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.
Me He Quedado Solo
Juan Gabriel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Comprendo lo mucho que te quiero mi amor
Me ciento tan cansado de pensar en ti
De preguntarme donde estarás
Me he quedado solo sin tus besos
Estoy solo triste abandonado
Vida tu eres todo lo que tengo
Le he pedido al cielo que regreses
A mi
Quisiera que volverás muy pronto
Mi amor
Y que olvidaras el pasado
Te juro que yo tanto he cambiado por ti
Me he quedado solo
Sin tus besos
Estoy solo triste triste abandonado
Vida tu eres todo lo que tengo
Me has dejado solo estoy llorando
Le he pedido al cielo que regreses
A mi
Ahora que te encuentras tan lejos de mi
Comprendo lo mucho que te quiero mi amor
Me ciento tan cansado de pensar en ti
De preguntarme donde estarás
Me he quedado solo sin tus besos
Estoy triste solo abandonado
Vida tu eres lo que tengo
Me has dejado solo estoy llorando
Le he pedido al cielo que regreses
A mi
Me he quedado solo sin tus besos
Estoy solo triste abandonado
Vida tu eres todo lo que tengo
Me has dejado solo estoy llorando
Le he pedido al cielo que regreses
A mi
The lyrics of Juan Gabriel's song Me He Quedado Solo express the feeling of loneliness and heartbreak that the singer is experiencing after being left by his loved one. The song starts with the singer acknowledging the distance between them and realizing how much he loves his partner. He confesses to feeling tired of constantly thinking about them and wondering where they could be.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Me he quedado solo sin tus besos" (I am alone without your kisses) several times, emphasizing the feeling of emptiness and abandonment that the singer is feeling. He begs for his partner to return, acknowledging that they are everything he has and that he is crying because they left him. In the second verse, the singer expresses his desire for his partner to come back soon and forget about the past. He promises that he has changed for them and that he wants to make things work.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of melancholy and longing for the person that the singer loves. He is hoping that they will reunite and that their love will be strong enough to overcome whatever obstacles they may encounter.
Line by Line Meaning
Ahora que te encuentras tan lejos de mi
Now that you are so far away from me, I realize how much I love you, my love.
Comprendo lo mucho que te quiero mi amor
I understand how much I love you, my love.
Me ciento tan cansado de pensar en ti
I feel so tired of thinking about you.
De preguntarme donde estarás
Asking myself where you are.
Me he quedado solo sin tus besos
I am alone without your kisses.
Estoy solo triste abandonado
I am alone, sad and abandoned.
Vida tu eres todo lo que tengo
Life, you are all that I have.
Me has dejado solo estoy llorando
You have left me alone, and I am crying.
Le he pedido al cielo que regreses
I have asked heaven for you to come back.
A mi
To me.
Quisiera que volverás muy pronto
I wish you would come back very soon.
Mi amor
My love.
Y que olvidaras el pasado
And that you would forget the past.
Te juro que yo tanto he cambiado por ti
I swear that I have changed so much for you.
Estoy triste solo abandonado
I am sad, alone and abandoned.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALBERTO AGUILERA VALADEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Salva rod
Ahora que te encuentras tan lejos de mi
Comprendo lo mucho que te quiero mi amor
Me siento tan cansado de pensar en ti,
De preguntarme donde estarás
Coro
Me he quedado solo sin tus besos
Estoy solo, triste, abandonado,
Vida tu eres todo lo que tengo,
Me has dejado solo, estoy llorando
Le he pedido al cielo que regreses, a mi
Quisiera que volvieras muy pronto mi amor,
Que olvidaras todo el pasado también,
Te juro que yo tanto he cambiado por ti que arrepentido estoy del ayer
(CORO)
Ahora que te encuentras tan lejos de mi
Comprendo lo mucho que te quiero mi amor
Me siento tan cansado de pensar en ti,
De preguntarme donde estarás
(CORO X4)
Angel Michael
Sus letras, el reflejo de su alma, no habrá ninguno como él,.... RIP el querido e inolvidable JUAN GABRIEL...
Luz Cabanillas Arias
Nunca seras olvidado descansa en Paz .♥ ♥
Raul Perez
Todas tus canciones son un inmenso regalo para todos que ya marcharon los que aun vivimos y las nuevas generaciones que vendrán eternamente Alberto “ Juan Gabriel “
Jose Valenzuela ramirez
Un gran recuerdo con juan Gabriel
anjinoal389
DIVINAS CANCIONES NOS DEJAS PARA SEGUIRLAS DISFRUTANDO JUAN GABRIEL..... NO HABRÁ OTRO COMO TU CON ESE TALENTO, SENCILLEZ Y TODO LO QUE NOS HEREDAS, MUCHAS GRACIAS POR TODO.......... HASTA SIEMPRE JUANGA!!!! Q.E.P.D.
Luis Alberto Morales Rodríguez
Maravilloso tema, su música quedará por siempre y pasará de generación en generación 😊😊😊
Jose Daniel Mendoza Freitez
Juanga vuela muy alto, Dios te de el descanso eterno, una hermosa experiencia haber crecido con tus canciones para todos inolvidables. nos has dejado un inmenso vacio en nuestros corazones !
Nelida Galardi
Que hermosa voz! De mayor aveces sonaba ronco ,pienso que se esforzaba mucho al cantar tantas hrs en sus consiertos,x ronquito y todo era hermoso mi Juanga querido,😍🥰👏👏👏🤟🌹🌷🥀🌷🌹🇺🇾🇺🇾🇺🇾
alice solano
lástima por tu partida, pero es el viaje que todos debemos hacer en algún momento.. Dios te conceda paz a tu alma .tu música sera nuestro consuelo hasta siempre Juan Gabriel😭😭
Egroj Siul
Es muy cierto lo que dices Alice, el problema es que se nos fue muy pronto, paz a su alma,