Juan Gabriel
Background information
Birth name	Alberto Aguilera Valadez
Also known as	Adan Luna, Juan Gabriel, Juanga, El divo de Juárez
Born	7 January 1950 (1950-01-07) (age 59) Parácuaro, Michoacán, Mexico
Genres	Mariachi Ranchera Latin Pop / Mexican pop
Years active	1971—Present
Labels	RCA Records
Website	JuanGabriel.com.mx

Alberto Aguilera Valadez (born January 7, 1950), better known by his stage name Juan Gabriel, is a Mexican^[1] singer and songwriter who is one of the most famous living representatives of the Mexican ranchera, ballad, mariachi, and pop music.^[2]

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early life 1.2 Career 1.3 BMG Copyright Dispute 2 Personal life 3 Charity Work 4 Awards and achievements 5 Films 6 Notable discography of Juan Gabriel[4] 6.1 Albums 6.2 Singles 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Born in Paracuaro, Michoacán, he attended boarding school in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua^[3], but he left to work as a craftsman at the age of 13. Already a songwriter, he began his performing career in nightclubs and local television using the stage name Adán Luna. A lot of his musical skills were also learned from an older man that befriended Alberto at an early age. He perfected playing the guitar and eventually changed his name to Juan Gabriel to honor his friend and his father, dropping Adan Luna completely.^[4] Juan became a vegetarian some years ago and is convinced of the health benefits afforded by the diet. [1]

Juan Gabriel is best known for his first hit single "Querida" and his recent "Abrázame Muy Fuerte."

[edit] Career

In 1971, he landed a recording contract with RCA Records. He has written and recorded over 1000 songs in a variety of music genre.^[5] Changing his name to Juan Gabriel - Juan in honor of a schoolmaster for whom he held great admiration and adopting the stage surname of Gabriel in honor of his own deceased father, Gabriel Aguilera ,^[6], he gradually 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 International star José José, Angélica María, Gualberto Castro, Aida Cuevas, Enriqueta Jiménez, Lucha Villa, Ana Gabriel, Luis Miguel and Rocio Durcal.^[7]

Gabriel made his film debut in 1975 in the movie Nobleza ranchera. .[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 Rocio Durcal, Lucha Villa, Lola Beltran and Paul Anka.^[8][9] In 1984, he scored what is considered by many of his fans to be his greatest hit, "Querida" ("My Dear") which stayed for over a year on the top of the hits chart.^[10]

[edit] BMG Copyright Dispute

During 1986 to 1994 Aguilera refused to record any material with BMG over copyrights to his songs. During the dispute he continued to perform live. In 2000, according to the agreement between Gabriel and BMG, he assumed complete copyright and management responsibilities of more than 500 songs.^[4] Juan Gabriel's entire song catalogue is published by BMG Music Publishing.^[5]

[edit] Personal life

He has four children and stated they are not adopted and revealed that he had them with his life-long best friend.^[11]

Juan Gabriel, when he was asked about whether he was gay, replied "Lo que se ve no se pregunta, mijo. Yo no tengo por qué decirle cosas que a usted, como a muchas otras personas, no les interesa, yo pienso que soy un artista que he dado mucho con mis canciones". ("What is seen is not asked about, young man. I have no reason to tell you, nor others, things that are none of your concern, dear. I feel I am an artist who has contributed much with my songs").[2]

On 14 November 2005, Juan Gabriel was seriously injured when he fell from the stage at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, and was hospitalized at the Texas Medical Center^[12][13]

[edit] Charity Work

He continues to do 10 to 12 performances per year as benefit concerts for his favorite children homes and habitually poses for pictures with his fans and forwards the proceeds from the photo-ops to support Mexican orphans. ^[4] In 1987, Juan Gabriel founded Semjase^[14], a house for orphaned and underserved children located in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. It serves school children between the ages of 6 to 12.^[15]

[edit] Awards and achievements

• In 1986, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley declared October 5 "The Day of Juan Gabriel." ^[5]
• Billboard, inducted into the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame 1996^[16][5]
• ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Award in 1995^[17]
• A six time Grammy nominee^[18]
• Sold 100 million copies of his albums ^[19]
• 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^[4]
• La Opinion Tributo Nacional (Lifetime Achievement Award), 1999^[4]
• 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.^[4]
• Singer and Composer Juan Gabriel Takes home 4 Billboard Awards, 2002^[20]
• 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.

[edit] Films

• 2007: La niñera Tv Series Voice Juan Gabriel
• 2000: Evicted
• 1990: Bazar Viena
• 1984: Siempre en domingo
• 1982: Es mi vida
• 1980: Del otro lado del puente
• 1980: El Noa Noa
• 1979: En esta primavera
• 1977: Nobleza ranchera

[edit] Notable discography of Juan Gabriel^[4]

[edit] Albums

• 2009: Mis Canciones, Mis Amigos
• 2008: El Divo Canta A México
• 2008: Los Gabriel... Para ti With Ana Gabriel
• 2008: Los Gabriel: Cantan a México With Ana Gabriel
• 2007: Los Gabriel… Simplemente Amigos With Ana Gabriel
• 2006: La historia del divo Original recording remastered
• 2004: Concierto En Atlanta
• 2003: Concierto En El Estadio Azteca
• 2003: Inocente de Ti
• 2001: Por Los Siglos
• 2001: Abrazame Muy Fuerte
• 1999: Todo Esta Bien, Ariola International
• 1998: Con la Banda...El Recodo!!!, RCA
• 1998: Celebracion De los 25 Años de Juan Gabriel en Bellas Artes, (Twenty five year Celebration of Juan Gabriel in the Arts) RCA
• 1998: Por Mi Orgullo
• 1997: Juntos Otra Vez with Rocío Dúrcal, BMG Latin
• 1996: 25 Aniversario: Solos, Duetos Y Versiones Especiales, BMG Latin
• 1996: Juan Gabriel con Mariachi, Vol. 2
• 1995: El Mexico Que Se Nos Fue, Ariola
• 1994: Gracias Por Esperar, BMG Latin
• 1990: Juan Gabriel en el Palacio de Bellas Artes, RCA
• 1988: Debo Hacerlo, BMG/RCA
• 1997: Para Ti 14 Exitos Originales
• 1986: Pensamientos, RCA
• 1984: Recuerdos Vol.II, RCA
• 1983: Todo, Ariola
• 1982: Cosas De Enamorados ,Ariola
• 1981: Con Tu Amor ,Ariola
• 1980: Ella ,RCA
• 1980: Juan Gabriel Con Mariachi, RCA
• 1980: Recuerdos (Memories),Sony Music / Ariola
• 1979: Me Gusta Bailar Contigo ,RCA (Soundtrack to the Film “Del Otro Lado del Puente”
• 1978: Mis Ojos Tristes ,RCA
• 1978: Espectacular ,RCA
• 1978: Siempre En Mi Mente ,RCA
• 1977: Te Llegara Mi Olvido ,RCA (With Mariachi)
• 1976: Juan Gabriel Canta Con Mariachi Vol.II ,RCA
• 1976: A Mi Guitarra ,RCA
• 1975: 10 Exitos de Juan Gabriel
• 1974: Juan Gabriel Con El Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlan ,RCA
• 1973: El Alma Joven Vol.III ,RCA
• 1972: El Alma Joven Vol.II ,RCA
• 1971: El Alma Joven ,RCA

[edit] Singles

• "Yo No Sé Qué Me Pasó" 1986
• "El Palo," 1995
• "Mi Pueblo" (with Paul Anka), 1996.
• "Te Sigo Amando," 1997("I Still Love You")
• "Asi Fue," 1998 ("So It Was")
• "El Destino," 1997 ("Destiny")
• "Hasta Que Te Conocí" ("'Til I Met You")
• "Solo Sé Que Fue En Marzo" ("I Only Know It Happened In March")
• "He Venido A Pedirte Perdón" ("I Have Come To Ask for Forgiveness")
• "Siempre En Mi Mente" ("Always On My Mind")
• "No Me Vuelvo A Enamorar" ("I Won't Fall In Love Again")
• "Inocente Pobre Amigo" ("My Poor Innocent Friend")
• "Querida" ("My Dear")
• "Abrázame Muy Fuerte" ("Hug Me Tight")
• "Inocente De Ti" ("How Innocent You Are")
• "Se Me Olvidó Otra Vez" ("I've Forgotten Again")
• "Yo Te Recuerdo" ("I Remember you")
• "No Tengo Dinero" ("I Have No Money") 1971
• "Pero Que Necesidad",("What's the point")1994
• "Mañana, Mañana" ("Tomorrow, Tomorrow")
• "Amor Eterno ("Eternal Love")
• "Debo Hacerlo" ("I Have to Do It")
• "La Diferencia" ("The Difference")
• "El Noa Noa"
• "Mis ojos tristes" ("My Sad Eyes")
• "Perdoname Olvidalo"
• "Amor amor es amor"
• "El Mexico Que Se Nos Fue" ("The Mexico That Got Away From Us")
• "Yo No Naci Para Amar" ("I Wasn't Born To Love")
• "Insensible"

[edit] See also

• List of best-selling music artists
• mariachi

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Juan Gabriel -videos
• Biography and discography at theicebergradio.com
• Juan Gabriel Juan Gabriel.com.mx/
• Juan Gabriel Universal Excellent site devoted to artist
• Official MySpace