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 Gitana
Juan Gabriel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Es más peligrosa
Que un animal salvaje
Debes tener cuidado hijito mío
Pa' que no te pase
Lo que le pasó, a un cuñado mío
Dejó a su mujer
Como deja el río
Por el sembradío
El ya estaba cansado
De tantos celos de tanta intriga
Y un día se fue a la mar
Se metió a nadar
Conoció a una amiga
Que le hizo cantar
Y olvidar su pena
Y se enamoró de esa mujer buena
Y así se salvó
De esa cruel condena
Se fueron baile y baile
Baile y que baile
A San Juan pueblito
Y ahí miro la mañana
Y una gitana de ojos bonitos
Que le dijo ven
Por una moneda
Te voy a decir lo que a ti te espera
Vas hacer feliz
Como tú antes eras
Ámense tal como son
El que persevera alcanza
Donde celos no hay amor
No se tengan desconfianza
No se dejen engañar
Porque todo es por demás
Nadie es de nadie
No se les olvide
Que hombre y mujer
Han nacido libres
La otra te pide que vuelvas
Mas que pronto a su lado
Pero tú estas de esta otra
Totalmente enamorado
Te dice que la perdones
Todo lo que ella te hizo
Tú no eres rencoroso
Ni tampoco olvidadizo
Ay, no, no, no
Quién va a volver
Ni loco que yo estuviera
Que volver, ni que volver
Ay, no, no, no
Quien va a volver
Ni que en este mundo hubiera
Nada más que esa mujer
Aquella es una testaruda
Ignorante y prepotente
Caprichosa y corajuda
Mal pensada e imprudente
Esta en cambio es amorosa
Intuitiva, inteligente
Servicial y cariñosa
Y además es obediente
Ay, no, no, no
Quién va a volver
Ni loco que yo estuviera
Que volver, ni que volver
Ay, no, no, no
Quién va a volver
Ni que en este mundo hubiera
Nada más que esa mujer
The lyrics of La Gitana by Juan Gabriel are a warning to men about the dangers of rejecting a woman. The opening lines state that a woman who has been rejected is more dangerous than a wild animal, and advises men to be cautious so they don't end up like the singer's brother-in-law who left his wife and lived to regret it. The singer shares his brother-in-law's story about his desire to escape his wife's jealousy and suspicion, and how his encounter with a kind woman he met while swimming in the sea saved him from his miserable fate. He and the woman fell in love and danced the night away in San Juan. The next morning, a beautiful gypsy woman read his future and told him to live his life to the fullest, love himself as he is, and not let jealousy destroy what he has with his new love.
The song offers a comparison of the two women in the singer's brother-in-law's life. His wife is portrayed as stubborn, ignorant, arrogant, capricious, and ill-tempered; whereas the woman with whom he found love is loving, intuitive, intelligent, helpful, caring, and obedient. The song reminds listeners that no one belongs to anyone else and warns against being deceived by false love and distrust. The lyrics encourage perseverance and self-love, affirming that where there is no jealousy, there is love, and the counsel is not to forget that men and women were born free.
Line by Line Meaning
Una mujer rechazada
A rejected woman is more dangerous than a wild animal.
Es más peligrosa
She is more dangerous.
Que un animal salvaje
Than a wild animal.
Debes tener cuidado hijito mío
You must be careful, my son.
Pa' que no te pase
So that you don't end up like
Lo que le pasó, a un cuñado mío
What happened to my brother-in-law.
Dejó a su mujer
He left his wife.
Como deja el río
Like a river leaves.
El agua correr
The water flowing.
Por el sembradío
Through the fields.
El ya estaba cansado
He was already tired.
De tantos celos de tanta intriga
Of so much jealousy and intrigue.
Y un día se fue a la mar
And one day he went to the sea.
Se metió a nadar
He went swimming.
Conoció a una amiga
He met a friend.
Que le hizo cantar
Who made him sing.
Y olvidar su pena
And forget his pain.
Y se enamoró de esa mujer buena
And he fell in love with that good woman.
Y así se salvó
And that's how he was saved.
De esa cruel condena
From that cruel fate.
Se fueron baile y baile
They danced and danced.
Baile y que baile
Dance and keep dancing.
A San Juan pueblito
To the small town of San Juan.
Y ahí miro la mañana
And there he saw the morning.
Y una gitana de ojos bonitos
And a beautiful gypsy woman.
Que le dijo ven
Who told him to come.
Por una moneda
For a coin.
Te voy a decir lo que a ti te espera
I'll tell you what's in store for you.
Vas hacer feliz
You will be happy.
Como tú antes eras
Just like you used to be.
Ámense tal como son
Love each other for who you are.
El que persevera alcanza
He who perseveres achieves.
Donde celos no hay amor
Where there is no jealousy there is love.
No se tengan desconfianza
Don't be distrustful.
No se dejen engañar
Don't let yourself be fooled.
Porque todo es por demás
Because it's all for nothing.
Nadie es de nadie
No one belongs to anyone.
No se les olvide
Don't forget.
Que hombre y mujer
That man and woman.
Han nacido libres
Are born free.
La otra te pide que vuelvas
The other one asks you to come back.
Más que pronto a su lado
As soon as possible by her side.
Pero tú estas de esta otra
But you are with this other one.
Totalmente enamorado
Totally in love.
Te dice que la perdones
She asks you to forgive her.
Todo lo que ella te hizo
For everything she did to you.
Tú no eres rencoroso
You are not spiteful.
Ni tampoco olvidadizo
Nor forgetful.
Ay, no, no, no
Oh no, no, no.
Quién va a volver
Who is going to come back.
Ni loco que yo estuviera
Not even if I were crazy.
Que volver, ni que volver
To go back, nor to go back.
Aquella es una testaruda
That one is stubborn.
Ignorante y prepotente
Ignorant and arrogant.
Caprichosa y corajuda
Capricious and obstinate.
Mal pensada e imprudente
Malicious and imprudent.
Esta en cambio es amorosa
This one, on the other hand, is loving.
Intuitiva, inteligente
Intuitive, intelligent.
Servicial y cariñosa
Helpful and affectionate.
Y además es obediente
And also obedient.
Ay, no, no, no
Oh no, no, no.
Qué va a volver
Who is going to come back.
Ni loco que yo estuviera
Not even if I were crazy.
Que volver, ni que volver
To go back, nor to go back.
Ay, no, no, no
Oh no, no, no.
Quién va a volver
Who is going to come back.
Ni que en este mundo hubiera
Not even if there were
Nada más que esa mujer
Nothing else but that woman.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALBERTO AGUILERA VALADEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hannyaestrellapiza5065
Una mujer rechazada
Es más peligrosa
Que un animal salvaje
Debes tener cuidado hijito mío
Pa' que no te pase
Lo que le paso, a un cuñado mío
Dejo a su mujer
Como deja el río
El agua correr
Por el sembradío
El ya estaba cansado
De tantos celos de tanta intriga
Y un día se fue a la mar
Se metió a nadar
Conoció a una amiga
Que le hizo cantar
Y olvidar su pena
Y se enamoró de esa mujer buena
Y así se salvó
De esa cruel condena
Se fueron baile y baile
Baile y que baile
A San Juan pueblito
Y ahí miro la mañana
Y una gitana de ojos bonitos
Que le dijo ven
Por una moneda
Te voy a decir lo que a ti te espera
Vas hacer feliz
Como tú antes eras
Ámense tal como son
El que persevera alcanza
Donde celos no hay amor
No se tengan desconfianza
No se dejen engañar
Porque todo es por demás
Nadie es de nadie
No se les olvide
Que hombre y mujer
Han nacido libres
La otra te pide que vuelvas
Mas que pronto a su lado
Pero tu estas de esta otra
Totalmente enamorado
Te dice que la perdones
Todo lo que ella te hizo
Tu no eres rencoroso
Ni tampoco olvidadizo
Ay, no, no, no
Quien va a volver
Ni loco que yo estuviera
Que volver, ni que volver
Ay, no, no, no
Quien va a volver
Ni que en este mundo hubiera
Nada más que esa mujer
Aquella es una testaruda
Ignorante y prepotente
Caprichosa y corajuda
Mal pensada e imprudente
Esta en cambio es amorosa
Intuitiva, inteligente
Servicial y cariñosa
Y además es obediente
Ay, no, no, no
Quien va a volver
Ni loco que yo estuviera
Que volver, ni que volver
Ay, no, no, no
Quien va a volver
Ni que en este mundo hubiera
Nada más que esa mujer
@maggiedelgado8222
Una mujer rechazada
Es más peligrosa
Que un animal salvaje
Debes tener cuidado hijito mío
Pa' que no te pase
Lo que le paso, a un cuñado mío
Dejo a su mujer
Como deja el río
El agua correr
Por el sembradío
El ya estaba cansado
De tantos celos de tanta intriga
Y un día se fue a la mar
Se metió a nadar
Conoció a una amiga
Que le hizo cantar
Y olvidar su pena
Y se enamoró de esa mujer buena
Y así se salvó
De esa cruel condena
Se fueron baile y baile
Baile y que baile
A San Juan pueblito
Y ahí miro la mañana
Y una gitana de ojos bonitos
Que le dijo ven
Por una moneda
Te voy a decir lo que a ti te espera
Vas hacer feliz
Como tú antes eras
Ámense tal como son
El que persevera alcanza
Donde celos no hay amor
No se tengan desconfianza
No se dejen engañar
Porque todo es por demás
Nadie es de nadie
No se les olvide
Que hombre y mujer
Han nacido libres
La otra te pide que vuelvas
Mas que pronto a su lado
Pero tu estas de esta otra
Totalmente enamorado
Te dice que la perdones
Todo lo que ella te hizo
Tu no eres rencoroso
Ni tampoco olvidadizo
Ay, no, no, no
Quien va a volver
Ni loco que yo estuviera
Que volver, ni que volver
Ay, no, no, no
Quien va a volver
Ni que en este mundo hubiera
Nada más que esa mujer
Aquella es una testaruda
Ignorante y prepotente
Caprichosa y corajuda
Mal pensada e imprudente
Esta en cambio es amorosa
Intuitiva, inteligente
Servicial y cariñosa
Y además es obediente
Ay, no, no, no
Quien va a volver
Ni loco que yo estuviera
Que volver, ni que volver
Ay, no, no, no
Quien va a volver
Ni que en este mundo hubiera
Nada más que esa mujer
@nixongamba
Que majestuosidad con ese vestido, la musicalización y esa postura, elegancia y sobriedad de Rocío. Toda una reina. Hermosa
@ricosolo56
Ni espanola ni mexicana, Rocio es un patrimonio de la humanidad y de toda latinoamerica y Espana y de todos los paises que hablen espanol. Se le ama desde Alaska hasta la punta de la tierra del fuego en suramerica asi que no sean tan cerrados de mente nuestra amada Rocio no solo cantaba rancheras sino boleros, tangos, zarzuelas, jotas, musica tipica de Espana y sin mencionar que canto un pasaje de la opera " la traviata" (sempre libera) su voz unica no ha sido ni sera remplazada por nadie.
@ecando54
Milagros como estos ya no son posibles.
@randallgomezloria539
Cuando entra Rocío Dúrcal la canción toma otro color! Ojalá hubiera más artistas como ella.
@clavelc.a.9928
así es era el AURA de las canciones😭🕊🌹
@yosoyquiensoy03
ARTISTAZA 😍
@10kokokoko
La cooperacion entre ellos les sirvio a ambos. A Rocio porque revitalizo su carrera y a Juan Gabriel lo dio a conocer internacionalmente. Ambos son geniales!! Rocio te extrañamos!!!!!!!
@VOYCONPRISA
Independientemente de los comentarios malos o ciertos que haya, este concierto o llamale actuacion de ambos como duo fue extraordinaria. Creo que no vale la pena pensar que todo mundo tiene la verdad unica y tal o cual artista es o fue lo que es por ser como es o vivir como viva. La musica es lo importante en este video y estan perdiendose de la escencia del tema. Saludos a todos
@jadramx
¡Viva Rocío Dúrcal, la reina Midas: todo lo que su voz tocaba lo volvía oro!
@ruthmarcano631
El mejor duo en la historia de la musica.