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.
Yo No Nací para Amar
Juan Gabriel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Anhelaba tanto un amor que no llegó
Siempre lo esperé
Todos mis amigos se encontraban en la misma situación
Y después yo vi
Cómo iban cambiando su manera de vivir
Todos con su amor
Una soledad
Cada vez más triste y más obscura yo viví
Y a esa edad
Todos preguntaban los motivos, yo solía siempre decir
Yo no nací para amar, nadie nació para mí
Tan solo fui un loco soñador, no más
Yo no nací para amar, nadie nació para mí
Mis sueños nunca se volvieron realidad
Siempre lo busqué
Pero nunca pude encontrar ese amor
Siempre lo esperé
Y en todas partes que esperaba, ese amor nunca llegó
Hoy mi soledad
Cada vez más triste y más obscura pueden ver
Hoy, en esta edad
Aún me preguntan mis amigos y es tan triste responder
Yo no nací para amar, nadie nació para mí
Tan solo fui un loco soñador, no más
Yo no nací para amar, nadie nació para mí
Mis sueños nunca se volvieron realidad
Yo no nací para amar, nadie nació para mí
Tan solo fui un loco soñador, no más
Yo no nací para amar, nadie nació para mí
Mis sueños no se realizaron
Yo no nací
Para amar
The lyrics of Juan Gabriel's song Yo No Naci Para Amar, which translates to "I Was Not Born to Love," express the deep loneliness and disillusionment felt by the songwriter at the age of sixteen. He longed for love that never arrived, while his friends found happiness in their relationships. The singer's sadness is highlighted by the contrast between his unfulfilled dreams and the happiness of those around him.
Despite his search for love, it never came to him, and he eventually accepted that he was not meant to experience it. He describes himself as a "crazy dreamer," resigned to his fate of living a solitary life. The lyrics are a reflection on the struggles of love and the pain of feeling left out, even in a world where everyone else seems to have found what they were looking for.
The song is a poignant reminder that not everyone is fortunate enough to find love in their lives, and that some of us must accept our loneliness and let go of our dreams. The lyrics and melody of Yo No Naci Para Amar evoke a sense of sadness and isolation that many can relate to. The song speaks to the human experience of longing and unfulfilled desires, and its message has resonated with audiences for decades.
Line by Line Meaning
A mis dieciséis
At sixteen years old
Anhelaba tanto un amor que no llegó
I longed so much for a love that never came
Siempre lo esperé
I always waited for it
Todos mis amigos se encontraban en la misma situación
All my friends were in the same situation
Y después yo vi
And then I saw
Cómo iban cambiando su manera de vivir
How their way of life was changing
Todos con su amor
All with their love
Cada uno de ellos muy sonrientes, muy felices, menos yo
Each of them very happy and smiling, except for me
Una soledad
A loneliness
Cada vez más triste y más obscura yo viví
I lived increasingly sad and dark
Y a esa edad
And at that age
Todos preguntaban los motivos, yo solía siempre decir
Everyone asked for the reasons, I used to say
Yo no nací para amar, nadie nació para mí
I was not born to love, nobody was born for me
Tan solo fui un loco soñador, no más
I was just a crazy dreamer, nothing more
Siempre lo busqué
I always looked for it
Pero nunca pude encontrar ese amor
But I could never find that love
Y en todas partes que esperaba, ese amor nunca llegó
And wherever I waited, that love never came
Hoy mi soledad
Today my loneliness
Cada vez más triste y más obscura pueden ver
They can see it increasingly sad and dark
Hoy, en esta edad
Today, at this age
Aún me preguntan mis amigos y es tan triste responder
My friends still ask me, and it's so sad to answer
Mis sueños nunca se volvieron realidad
My dreams never came true
Mis sueños no se realizaron
My dreams didn't come true
Yo no nací
I wasn't born
Para amar
To love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alberto Aguilera Valadez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cristian_glow
Un día eres joven y al otro estás escuchando las canciones que escuchaban tus padres 😢
@rafaelhilario4082
Por eso hay que decirle a la cabezita Que nos deje tranquilo y vivir la vida al 100👍
@musicapopulardeespana6738
Los cantantes de ahora podrán ser millonarios y tener “hits musicales” pero jamás lograrán lo que éste señor
Trascender a través de los años y las generaciones 👏🏻
@mateohernandezdomiciano108
Los que deberás son artistas son eternos y los que no son aves de paso así considero la música de hoy en día
@MaribelGonzalez-np9lk
Siii, grande, único e inigualable, Juan Gabriel sentimientos hecho canciones...😢😢
@Krelian-ph8zs
Pero Juan Gabriel lo tuvo todo mi hermano. Voz, grandes canciones, muchos hits y mucho dinero. Gran compositor; coach de la gran Rocio Durcal.
@daliabustamante8461
Excelente cantante romántico, bella voz!
@maguadalupemedellin991
❤
@sentimentobom577
Se me salen las lágrimas de la emoción. Soy venezolano, pero al ver y escuchar esto no puedo evitar sentirme orgulloso y agradecido con Dios DE QUE EXISTA MÉXICO!!!!!
@MRami-ow1kg
Que lindo de tu parte , Gracias !!!❤️