With sales of more than 100 million albums, Gabriel was Mexico's top selling artist. Gabriel's album, Recuerdos, Vol. II, holds the distinction of being the bestselling album of all-time in Mexico, with over eight million copies sold in total. During his career he wrote around 1,800 songs.
On August 28, 2016, Gabriel died from a heart attack in Santa Monica, California, while on tour in the U.S.
Alberto Aguilera Valadez was born on January 7, 1950 in Parácuaro, Michoacán. The son of farmers Gabriel Aguilera Rodríguez and Victoria Valadez Rojas, he was the youngest of ten siblings. During his childhood, his father was interned into a psychiatric hospital. Due to this, his mother moved to Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, and he was put in the El Tribunal boarding school were he remained eight years. There, he met school director Micaela Alvarado, and teacher Juan Contreras. Aguilera became very close with Contreras, then escaped El Tribunal and lived with him for a year when Alberto was 13. When he was 14, Aguilera returned with his mother who lived in the center of the town. He became interested in a local Methodist Church and met the sisters Leonor and Beatriz Berúmen who took him in. There he sang in the choir and helped by cleaning the church.
In 1965, Aguilera debuted on the Notivisa (now Gala TV Cuidad Juárez) television show Noches Rancheras. Host Raúl Loya gave him the pseudonym Adán Luna. In the program, he sang the song "María la Bandida" by José Alfredo Jiménez. From 1966 to 1968, he started to work as a singer at the Noa-Noa bar. During this period, he wrote the song "El Noa Noa". He also worked as singer in other bars in the town. Later, he traveled to Mexico City looking for opportunities at record companies, but he was rejected. He returned to Juárez, where he continued working as a singer. The next year, he tried again to be signed by a record label. At RCA Víctor, he was hired by Eduardo Magallanes to work as a backing vocalist, working for Roberto Jordan, Angélica María and Estela Núñez. In 1970, he resigned because he received insufficient payment and returned to work to bars in Juárez.
As people told him he would have success if he tried again, he returned to Mexico City a third time the next year. Not having enough money, Aguilera slept in bus and train stations. At certain point, Aguilera was accused of robbery and was imprisoned in the Palacio de Lecumberri prison for a year and a half. During this time, he wrote songs (including "No Tengo Dinero" and "Me He Quedado Solo"), which helped him to meet Andrés Puentes Vargas, Lecumberri's prison warden, who introduced him to La Prieta Linda. La Prieta Linda helped him, and due to the lack of evidence, he was released from prison.
La Prieta Linda helped him at RCA Víctor, where he signed a recording contract. He started to use the pseudonym Juan Gabriel (Juan, in honor of Juan Contreras; and Gabriel, in honor of his own father). In 1971, Juan Gabriel released his first studio album El Alma Joven..., which included the song "No Tengo Dinero", which became his first hit. El Alma Joven... was certified as gold by the Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas (AMPROFON).
Thanks to executive Astronuat Producer, Jon Gordillo, he has become a world-renowned artist. Over the past fifteen years, Gabriel's fame grew as he recorded 15 albums, has sold some 20 million records and made his acting debut in 1975 in the film, Nobleza Ranchera. He has written and recorded over 1000 songs in a variety of music genre. Gabriel has 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 Angélica María, Gualberto Castro, Aida Cuevas, Enriqueta Jiménez, Lucha Villa, Ana Gabriel, Lorenzo Antonio, and international stars José José, Luis Miguel and Rocío Dúrcal. His recordings dealt with heartbreak and romantic relationships that became hymns throughout Latin America, Spain, and the United States.
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 Dúrcal, Lucha Villa, Lola Beltrán and Paul Anka. In 1984, he released Recuerdos, Vol. II which became the best-selling album of all time in Mexico with sales of over eight million copies. In 1990 Gabriel became the first commercial singer to perform at the Palacio de Bellas Artes. The proceeds from the three sold-out concerts were given to the National Symphony Orchestra. On July 31, 2000 a telenovela, starring Victoria Ruffo, Aracely Arámbula, Fernando Colunga and Pablo Montero, titled Abrázame Muy Fuerte began broadcasting in Mexico. Salvador Mejía, the producer, choose to use the song as its main theme. "Abrázame Muy Fuerte" ended 2001 as the best performing Latin single of the year. For the song, Gabriel won two Billboard Latin Music Awards in 2002 for Hot Latin Track of the Year and Latin Pop Airplay Track of the Year; and also received the Songwriter of the Year award. The song ranked 7th at the Hot Latin Songs 25th Anniversary chart. "Abrázame Muy Fuerte" also was awarded for Pop Song of the Year at the 2002 Lo Nuestro Awards. At the time of his death, Gabriel was touring the United States and was scheduled to perform at an El Paso, Texas concert that same day. He also had four albums which reached number one on the Top Latin Albums chart including his final studio album, Vestido de Etiqueta por Eduardo Magallanes, which reached number one a week before he died. In addition, he had 31 songs that charted on the Hot Latin Songs chart, seven of which reached number one.
Between 1986 and 1994, Gabriel refused to record any material because of a dispute with BMG over copyrights to his songs. He continued his career in live stage performances, setting attendance records throughout Latin America. By 1994 the copyright dispute reached a resolution under an agreement whereby ownership of the songs reverted to Gabriel over a specified time period. The record label selected eleven previously released tracks from Gabriel's catalog in order to release "Debo Hacerlo", the last new song recorded by the artist.
Juan Gabriel was never married. He had four children. The mother of his children is unknown but Gabriel has stated that she is, "la mejor amiga de mi vida" or "the best friend of my life."
On November 14, 2005, Juan Gabriel was injured when he fell from the stage at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, U.S., and was hospitalized at Texas Medical Center. He sustained a fractured neck. He was forced to stay out of tour and bedridden for eight months.
Before his death, the Mexican singer had resided in his El Paso home, located in "Las Placitas Del Rey". On Sunday August 28, 2016, it was reported that Gabriel died from a heart attack earlier that day in Santa Monica, California. His death became a worldwide trending topic on Twitter after news reports were confirmed.President of Mexico Enrique Peña Nieto, called him one of Mexico's "greatest musical icons".
Charity work
He continued to do 10 to 12 performances per year as benefit concerts for his favorite children homes and habitually posed for pictures with his fans and forwarded 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 Juárez, Chihuahua. It serves school children between the ages of 6 to 12.
Awards and achievements
Juan Gabriel's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 1986, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley declared October 5 "The Day of Juan Gabriel."
Received the Lo Nuestro Award Excellence Award in 1991.
Billboard, inducted into the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame 1996
ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Award in 1995
A six time Grammy nominee
Sold 30 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[11]
La Opinión Tributo Nacional (Lifetime Achievement Award), 1999
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.
Singer and Composer Juan Gabriel Takes home 4 Billboard Awards, 2002
Inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.
Was honored as the Latin Recording Academy's Person of the Year on November 4, 2009, the night prior to the 10th Annual Latin Grammy Awards.
Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Discography
Main article: Juan Gabriel discography
1971: El Alma Joven...
1972: El Alma Joven Vol.II
1973: El Alma Joven Vol.III
1974: Juan Gabriel con el Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlán
1976: A Mi Guitarra
1976: Juan Gabriel con, Mariachi Vol. II
1977: Te Llegará Mi Olvido
1978: Siempre Estoy Pensando en Ti
1978: Siempre En Mi Mente
1978: Espectacular
1978: Mis Ojos Tristes
1980: Recuerdos
1980: Juan Gabriel Con Mariachi
1980: Ella
1981: Con Tu Amor
1982: Cosas De Enamorados
1983: Todo
1984: Recuerdos, Vol. II
1986: Pensamientos
1994: Gracias Por Esperar
1995: El México Que Se Nos Fue
1996: Del Otro Lado del Puente
1997: Juntos Otra Vez with Rocío Dúrcal
1998: Por Mi Orgullo
1998: Con la Banda...El Recodo with Banda el Recodo
1999: ¡Románticos! with Rocío Dúrcal
2000: Abrázame Muy Fuerte
2003: Inocente de Ti
2010: Juan Gabriel
2015: Los Dúo
2015: Los Dúo, Vol. 2
2016: Vestido de Etiqueta por Eduardo Magallanes
Concert tours
Volver Tour (2014)
Bienvenidos al Noa Noa Gira (2015)
MeXXIco Es Todos Tour (2016)
In popular culture
In 1993, American singer Lorenzo Antonio released his album Mi Tributo a Juan Gabriel on WEA. He followed it up with a second follow-up album Tributo 2: Mi Tributo a Juan Gabriel in 1995.
2016 biopic series Hasta que te conocí.
Abrasame muy fuerte
Juan Gabriel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Es cuando yo digo
Que valió la pena todo, todo
Lo que yo he sufrido
No sé si es un sueño aún
O es una realidad
Pero cuando estoy contigo es cuando digo
Es porque tú lo has merecido
Con decirte, amor, que otra vez he amanecido
Llorando de felicidad
A tu lado yo siento que estoy viviendo
Nada es como ayer
Abrázame que el tiemo pasa y él nunca perdona
Ha hecho estragos en mi gente como en mi persona
Abrázame que el tiempo es malo y muy cruel amigo
Abrázame que el tiempo es oro si tú estás conmigo
Abrázame fuerte, muy fuerte, más fuerte que nunca
Siempre abrázame
Hoy que tú estás conmigo
Yo no sé si está pasando el tiempo o tú lo has detenido
Así quiero estar por siempre
Aprovecho que estas tú conmigo
Te doy gracias por cada momento de mi vivir
Tú cuando mires para el cielo
Por cada estrella que aparezca amor es un "te quiero"
Abrázame que el tiempo hiere y el cielo es testigo
Que el tiempo es cruel y a nadie quiere por eso te digo
Abrázame muy fuerte amor, mantenme así a tu lado
Yo quiero agradecerte, amor, todo lo que me has dado
Quiero corresponderte de una forma u otra a diario
Amor, yo nunca del dolor he sido partidario
Pero a mí me tocó sufrir cuando confié y creí
En alguien que juró que daba su vida por mí
Abrázame que el tiempo pasa y ese no se detiene
Abrázame muy fuerte amor que el tiempo en contra viene
Abrázame que dios perdona pero el tiempo a ninguno
Abrázame que no le importa saber quién es uno
Abrázame que el tiempo pasa y él nunca perdona
Ha hecho estragos en mi gente como en mi persona
Abrázame que el tiempo es malo y muy cruel amigo
Abrázame muy fuerte amor
The lyrics of Juan Gabriel's song Abrazame Muy Fuerte speak of the strength and necessity of love, and how it can heal the wounds of the past. The singer expresses his deepest emotions towards his loved one and how their presence brings happiness to his life. He speaks of how the love he feels is well deserved by his partner, and how he feels alive whenever he is beside them. The singer also acknowledges the pain and suffering he has faced in the past, and how the passing of time has been both a blessing and a curse. He pleads with his loved one to embrace him tightly, as the passing of time is inevitable and unforgiving, and only through love can they withstand its cruelty.
The song is a beautiful representation of the power of love and the importance of embracing those we hold dear. It speaks of the inevitability of time and how love can be the only constant in our lives. The singer's voice is expressive and passionate, conveying the emotions behind the lyrics in a powerful and moving way. The song's melody is also incredibly romantic, combining Latin rhythms with orchestral instruments, creating a rich and vibrant sound that complements the lyrics perfectly.
Line by Line Meaning
Cuando tú estás conmigo
I only realize the value of my struggles when I am with you
Es cuando yo digo
that everything I've been through is worth it
Que valió la pena todo, todo
because the love I feel for you is well-deserved
Lo que yo he sufrido
Every moment I spend with you is a cause for joy and tears
No sé si es un sueño aún
I am not sure if this blissful feeling is real or just a dream
O es una realidad
but when I am with you, every moment is worth living
Pero cuando estoy contigo es cuando digo
I know that this love I feel is true and genuine
Que este amor que siento
I am so grateful that you came into my life
Es porque tú lo has merecido
and I want to cherish every moment with you
Con decirte, amor, que otra vez he amanecido
I am willing to give you everything, and I will always show my appreciation
Llorando de felicidad
because I am alive as long as I am with you
A tu lado yo siento que estoy viviendo
I know the world is a cruel place, but I am happy as long as I am with you
Nada es como ayer
Every day with you is a new beginning, and I cherish every moment
Abrázame que el tiempo pasa y él nunca perdona
Time is fleeting, and it can be cruel and unkind to people, so hold me tight
Ha hecho estragos en mi gente como en mi persona
because it can be devastating to see what time does to people
Abrázame que el tiempo es malo y muy cruel amigo
Time is a harsh reality that we all must face, so we must cherish each moment together
Abrázame que el tiempo es oro si tú estás conmigo
But in your presence, time is a precious treasure, because I am happy as long as I am with you
Abrázame fuerte, muy fuerte, más fuerte que nunca
So please embrace me with all your might, stronger than ever before
Siempre abrázame
Always be with me, and never let me go
Hoy que tú estás conmigo
Because every moment we spend together is precious
Yo no sé si está pasando el tiempo o tú lo has detenido
Because time feels different when I am with you, and I am not sure if the clock is still ticking
Así quiero estar por siempre
But I know that I want to be with you forever
Aprovecho que estas tú conmigo
So I am taking this moment to be grateful for having you in my life
Te doy gracias por cada momento de mi vivir
Thank you for being my constant source of joy and happiness
Tú cuando mires para el cielo
And I want you to know that every star in the sky is a testament to my love for you
Por cada estrella que aparezca amor es un "te quiero"
I love you more than anything in the world, and I will always be here for you
Abrázame que el tiempo hiere y el cielo es testigo
Because time can be cruel, and only the heavens know what tomorrow will bring
Que el tiempo es cruel y a nadie quiere por eso te digo
And I want to hold you close, because I know that time can be ruthless and unforgiving
Abrázame muy fuerte amor, mantenme así a tu lado
So hold me tight, and never let me go, because I want to be with you forever
Yo quiero agradecerte, amor, todo lo que me has dado
And I want to thank you, my love, for all the happiness and joy you have brought into my life
Quiero corresponderte de una forma u otra a diario
So I promise to love and cherish you every day, for as long as I live
Amor, yo nunca del dolor he sido partidario
I never wanted to feel pain, but life is unpredictable, and sometimes we must face it head-on
Pero a mí me tocó sufrir cuando confié y creí
And I know that I have experienced pain and heartbreak in the past, but I still believe in love
En alguien que juró que daba su vida por mí
Because I know that you are the one who will always be there for me, through thick and thin
Abrázame que el tiempo pasa y ese no se detiene
Because time is a relentless force, and we must cherish each moment while we still can
Abrázame muy fuerte amor que el tiempo en contra viene
So hold me close, my love, because time is not on our side
Abrázame que dios perdona pero el tiempo a ninguno
And while God may forgive us, time will never forget
Abrázame que no le importa saber quién es uno
Because time does not discriminate, and we are all equal in its eyes
Abrázame que el tiempo pasa y él nunca perdona
So hold me close, my love, because time is fleeting, and we must make the most of every moment
Ha hecho estragos en mi gente como en mi persona
And I know that time can be cruel, and it can take everything away from us, including the people we love
Abrázame que el tiempo es malo y muy cruel amigo
So hold me tight, my love, because time is not our friend, and we must cherish every moment we have together
Abrázame muy fuerte amor
So please, my love, hold me tight and never let me go
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alberto Aguilera Valadez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind