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 Princesa Y La Reina
Juan Gabriel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Recibí una gran sorpresa
Ha llegado desde España
La guapísima princesa
Procedente de Madrid
La que canta y baila y reza
Y me viene a ver a mi
Ya fuera de protocolo
Se lleno de sencillez
Y me dijo, tienes arte
De la cabeza a los pies
Ay chiquillo como escribes!
Que bien bailas cuando cantas
Y como yo soy la infanta
De eso se bastante bien
Quise darle un dulce beso
En sus lindos labios rojos
Y en eso me desperté
Y en eso me desperté
A sido un sueño oh, oh!
A sido un sueño oh, oh!
Solamente ha sido un sueño
Yo jamás seré su dueño
Ella a mi ni me conoce
Solamente fue un saludo
Al cuarto para las doce
En el premiere de “yo soy esa”
De mi comadre Isabel
Que Isabel pues la pantoja
Cual otra mas iba a ser
La mujer que mas se antoja
De besarle hasta los pies
Ella si que tiene arte
Si la viera Fred Astaire
Le dijera baile usted
Mientras yo la veo y la aplaudo
Porque lo hace usted muy bien
Ay, Isabel!, ay, Isabel!, ay, Isabel!
Tu nombre me sabe a canto
Tu baile como a clavel
Isabel, Isabel, Isabel
Tu nombre me sabe a canto
Tu baile como a clavel
Esto si que no es un sueño
Adiós princesa de España
Adiós mi reina Isabel
Ojala que seas dichosa
Ojala te vuelva a ver
Aquí en México te admiran
Y eso que no te han mirado
Todo el arte que tu tienes
Pues nos tienes olvidados
Porque diantres nunca vienes
A mis treinta y dos estados
Mientras vienes dale un beso
A tu madre doña Ana
Dos abrazos a bernardo
Y tres a tu hermano juan
Pero cuatro a mi compadre
Agustín, el buen galán
Cinco al guapo de francisco
Que ya un hombre debe ser
Seis besitos a la niña
Esa niña que al nacer
Su papa que esta en la gloria
Le llamo niña Isabel
Isabel, Isabel, Isabel ay, ay!
Tu nombre me sabe a canto
Tu baile como a clavel
Isabel, Isabel, Isabel, Isabel ay, ay!
Tu nombre me sabe a canto
Tu baile como a clavel
Y a través de ella te canta
Y te baila sevillanas
Para que nunca estés sola
Para que nunca estés triste
Para que nunca pienses
Que la eternidad no existe
Eres como el mar de grande
Eres como el pan de buen
Eres como el sol brillante
Igual que la luna llena
Eres un sueño oh, oh!
Eres un sueño oh, oh!
Eres un sueño oh, oh!
Eres un sueño
The song "La Princesa Y La Reina" by Juan Gabriel is about the unexpected meeting between the singer and a beautiful princess who has come all the way from Spain to visit him. The lyrics describe how the princess is charming, talented and down-to-earth despite her royal status. The singer is smitten with her and wants to kiss her but then realizes it was all just a dream. Later in the song, the focus shifts to another woman named Isabel, who is a famous singer and dancer. The singer admires Isabel's talent and beauty and wishes her well. He also sends his greetings to her family members and friends, showing his affection for them as well. The song ends with the idea that through music and dance, people can connect with each other and find joy and comfort.
The lyrics of "La Princesa Y La Reina" reflect the theme of love and admiration. The song is rich in imagery and uses metaphors such as "you are like the sea, like the sun, like the moon" to express the beauty and greatness of the women being praised. The dream-like quality of the lyrics suggests that the singer's feelings are intense but fleeting, as he knows that he will never be able to have a real relationship with the princess or with Isabel. However, the song also suggests that the power of music and art can transcend geographical and cultural boundaries and bring people together.
Line by Line Meaning
A las diez de la mañana
At 10 am
Recibí una gran sorpresa
Received a big surprise
Ha llegado desde España
She has arrived from Spain
La guapísima princesa
The beautiful princess
Procedente de Madrid
Coming from Madrid
La que canta y baila y reza
The one who sings, dances and prays
Y me viene a ver a mi
And she came to see me
Y me dijo la guapeza
And she said to me, beautiful
Ya fuera de protocolo
Already outside of protocol
Se lleno de sencillez
She was filled with simplicity
Y me dijo, tienes arte
And she said to me, you have art
De la cabeza a los pies
From head to toe
Ay chiquillo como escribes!
Oh boy how you write!
Que bien bailas cuando cantas
How well you dance when you sing
Y como yo soy la infanta
And as I am the princess
De eso se bastante bien
I know that quite well
Quise darle un dulce beso
I wanted to give her a sweet kiss
En sus lindos labios rojos
On her beautiful red lips
Y en eso me desperté
And then I woke up
A sido un sueño oh, oh!
It was a dream
Solamente ha sido un sueño
It was only a dream
Yo jamás seré su dueño
I will never be her owner
Ella a mi ni me conoce
She doesn't even know me
Solamente fue un saludo
It was just a greeting
Al cuarto para las doce
Quarter to twelve
En el premiere de “yo soy esa”
At the premiere of "I am that"
De mi comadre Isabel
With my godmother Isabel
Que Isabel pues la pantoja
Isabel, Pantoja
Cual otra mas iba a ser
Who else could it be
La mujer que mas se antoja
The woman who is most desired
De besarle hasta los pies
To kiss her feet
Ella si que tiene arte
She really has art
Si la viera Fred Astaire
If Fred Astaire saw her
Le dijera baile usted
He would tell her to dance
Mientras yo la veo y la aplaudo
While I watch and applaud
Ay, Isabel!, ay, Isabel!, ay, Isabel!
Oh, Isabel!
Tu nombre me sabe a canto
Your name tastes like a song
Tu baile como a clavel
Your dance is like a carnation
Isabel, Isabel, Isabel
Isabel
Esto si que no es un sueño
This is not a dream
Adiós princesa de España
Goodbye princess of Spain
Adiós mi reina Isabel
Goodbye my queen Isabel
Ojala que seas dichosa
I hope you are happy
Ojala te vuelva a ver
I hope to see you again
Aquí en México te admiran
Here in Mexico they admire you
Y eso que no te han mirado
And they haven't even seen you
Todo el arte que tu tienes
All the art that you have
Pues nos tienes olvidados
Because you have forgotten us
Porque diantres nunca vienes
Why on earth don't you come
A mis treinta y dos estados
To my 32 states
Mientras vienes dale un beso
While you come, give a kiss
A tu madre doña Ana
To your mother Dona Ana
Dos abrazos a bernardo
Two hugs to Bernardo
Y tres a tu hermano juan
And three to your brother Juan
Pero cuatro a mi compadre
But four to my godfather
Agustín, el buen galán
Agustin, the handsome man
Cinco al guapo de francisco
Five to the handsome Francisco
Que ya un hombre debe ser
Who is already a man
Seis besitos a la niña
Six little kisses to the girl
Esa niña que al nacer
That girl who when born
Su papa que esta en la gloria
Her father who is in heaven
Le llamo niña Isabel
He called her girl Isabel
Isabel, Isabel, Isabel ay, ay!
Isabel
Tu nombre me sabe a canto
Your name tastes like a song
Tu baile como a clavel
Your dance is like a carnation
Y a través de ella te canta
And through her, he sings to you
Y te baila sevillanas
And dances Sevillanas for you
Para que nunca estés sola
So you are never alone
Para que nunca estés triste
So you are never sad
Para que nunca pienses
So you never think
Que la eternidad no existe
That eternity doesn't exist
Eres como el mar de grande
You are as big as the sea
Eres como el pan de buen
You are like good bread
Eres como el sol brillante
You are like a bright sun
Igual que la luna llena
Just like the full moon
Eres un sueño oh, oh!
You are a dream
Eres un sueño oh, oh!
You are a dream
Eres un sueño oh, oh!
You are a dream
Eres un sueño
You are a dream
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALBERTO AGUILERA VALADEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jose ramon Garibay
Este disco mucha gente ni lo conoce los críticos tampoco ni lo toman en cuenta pero está con madre
Juan Marin
hermosas canciones de juan gabriel no como las de hoy que dicen tantas groserías y violencia viva aguascalientes y canciones de juan gabriel mi divo de juarez
eduardo lopez
Que canción tan chingona.. que inspiración para hacer de un encuentro una hermosa canción..era una máquina de hacer canciones.. Dios te guarde Alberto..
Sylvia Stella
Hermosa canción compuesta para Isabel t.am M.L ❤️🎤
jhon jairo corpas diaz
Este tal Juan Gabriel ..se pasa de super genio
abraham melendez
Una composicion de juan gabriel!!
Diana Tijerina
Eres un sueño AAV 😘🎵
J0aquín Gabriel
Para su comadre Isabel pantoja!!!
Leonardo Gomez
MAMÁ