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.
Maria De Todas Las Marias
Juan Gabriel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
María, de todas las marías
Tan bella, que hasta te pareces a la madre de Dios
María, de todas las Marías
La doña, dueña del amor
Quien fuera tus ojos ¡oh! María, María
Pero yo soy nada en ti María, María
Me conformo con esta canción
Y cantando esta canción María, María
Llegare hasta donde vive dios
Déjame llegar a ti maría, maría
Se que dios esta en tu corazón
Y cantando esta canción María, María
Llegare hasta donde vive Dios
Déjame llegar a ti maría, María
Se que dios esta en tu corazón
María
De Todas Las Marias by Juan Gabriel is a beautiful song that pays tribute to the name Maria, which is a very popular name in the Spanish speaking world, and in particular in Mexico where Juan Gabriel was from. The song starts by repeating the name Maria three times, which is a way of emphasizing the importance of the character being described. Juan Gabriel describes Maria as being the most beautiful of all the Marias, to the point that she even resembles the mother of God, which is the ultimate compliment for a woman in a predominantly Catholic country like Mexico.
Juan Gabriel then goes on to describe Maria as being the owner of the love, which means that she is a very loving and caring person, and probably the type of person that everyone would like to have in their lives. The singer then expresses his desire to see God through Maria's eyes, which is a metaphor for wanting to see the world through the eyes of someone who is pure and good-hearted, like Maria.
Finally, the song ends with a plea from the singer to Maria to let him get closer to her, because he knows that God lives in her heart. This is a very moving and powerful message, that reinforces the idea that love and faith are intertwined in a very special way.
Line by Line Meaning
María, María, María
Reverential repetition of the name Maria
María, de todas las marías
Maria, above all other Marias
Tan bella, que hasta te pareces a la madre de Dios
So beautiful, that you resemble the mother of God
María, de todas las Marías
Maria, above all other Marias
La doña, dueña del amor
Lady, owner of love
Quien fuera tus ojos ¡oh! María, María
Oh, Maria, if only I were your eyes to truly see God
Para ver realmente, quien es Dios
To truly see who God is
Pero yo soy nada en ti María, María
But I am nothing without you, Maria
Me conformo con esta canción
I am content with this song
Y cantando esta canción María, María
And by singing this song, Maria, Maria
Llegare hasta donde vive dios
I will reach where God lives
Déjame llegar a ti maría, maría
Allow me to reach you, Maria, Maria
Se que dios esta en tu corazón
I know God resides in your heart
Y cantando esta canción María, María
And by singing this song, Maria, Maria
Llegare hasta donde vive Dios
I will reach where God lives
Déjame llegar a ti maría, María
Allow me to reach you, Maria, Maria
Se que dios esta en tu corazón
I know God resides in your heart
María
Maria as a final, reverential invocation
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALBERTO AGUILERA VALADEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dulce Cotera
Maria de todas las Marias
Tan bella que hasta te pareces
A la madre de Dios
Maria de todas las Marias
La Doña dueña del Amor...
Quien fuera tus ojos oh Maria
Para ver realmente quien
Es Dios
Pero yo soy nada en ti Maria
Me conformo con esta canción
Y cantando ésta canción Maria
Llegaré hasta donde vive Dios
Dejame llegar a ti Maria
Sé que Dios está en tu corazón
🎤🎵💟🎤🎵💟🎤🎵💟
Gracias por compartir esta
Bella oración de Amor..!!!
Hugo Vargas
Que forma de cantar tan hermoso. Que talento y que inspiration. Juan Gabriel viva Mexico!
Wendy Lopez
Hermosa y única Doña María y el señor Juan Gabriel maravilloso gracias por esa joya
Dulce Cotera
Maria de todas las Marias
Tan bella que hasta te pareces
A la madre de Dios
Maria de todas las Marias
La Doña dueña del Amor...
Quien fuera tus ojos oh Maria
Para ver realmente quien
Es Dios
Pero yo soy nada en ti Maria
Me conformo con esta canción
Y cantando ésta canción Maria
Llegaré hasta donde vive Dios
Dejame llegar a ti Maria
Sé que Dios está en tu corazón
🎤🎵💟🎤🎵💟🎤🎵💟
Gracias por compartir esta
Bella oración de Amor..!!!
Veronica Gutierrez
QUE HERMOSA CANCION DEJO EL SR.JUAN GABRIEL ME SIENTO FELIZ PORQUE SE LA PUDE CANTAR A MI MADRE CUANDO LA TENIA VIVA Y SE LA SIGO CANTANDO
Lucio Martínez
Es impresionante, es como perfecta mexicana, (latinoaméricana), porque quién no se llama María.
Emoji Potter
María De Todas Las Marías Tema de Juan Gabriel Compuesto Dedicado Y Cantado Para La Doña Diva Maria Felix Quien La Oye En El 2019
Valeria Marizcal
Se la voy a dedicar a mi mamita! Mariaaaaa
Eli Costa
Que linda canción . Se la dedico a mi madre que se llamaba Gloria María.
Elizabeth Hernandez
es muy hermosa esta canción
Javier Constantino
Por alguna extraña razón se me vino esta canción a la mente y no sabia como se llamaba hasta que senti escuchar la voz de juan gabriel