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.
Hasta que te conocí
Juan Gabriel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ni nada, que me hicieran llorar
Yo sabía de cariño, de ternura
Porque a mí desde pequeño
Eso me enseño mamá, eso me enseño mamá
Eso y muchas cosas más
Yo jamás sufrí, yo jamás lloré
Yo era muy feliz, yo vivía muy bien
Yo vivía tan distinto, algo hermoso
Algo divino, lleno de felicidad
Yo sabia de alegrías, la belleza de la vida
Pero no de soledad, pero no de soledad
De eso y muchas cosas más
Yo jamás sufrí, yo jamás lloré
Yo era muy feliz, o vivía muy bien
Hasta que te conocí
Vi la vida con dolor
No te miento fui feliz
Aunque con muy poco amor
Y muy tarde comprendí
Que no te debía amar
Porque ahora pienso en ti
Más que ayer, mucho más
Hasta que te conocí
Vi la vida con dolor
No te miento fui feliz
Aunque con muy poco amor
Y muy tarde comprendí
Que no te debía amar
Porque ahora pienso en ti
Más que ayer, mucho más
Yo jamás sufrí, yo jamás lloré
Yo era muy feliz
Pero te encontré
Ahora quiero que me digas
Si valía o no la pena
Haberte conocido
Porque no te creo más
Y es que tú fuiste muy mala
Sí, muy mala conmigo
Por eso no te quiero
No te quiero ver jamás
Vete, vete, vete, vete
Vete de mi pena
Vete, no te quiero
No te quiero ver jamás
Vete
The lyrics to Juan Gabriel's song "Hasta Que Te Conoci" describe the singer's life before and after meeting someone who had a profound impact on him. Before meeting this person, the singer was happy and knew only of love and tenderness, taught to him by his mother. He never experienced sadness or tears and was content with his joyful life. But upon meeting this person, the singer's view of life changed entirely. He began to see the world with pain and despair, but despite this, he was still happy with very little love. However, as time passed, he realized that he shouldn't have loved this person because they were bad to him. He wants her to leave his life and never come back.
The lyrics tell a story of love and heartbreak that is relatable to many people. The song's melody is melancholic, but the lyrics are a powerful reminder that love can change one's life in many ways, both good and bad. Juan Gabriel's emotional delivery of the song, along with its beautiful melody, make it a classic that has endured over time.
Line by Line Meaning
No sabía, de tristezas, ni de lágrimas
I was unaware of sadness and tears.
Ni nada, que me hicieran llorar
Nothing could make me cry.
Yo sabía de cariño, de ternura
I knew of love and tenderness.
Porque a mí desde pequeño
Because my mother taught me from a young age.
Eso me enseño mamá, eso me enseño mamá
That's what my mother taught me, that's what my mother taught me.
Eso y muchas cosas más
That and many other things.
Yo jamás sufrí, yo jamás lloré
I never suffered, I never cried.
Yo era muy feliz, yo vivía muy bien
I was very happy, I lived very well.
Yo vivía tan distinto, algo hermoso
I lived so differently, something beautiful.
Algo divino, lleno de felicidad
Something divine, full of happiness.
Yo sabia de alegrías, la belleza de la vida
I knew of joys, the beauty of life.
Pero no de soledad, pero no de soledad
But not of loneliness, but not of loneliness.
De eso y muchas cosas más
Of that and many other things.
Hasta que te conocí
Until I met you.
Vi la vida con dolor
I saw life with pain.
No te miento fui feliz
I'm not lying, I was happy.
Aunque con muy poco amor
Although with very little love.
Y muy tarde comprendí
And I understood too late.
Que no te debía amar
That I shouldn't have loved you.
Porque ahora pienso en ti
Because now I think of you.
Más que ayer, mucho más
More than yesterday, much more.
Yo jamás sufrí, yo jamás lloré
I never suffered, I never cried.
Yo era muy feliz
I was very happy.
Pero te encontré
But then I met you.
Ahora quiero que me digas
Now I want you to tell me.
Si valía o no la pena
If it was worth it or not.
Haberte conocido
To have met you.
Porque no te creo más
Because I don't believe you anymore.
Y es que tú fuiste muy mala
And that's because you were very bad.
Sí, muy mala conmigo
Yes, very bad with me.
Por eso no te quiero
That's why I don't love you.
No te quiero ver jamás
I don't want to see you ever again.
Vete, vete, vete, vete
Go, go, go, go.
Vete de mi pena
Go away from my pain.
Vete, no te quiero
Go, I don't love you.
No te quiero ver jamás
I don't want to see you ever again.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alberto Aguilera Valadez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheTravinch
I didn't knew about sadness, nor tears or anything that would make me cry.
I knew about cares, tenderness, because since I was a child I learned it from my mom, I learned it from my mom, that and many more things. I never suffered, I never cried, I was very happy, I lived very well, I lived so different, something so beautiful and divine, something full of hapinnes, I knew about joy and the beauty of life, but not about loneliness, that and much more thing.
I never suffered, I never cried, I was very happy, I lived very well.
Chorus.
Until I met you, I lived life with pain, I can't lie, I was happy, but with so little love, too late I understood, that I shouldn't love you, because now I think of you, much more than yesterday, much more.
I never suffered, but unfortunately it was a night like this when I found you.
I want you to tell me if it's worthy to have met you, because I don't want to see you, you have been so bad with me, that why I don't want to see you never again. X3
I don't want to see you. X5
@ChristopherGlam
Quien escuchando esta gran obra de arte en 2024? 🎶❤️
Reportense 👇🏻
@user-cw6uj1og1k
Yo y siempre asta el final de mis tiempos
@aceromarmatamoros8399
la vdd que vozarron tenia juan gabriel y las componia en el aire
@PepePepe-cx4ni
@@user-cw6uj1og1k Hermosa música la vrd
@ingridsheilarieratorres2112
Desde Málaga 2024
@AldrianCG
🙋🏻♂️
@Mauricioacosta503
Este concierto debería ser nombrado un patrimonio de la humanidad por los mexicanos. Bendito seas México 🇲🇽 tierra preciosa que vio nacer este genio, artista 🎨 que su música viva por la eternidad! Viva México cabrones! Saludos desde El Salvador 🇸🇻
@carmendeliamagana7403
Dios bendiga a la hermana República de El Salvador. Gracias por expresarte así de México.
@cristian_glow
Un día eres joven y al otro estás escuchando las canciones que escuchaban tus padres 😢
@ivangiustimusic
La buena música jamás se olvida