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.
Padre
Juan Gabriel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
El agua de la mujer
Es como la mar de buena
De andar como una perpena
Por culpa de mi querer
Yo no puedo ni mirarle
Porque yo no siento amarle
Padre dame tu consejo
Porque hasta el sol de hoy no dejo
De mirarla padecer
Ella sabe que no puedo darle
Cuanto ella me pide, se enamora
Y se ilusiona cada vez pues se apasiona
Y así, si, si sigue, sigue
Ella jura y me perjura
Que el amarme le hace bien
Que de enero hasta Diciembre
Pa' quererme así por siempre
Para amar ya tengo a quien
Yo no puedo ni mirarle
Porque yo no siento amarle
Y ella lo sabe muy bien
Sálvame de estos andares
Antes que me den los mares
Del agua de esa mujer
Ella sabe que no puedo darle
Cuanto ella me pide, se enamora
Y se ilusiona cada vez pues se apasiona
Y así, si, si sigue, sigue
Ella jura y me perjura
Que el amarme le hace bien
Que de enero hasta Diciembre
Pa' quererme así por siempre
Y para amar ya tengo a quien
Yo no puedo ni mirarle
Porque yo no siento amarle
Y ella lo sabe muy bien
Sálvame de estos andares
Antes que me den los mares
¡Ay! Del agua de esa mujer
Padre dame tu consejo
De andar con la perpena y andar
Padre dame tu consejo
Por culpa de mi querer, por culpa
Padre dame tu consejo
Sálvame, sálvame, sa, sa
Padre dame tu consejo
Ella jura y me perjura
Que el amarme le hace bien
Que de enero hasta Diciembre
Pa' quererme así por siempre
Para amar tengo a quien
Padre dame tu consejo
Del agua de esa mujer
The lyrics of Juan Gabriel's song "Padre Dáme Tu Consejo" portray the singer's emotional turmoil caused by his unrequited love for a woman. He compares her to the "good sea" because of her manners, but the water of the woman's love is drowning him because he doesn't feel the same way in return. He feels guilty for causing her pain, as she knows that he cannot love her the way she wants. The singer seeks advice from his father, begging him to help him escape from this toxic situation before it gets worse.
The singer describes how the woman persists in pursuing him, despite his lack of affection towards her. She believes that loving him does her good and promises to love him forever. However, the singer already has someone to love, and he cannot force his feelings for the other woman. He fears that he will eventually hurt her, and he begs his father to save him before he drowns in the woman's love.
Overall, the song conveys the pain and confusion caused by unreciprocated love. The singer wants to do the right thing, but he is torn between his obligations and desires. He hopes to find solace and guidance from his father to overcome this difficult situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Me llego a los aparejos
I have fallen into the trap
El agua de la mujer
The allure of the woman
Es como la mar de buena
Is as powerful as the sea
De andar como una perpena
It drags me along like the tide
Por culpa de mi querer
Because of my desire
Yo no puedo ni mirarle
I cannot even look at her
Porque yo no siento amarle
Because I do not feel love for her
Y ella lo sabe muy bien
And she knows it very well
Padre dame tu consejo
Father give me your advice
Porque hasta el sol de hoy no dejo
Because even until today I cannot stop
De mirarla padecer
Watching her suffer
Ella sabe que no puedo darle
She knows I cannot give her
Cuanto ella me pide, se enamora
What she asks for, she falls in love with
Y se ilusiona cada vez pues se apasiona
And gets excited every time, because she is passionate
Y así, si, si sigue, sigue
And so, yes, she continues
Ella jura y me perjura
She swears and reassures me
Que el amarme le hace bien
That loving me is good for her
Que de enero hasta Diciembre
That from January to December
Pa' quererme así por siempre
She will love me like this forever
Para amar ya tengo a quien
I already have someone to love
Sálvame de estos andares
Save me from these ways
Antes que me den los mares
Before the seas overwhelm me
Del agua de esa mujer
Of the allure of that woman
Padre dame tu consejo
Father give me your advice
Y así, si, si sigue, sigue
And so, yes, she continues
Ella jura y me perjura
She swears and reassures me
Que el amarme le hace bien
That loving me is good for her
Que de enero hasta Diciembre
That from January to December
Pa' quererme así por siempre
She will love me like this forever
Para amar ya tengo a quien
I already have someone to love
Yo no puedo ni mirarle
I cannot even look at her
Porque yo no siento amarle
Because I do not feel love for her
Y ella lo sabe muy bien
And she knows it very well
Sálvame de estos andares
Save me from these ways
Antes que me den los mares
Before the seas overwhelm me
¡Ay! Del agua de esa mujer
Oh! The allure of that woman
Padre dame tu consejo
Father give me your advice
De andar con la perpena y andar
To walk with the tide and keep going
Por culpa de mi querer, por culpa
Because of my desire, because
Padre dame tu consejo
Father give me your advice
Sálvame, sálvame, sa, sa
Save me, save me, sa, sa
Padre dame tu consejo
Father give me your advice
Ella jura y me perjura
She swears and reassures me
Que el amarme le hace bien
That loving me is good for her
Que de enero hasta Diciembre
That from January to December
Pa' quererme así por siempre
She will love me like this forever
Para amar tengo a quien
I already have someone to love
Padre dame tu consejo
Father give me your advice
Del agua de esa mujer
Of the allure of that woman
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALBERTO AGUILERA VALADEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@HERZASA
YO CRECI SIN PADRE..LO FUE MI MADRE...TREMA HERMOSO...DESDE BOGOTA - COLOMBIA...JUANGA..HADES GRANDE A MEXICO Y ENGRANDECES EL AMOR DE LOS COLOMBIANOS POR TODOS SUS TEMAS...QUE CRECIMOS Y TODO CON ELLOS..GRACIAS A QUINES LOS SUBEN A ESTO..
@jorgeeduardocalvillo5808
HERNANDO ZAMBRANO Saludos a Colombia!!! de cd Juarez Chihuahua Mexico.
@LoganR1987
No conocía la historia de Juan Gabriel le toco muy duro en la vida , como decimos acá en Colombia este man es un verraco , esto si es un verdadero artista que se hizo a pulso y a sudor.
@alfonsolupercio8831
Canción simplemente inigualable, canción que describe a los mexicanos honestos, trabajadores sencillos y de buen corazón. Michoacan y todo el pueblo es eso puro corazón¡¡
@PedroQuincio
Bellisimo comentario.
@Roberth3dSantandrea
Vaya, jamás había escuchado ésta canción. Me hizo llorar, porque también mis padres fueron de ese origen humilde. Carpintero y piloto, mi madre ama de casa y costurera. Dios los tenga en su Santa Gloria.
@MormonHell
Por eso Juan Gabriel es amado!!! por su sensillez, es un genio y bien podria no haber sacado canciones como estas, de todas maneras iba a brillar, pero como da el corazon y la gente lo sabe, se le quiere y admira por siempre!!! Gracias Juanja por ser tu y darnos el regalo de escucharte, el mundo no seria lo mismo sin ti!!!!
@fannytorres908
GRACIAS POR COMPARTÍ TAN LINDA CANCIÓN DEDICADA A SUS PADRES .JUAN GABRIEL EL ÚNICO POR SIEMPRE VIVIRÁ EN MÍ CORAZÓN Y EN SUS CANCIONES. ME DUELE EL ❤DE ESCUCHAR SU TRISTEZA. GRANDE MÍ DIVO DE JUÁREZ. SIEMPRE SERÁS MI AMOR ETERNO. 💘🙆
@mariaconsuelomelodepena6956
No importa donde naciste ,querido poeta,mexicano, tu representas a tu pais..orgullo de tu tierra, y admiración de los pueblos hispanos, que amamos, tu hermosa musica...........
@rubenperez925
Maria Consuelo Melo de Peña Alberto Aguilera nunca se avergonzo de ser michoacano