Juan Gabriel

Juan Gabriel

Juan Gabriel
Birth name Alberto Aguilera Valadéz
Also known as Adan Luna, Juan Gabriel, Juanga, El divo de Juárez,
Born 7 January 1950 (1950-01-07) (age 60)
Parácuaro, Michoacán, Mexico
Genres Mariachi
Ranchera
Latin Pop / Mexican pop
Occupations Singer/Composer
Years active 1971–present
Labels Universal Music BMG RCA Records
Website JuanGabriel
Alberto Aguilera Valadéz (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]
Biography
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 El Noa Noa, which was later immortalized in one of his most popular songs 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]

Career
In 1971, he landed a recording contract with RCA Records.Thanks to executive Astronuat Producer, Jon Gordillo, he became a well known artist. 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 Angélica María, Gualberto Castro, Aida Cuevas, Enriqueta Jiménez, Lucha Villa, Ana Gabriel and International stars José José, Luis Miguel and Rocío Dúrcal.[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 Rocío Dúrcal, 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]

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]

Personal life
He has four children and stated they are all adopted.[11] When asked whether he was gay, he 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», roughly translating to What is seen does not need to be asked, son. I don’t have to tell you things that do not concern you or other people. I think that I am an artist that has given much with my songs.

On 14 November 2005, Juan Gabriel was injured when he fell from the stage at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, and was hospitalized at the Texas Medical Center[12][13] He sustained a fractured wrist.

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 Juárez, Mexico. It serves school children between the ages of 6 to 12.[15]

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 Opinión 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[21]
[edit] Notable discography of Juan Gabriel[4]
[edit] Albums
2010: Mis Favoritas
2010: Juan Gabriel
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
2004: Los 15 Grandes Exitos de Juan Gabriel
2004: 15 Exitos de Juan Gabriel
2004: El Unico: Sus Más Grandes Exitos
2003: Inocente de Ti
2001: Por Los Siglos
2000: Abrázame Muy Fuerte
1999: Todo Está Bien
1999: Romanticos!
1998: Con la Banda…El Recodo with Banda el Recodo
1998: Por Mi Orgullo
1998: Celebracion de los 25 Años de Juan Gabriel en Bellas Artes
1997: Juntos Otra Vez with Rocío Dúrcal
1996: Del Otro Lado
1996: 25 Aniversario : Solos , Duetos Y Versiones Especiales
1996: Juan Gabriel Con Mariachi , vol. 2
1995: El México Que Se Fue n º
1994: Esperar Por Gracias
1990: Juan Gabriel en El Palacio de Bellas Artes
1988: Debo Hacerlo
1988: 14 Exitos Originales Para Ti
1997: Frente a Frente, Vol. 2
1986: Frente a Frente, Vol. 1
1986: Pensamientos
1984: Recuerdos Vol.II
1983: Todo Todo
1982: Cosas De Enamorados
1981: Con Tu Amor
1980: Ella
1980: Juan Gabriel Con Mariachi
1980: Recuerdos
1979: Me Gusta Bailar Contigo
1978: Mis Ojos Tristes
1978: Espectacular
1978: Siempre En Mi Mente
1978: Siempre Estoy Pensando en Ti
1977: Te Llegará Mi Olvido
1976: Juan Gabriel con, Mariachi Vol. II
1976: A Mi Guitarra
1975: 10 Exitos de Juan Gabriel
1974: Juan Gabriel Con El Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlan
1973: El Alma Joven Vol.III
1972: El Alma Joven Vol.II
1971: El Alma Joven…
Singles
«No tengo dinero» («I Have No Money») 1971
«Se me olvidó otra vez» («I’ve Forgotten Again») 1974
«He venido a pedirte perdón» («I Have Come To Ask for Forgiveness»)
«Siempre en mi mente» («Always On My Mind») 1978
«Querida» («My Dear»)
«Mañana, mañana» («Tomorrow, Tomorrow»)
«La diferencia» («The Difference»)
«El Noa Noa»
«Mis ojos tristes» («My Sad Eyes»)
«Perdóname, olvídalo» («Forgive me forget it»)
«Amor, amor es amor» (Love love is love»)
«El México que se nos fue» («The Mexico That Got Away From Us»)
«Yo no nací para amar» («I Wasn’t Born To Love»)
«Insensible»
«Yo no sé que me pasó» 1986
«Qué lástima» («What a pitty») 1987
«Hasta que te conocí» («‘Til I Met You») 1987
«Debo hacerlo» («I Have to Do It») 1988
«Sólo sé que fue en marzo» («I Only Know It Happened In March») 1988
«No me vuelvo a enamorar» («I Won’t Fall In Love Again») 1988
«Amor eterno» («Eternal Love») 1991
«Pero, ¿qué necesidad?» («What’s the Point») 1994
«Lentamente» 1994
«El palo» («The stick»)1995
«Canción 187» («Song 187») 1995
«Muriendo de amor» (Dying of Love»)1995
«Mi bendita tierra» 1996
«Mi pueblo» (with Paul Anka) 1996
«Te sigo amando» («I Still Love You») 1997
«El destino» («Destiny») 1997
«La incertidumbre» (with Rocío Dúrcal) 1997
«Así fue» («So It Was») 1998
«Adorable mentirosa» (with Banda El Recodo) 1999
«Te doy las gracias» (with Banda El Recodo) 1999
«Infidelidad» (with Banda El Recodo) 1999
«El sinaloense» (with Banda El Recodo) 1999
«Todo está bien» («Everything is fine») 1999
«Abrázame muy fuerte» («Embrace Me Very Tight») 2001
«Inocente pobre amigo» («My Poor Innocent Friend») 2001
«Inocente de ti» («How Innocent You Are») 2003
«Yo te recuerdo» («I Remember You») 2004