Houston, Texas. It is named after the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. The arena is home to the Rockets of the National Basketball Association, the principal owners of the building, and the Aeros of the American Hockey League.Rockets...
in
HoustonHouston is the fourth-largest city in the United States and the largest city within the state of Texas. As of the 2008 U.S. Census estimate, the city has a population of 2.2 million within an area of 600 square miles . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of...
,
TexasTexas is the second-largest U.S. state in both area and population, and the largest state in the contiguous United States.The name had wide usage among native Americans, meaning "friends" or "allies"...
, and was hospitalized at the
Texas Medical CenterThe Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world with one of the highest densities of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and translational research...
Charity Work
He continues to do 10 to 12 performances per year as benefit concerts for his favorite children homes and habitually poses for pictures with his fans and forwards the proceeds from the photo-ops to support Mexican orphans.
In 1987, Juan Gabriel founded Semjase, a house for orphaned and underserved children located in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. It serves school children between the ages of 6 to 12.
Awards and achievements
- In 1986, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley
Thomas J. "Tom" Bradley was a five-term mayor of Los Angeles, California, serving in that office from 1973 to 1993. He was the first and to date only African American mayor of Los Angeles. His 20 years in office mark the longest tenure by any mayor in the city's history...
declared October 5 "The Day of Juan Gabriel."
- Billboard, inducted into the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame 1996
- ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Award in 1995
- A six time Grammy
The Grammy Awards —or Grammys—are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry...
nominee
- Sold 100 million copies of his albums
- 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
- La Opinion Tributo Nacional (Lifetime Achievement Award), 1999
- Billboard Award of a statue of Gabriel, erected at Mexico City's Plaza Garibaldi
Plaza Garibaldi is located in the historic center of Mexico City, on Eje Central between historic Calle Republica de Honduras and Calle Republica de Peru, a few blocks north of the Palacio de Bellas Artes. The original name of this plaza was Plaza Santa Cecelia, but in 1910 it was renamed in...
, 2001 a favorite performance area for mariachi bands was done by sculptor Oscar Ponzanelli.
- Singer and Composer Juan Gabriel Takes home 4 Billboard Awards, 2002
- Will be honored as the Latin Recording Academy's Person of the Year on November 5, 2009, the night prior to the 10th Annual Latin Grammy Awards
The Latin Grammy Awards were launched in 2000 with a telecast aired on CBS. It was the first primarily Spanish language primetime program carried on an English-language television network. Like the Grammy Awards, the Latin Grammys recognize artistic and technical excellence in the recording arts...
.
Films
- 2007: La niñera Tv Series Voice Juan Gabriel
- 2000: Evicted
- 1990: Bazar Viena
- 1984: Siempre en domingo
- 1982: Es mi vida
- 1980: Del otro lado del puente
- 1980: El Noa Noa
- 1979: En esta primavera
- 1977: Nobleza ranchera
Albums
- 2008: Los Gabriel... Para ti
Los Gabriel: Para ti is a compilation album by Mexican singers Ana Gabriel and Juan Gabriel. After the success of the romantic album Los Gabriel… Simplemente Amigos, edited in 2007, and Los Gabriel: Cantan a México regional genre cd, edited in 2008, Sony BMG Latin presents a package of this two...
With Ana GabrielAna Gabriel is a Mexican singer and composer....
- 2008: Los Gabriel: Cantan a México
Los Gabriel: Cantan a México is a compilation album by Mexican singers Ana Gabriel and Juan Gabriel...
With Ana GabrielAna Gabriel is a Mexican singer and composer....
- 2007: Los Gabriel… Simplemente Amigos
Los Gabriel… Simplemente Amigos is a compilation album by Mexican singers Ana Gabriel and Juan Gabriel...
With Ana GabrielAna Gabriel is a Mexican singer and composer....
- 2006: La historia del divo Original recording remastered
- 2004: Concierto En Atlanta
- 2003: Concierto En El Estadio Azteca
- 2003: Inocente de Ti
- 2001: Por Los Siglos
- 2001: Abrazame Muy Fuerte
- 1999: Todo Esta Bien, Ariola International
- 1998: Con la Banda...El Recodo!!!, RCA
- 1998: Celebracion De los 25 Años de Juan Gabriel en Bellas Artes, (Twenty five year Celebration of Juan Gabriel in the Arts) RCA
- 1997: Juan Gabriel y Rocío Dúrcal Juntos Otra Vez, BMG Latin With Rocío Dúrcal
Rocío Dúrcal , born as María de los Ángeles de Las Heras Ortíz, was a Spanish singer and actress. Her birth and death both occurred in Madrid, Spain.- Biography :...
- 1996: 25 Aniversario: Solos, Duetos Y Versiones Especiales, BMG Latin
- 1995: El Mexico Que Se Nos Fue, Ariola
- 1994: Gracias Por Esperar, BMG Latin
- 1990: Juan Gabriel en el Palacio de Bellas Artes, RCA
- 1988: Debo Hacerlo
Debo Hacerlo is a compilation album released by the Mexican singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel. It was released in 1988, and would be the last album with new songs released by the singer, until his album Gracias por Esperar in 1994...
, BMG/RCA
- 1986: Pensamientos
Pensamientos is the title of a studio album written, produced and performed by Mexican singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel. It was released in 1986.-Tracklisting:-Personnel:This information is provided by Allmusic.*Juan Gabriel — Producer...
, RCA
- 1984: Recuerdos Vol.II, RCA
- 1983: Todo, Ariola
- 1982: Cosas De Enamorados ,Ariola
- 1981: Con Tu Amor ,Ariola
- 1980: Ella ,RCA
- 1980: Juan Gabriel Con Mariachi, RCA
- 1980: Recuerdos (Memories),Sony Music / Ariola
- 1979: Me Gusta Bailar Contigo ,RCA (Soundtrack to the Film “Del Otro Lado del Puente
Del otro lado del puente is a 1953 Argentine film....
”
- 1979: Mis Ojos Tristes ,RCA
- 1978: Espectacular ,RCA
- 1978: Siempre En Mi Mente ,RCA
- 1977: Te Llegara Mi Olvido ,RCA (With Mariachi
Mariachi, in relation to the music of Mexico, may also be defined in relation to the conditions associated with its historical development. A mariachi ensemble is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the colonial era. Throughout the history of...
)
- 1976: Juan Gabriel Canta Con Mariachi Vol.II ,RCA
- 1976: A Mi Guitarra ,RCA
- 1974: Juan Gabriel Con El Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlan
Juan Gabriel Con El Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlan is an album by Mexican Singer–songwriter Juan Gabriel It was released in 1974. In 1977 Juan Gabriel Made his film debut in Nobleza ranchera along side Mexican Superstar Verónica Castro...
,RCA
- 1973: El Alma Joven Vol.III
El Alma Joven Vol.III is an album by Mexican Singer–songwriter Juan Gabriel It was released in 1973. The album was recorded in Paris.-Track listing:# "QUE DIVINO AMOR"# "SOLO FUE UN SUEÑO"# "AH, YA SE "# "VOLVAMOS OTRA VEZ"...
,RCA
- 1972: El Alma Joven Vol.II
El Alma Joven Vol.II is an album by Mexican Singer–songwriter Juan Gabriel It was released in 1972.-Track listing:# "SERA MAÑANA"# "NO PUEDO OLVIDAR"# "YO NO DIGO QUE TE AMO"# "¿PORQUE FUE QUE TE AME?"# "ROSENDA"...
,RCA
- 1971: El Alma Joven
El Alma Joven is the debut album by Mexican Singer–songwriter Juan Gabriel. It was released in 1971.-Track listing:# "NO TENGO DINERO"# "TRES CLAVELES Y UN ROSAL"# "ME HE QUEDADO SOLO"# "LA MAS QUERIDA"# "LILY"...
,RCA
Singles
- "Yo No Se Que Me Paso," 1986
- "El Palo," 1995
- "Mi Pueblo" (with Paul Anka), 1996.
- "Te Sigo Amando," 1997("I Still Love You")
- "Asi Tu," 1998
- "El Destino," 1997 ("Destiny")
- "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 On My Mind")
- "No Me Vuelvo A Enamorar" ("I Won't Fall In Love Again")
- "Inocente Pobre Amigo" ("My Poor Innocent Friend")
- "Querida" ("My Dear")
- "Abrázame Muy Fuerte" ("Hold Me Tight")
- "Inocente De Ti" ("How Innocent You Are")
- "Se Me Olvidó Otra Vez" ("I've Forgotten Again")
- "Yo Te Recuerdo" ("I Remember 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" ("I Have to Do It")
- "La Diferencia" ("The Difference")
- "El Noa Noa"
- "Mis ojos tristes" ("My Sad Eyes")
- "Perdoname Olvidalo"
- "Amor amor es amor"
- "El Mexico Que Se Nos Fue" ("The Mexico That Got Away From Us")
- "Yo No Naci Para Amar" ("I Wasn't Born To Love")
- "Insensible"
External links