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.
La Frontera
Juan Gabriel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A mí me gusta mucho estar en la frontera
Porque la gente es más sencilla y más sincera
Me gusta cómo se divierten, cómo llevan
La vida alegre, positiva y sin problemas
Aquí es todo diferente
En la frontera, en la frontera, en la frontera
A mí me gusta mucho, mucho estar aquí
Porque la gente cada vez es más feliz
Vive mejor, hay mucho amor y se supera
Porque aquí la gente es buena, is like
Aquí es todo diferente
Todo, todo es diferente
En la frontera, en la frontera, en la frontera
Que cómo me la maravillaría yo
Que cómo te la maravillarías tú
Si vinieras, si vivieras, si estuvieras
Si cantaras, si tocaras y bailaras aquí
A plena luz, a plein soleil, Simón, a plena luz
Arriba Chiapas
Y Veracruz
Arriba Juárez
Arriba tú
La gente no se mete en lo que no le importa
Todos respetan y cada quien vive su vida
Lo más hermoso, lo más divino
Es que es muy franca y cada vez es más unida
Aquí es todo diferente
Todo, todo es diferente
En la frontera, en la frontera, en la frontera
Cuál es la frontera señor
La frontera es muy padre Julión
Es como un sol, todo lo ve
La luna sale, sale guapa y sale llena de amor
Aquí todo es diferente
Y esto es gracias a la gente
En la frontera, en la frontera, en la frontera
Ay, qué fiestón con mi compa Julión
Y Juan Gabriel, así que estamos muy bien
El pasado nos dejó cicatrices
Gracias a Dios ahora todos somos felices
En la frontera todo fue diferente
Son bienvenidos todo tipo de gentes
Canta, baila y sé feliz
Finalmente yo nunca me iré de aquí
Y no me iré de aquí, hasta que muera
Porque aquí se bebe, se baila y la gente es buena
Y no me iré de aquí, hasta que muera
Porque aquí se bebe, se baila y la gente es buena
La frontera, la frontera
La frontera, la frontera
Porque la gente cada vez es más feliz
Porque aquí la gente es buena
A mí me gusta mucho estar en la frontera
In his song "La Frontera," Juan Gabriel celebrates the beauty and simplicity of life on the border. He sings about his love for the people, their authenticity, and their unity. Gabriel admires how people have fun and enjoy their lives without many problems. The people on the border live differently, and they respect each other's ways of life. Gabriel highlights the warmth and welcoming nature of the border people, which sets them apart from the rest of the world. He is passionate about the liveliness and positivity of the people's energy he encounters at the border.
The chorus repeatedly stresses the difference between life on the border and elsewhere, emphasizing the idea that everything is different in the border region. Gabriel sings that he will never leave the border because he has found happiness and a sense of belonging there. He sings about drinking, dancing, and celebrating with the people at the border without any particular judgment or scrutiny. Gabriel celebrates the diversity of people from all walks of life who converge at the border, and he rejoices in the absence of discrimination.
In summary, Juan Gabriel's "La Frontera" is a heartfelt homage to the border and its people. Gabriel praises the people's cultural diversity, community spirit, and freedom to live life on their terms.
Line by Line Meaning
Vengan todos
Come everyone
A mí me gusta mucho estar en la frontera
I really like being on the border because people are simpler and more sincere. I like how they have fun, how they live their lives positively and without problems.
Porque la gente es más sencilla y más sincera
Because people are simpler and more sincere.
Me gusta cómo se divierten, cómo llevan
I like how they have fun and how they live.
La vida alegre, positiva y sin problemas
Their life is happy, positive, and without problems.
Aquí es todo diferente
Everything is different here.
Todo, todo es diferente
Everything is different.
En la frontera, en la frontera, en la frontera
On the border, on the border, on the border.
Porque la gente cada vez es más feliz
Because people here are happier and happier.
Vive mejor, hay mucho amor y se supera
They live better, there is a lot of love, and they overcome difficulties.
Porque aquí la gente es buena, is like
Because here the people are good, likeable.
Que cómo me la maravillaría yo
How would I marvel at it?
Que cómo te la maravillarías tú
How would you marvel at it?
Si vinieras, si vivieras, si estuvieras
If you came, if you lived, if you were here.
Si cantaras, si tocaras y bailaras aquí
If you sang, if you played and danced here.
A plena luz, a plein soleil, Simón, a plena luz
In broad daylight, in full sunlight, yes, in broad daylight.
Arriba Chiapas
Go Chiapas.
Y Veracruz
And Veracruz.
Arriba Juárez
Go Juarez.
Arriba tú
Go you.
La gente no se mete en lo que no le importa
People don't meddle in what doesn't concern them.
Todos respetan y cada quien vive su vida
Everyone respects each other and lives their own life.
Lo más hermoso, lo más divino
The most beautiful, the most divine thing.
Es que es muy franca y cada vez es más unida
Is that they are very sincere and increasingly united.
Cuál es la frontera señor
What is the border sir?
La frontera es muy padre Julión
The border is really great, Julión.
Es como un sol, todo lo ve
It's like a sun, it sees everything.
La luna sale, sale guapa y sale llena de amor
The moon rises, rises beautifully, and rises full of love.
Y esto es gracias a la gente
And this is thanks to the people.
En la frontera, en la frontera, en la frontera
On the border, on the border, on the border.
Ay, qué fiestón con mi compa Julión
Oh, what a great party with my buddy Julión.
Y Juan Gabriel, así que estamos muy bien
And Juan Gabriel, so we're doing great.
El pasado nos dejó cicatrices
The past left us scars.
Gracias a Dios ahora todos somos felices
Thanks to God, now we are all happy.
En la frontera todo fue diferente
Everything was different on the border.
Son bienvenidos todo tipo de gentes
All types of people are welcome here.
Canta, baila y sé feliz
Sing, dance and be happy.
Finalmente yo nunca me iré de aquí
Finally, I will never leave here.
Y no me iré de aquí, hasta que muera
And I won't leave here until I die.
Porque aquí se bebe, se baila y la gente es buena
Because here we drink, dance and people are good.
La frontera, la frontera
The border, the border.
Porque la gente cada vez es más feliz
Because people here are happier and happier.
Porque aquí la gente es buena
Because here the people are good.
A mí me gusta mucho estar en la frontera
I really like being on the border.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALBERTO AGUILERA VALADEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MariaTorres-wg2fz
ESTAMOS DE FIESTA
EN JUÁREZ !!!
50 AÑOS DE CARRERA
NOS SENTIMOS MUY
ORGULLOSOS DE TI,
JUAN GABRIEL💕
CD. JUÁREZ,
CHIHUAHUA MÉXICO!!! 🇲🇽
GRAN VIDEO CON MI
OTRO ÍDOLO
JULIÓN ALVAREZ!!!
SALUDOS A CHIAPAS TAMBIÉN!!! 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙
@mexico5668
Neta wey ni aunque U.S.A sea primer mundo por ni madres del universo me arrepiento de haber nacido Mexicana es el mayor orgullo que tengo en mi vida, todo de el es hermoso, la gastronomía, las tradiciones, la bella música, los museos, los monumentos, solo por pasar una de sus benditas calles eres orgullosa de serlo, neta te da un chingo de orgullo tan solo pararte a las 5:00 de la madrugada y alistarse para trabajar, estudiar o hacer otra cosa para ir por una guajolota, unas tortas los benditos tacos ese orgullo de estar en las bellas calles, hermosas y maravillosas tierras MEXICANAS no tiene ni un PRECIO tan solo de verlo lloras, nuestro magnifico México nunca cambies por más que evolucionemos no cambies y no olvides tus raíces esa música folklórica que no muera, ese baile que no desaparezca, esa BELLEZA QUE NO SE DESVANEZCA.
🇲🇽PORQUE TE AMO MÉXICO🇲🇽
🎊🇲🇽 ETERNAMENTE AGRADECIDA DE SER MEXICANA Y ORGULLOSA DE SER PARTE DE ESTAS TIERRAS🇲🇽🎊
GRACIAS MÉXICO POR TUS PLAYAS, MUSEOS,ARQUITECTURAS,MONUMENTOS,GRACIAS POR SER LO QUE ERES.🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽
Gracias por los likes!!🍸🌟
@editdelmexicano9736
aquí esta la letra me costo mucho xd : Vengan todos
A mí me gusta mucho estar en la frontera
Porque la gente es más sencilla y más sincera
Me gusta cómo se divierten, cómo llevan
La vida alegre, positiva y sin problemas
Aquí es todo diferente
Todo, todo es diferente
En la frontera, en la frontera, en la frontera
A mí me gusta mucho, mucho estar aquí
Porque la gente cada vez es más feliz
Vive mejor, hay mucho amor y se supera
Porque aquí la gente es buena, is like
Aquí es todo diferente
Todo, todo es diferente
En la frontera, en la frontera, en la frontera
Que cómo me la maravillaría yo
Que cómo te la maravillarías tú
Si vinieras, si vivieras, si estuvieras
Si cantaras, si tocaras y bailaras aquí
A plena luz, a plein soleil, Simón, a plena luz
Arriba Chiapas
Y Veracruz
Arriba Juárez
Arriba tú
La gente no se mete en lo que no le importa
Todos respetan y cada quien vive su vida
Lo más hermoso, lo más divino
Es que es muy franca y cada vez es más unida
Aquí es todo diferente
Todo, todo es diferente
En la frontera, en la frontera, en la frontera
Cuál es la frontera señor
La frontera es muy padre Julión
Es como un sol, todo lo ve
La luna sale, sale guapa y sale llena de amor
Aquí todo es diferente
Y esto es gracias a la gente
En la frontera, en la frontera, en la frontera
Ay, qué fiestón con mi compa Julión
Y Juan Gabriel, así que estamos muy bien
El pasado nos dejó cicatrices
Gracias a Dios ahora todos somos felices
En la frontera todo fue diferente
Son bienvenidos todo tipo de gentes
Canta, baila y sé feliz
Finalmente yo nunca me iré de aquí
Y no me iré de aquí, hasta que muera
Porque aquí se bebe, se baila y la gente es buena
Y no me iré de aquí, hasta que muera
Porque aquí se bebe, se baila y la gente es buena
La frontera, la frontera
La frontera, la frontera
Porque la gente cada vez es más feliz
Porque aquí la gente es buena
A mí me gusta mucho estar en la frontera
@musicabaladasromanticastv2984
Que envidia sana a mis hermanos Mexicanos por tener artistas de esta talla. Un abrazo enorme desde Argentina
@alejandracus
Fc
@LUZMACALDERON
Para nosotros los mexicanos un orgullo
@BomerAang
No te preocupes, ustedes son más que bienvenidos aquí a México para compartir nuestras cosas B)
@lamuerte1892
Ahuevo muajajaja ahuevo
@davidceron2345
un saludito tambien a argentina! tienen artistas muy buenos como pedro aznar o serú giran, o virus
@cruzserranorodrigo9570
¿Se dan cuenta que Juan Gabriel ya sentía su muerte? Porque durante 2014-2015 hizo un sin fin de colaboración con muchísimos artistas y estuvo demasiado activo ese año a comparación de los anteriores, literal parecíera que se estaba despidiendo ya de los escenarios, se despidió como una leyenda de nuestra música ❤️
@chueklicenciado1413
O alomejor lo planeo xd
@josecarloslafertespalla9439
y aparte iba a sacar más colaboraciones de las cuales todavía seguian pegados en el 2016 cómo Mon Laferte pero no lo vivirá para apreciarlo... espero que suelten el disco de los duo 3!!!
@isabelcabrera1868
❤️❤️❤️❤️