Juan Gabriel

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Juan Gabriel
Birth Name Alberto Aguilera Valadez
Also known as Adan Luna, Juan Gabriel,Juanga
Born 7 January 1950
Parácuaro, Michoacán, Mexico
Years active 1971—
Genre(s) Mariachi, Ranchera, Spanish Pop/Rock
Biggest single "Querida" (1984)
Label(s) RCA Records
Official website JuanGabriel.com.mx

Juan Gabriel,also Known as "Juanga" (born Alberto Aguilera Valadez on 7 January 1950 is a Mexican[1] singer and songwriter who is the most successful popular musician in the history of Mexican music,[citation needed] and one of the most famous living representatives of the Mexican ranchera, ballad, mariachi, and pop music.[2]

Contents

[edit] Early life

Born in Parácuaro, 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]

[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 GabrielJuan 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 as rancheras with mariachi, ballads, pop, rock, disco, with an incredible string of hits for himself and for leading Latin singers including Estela Nuñez, Angélica María, Aida Cuevas,Enriqueta Jiménez, Lucha Villa, Ana Gabriel, Marc Anthony, Rocio Durcal and Son del Son.[7]

Aguilera 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 MNG over copyrits to his songs. During the dispute he continued to perform live. In 2000, according to the agreement between Gabriel and BMG, he assumed compete copyright and management resposibilities of more than 500 songs.[11] Juan Gabriel's entire song catalogue is published by BMG Music Publishing.[12]

Aguilera is popular throughout the Spanish-speaking world and has sold over 50 million and counting.[13] One of his best albums, Recuerdos Vol. II, which included his hit "Querida", sold 1.5 million copies in one month and a half just in Mexico.[14]

He has four children and stated they are not adopted and revealed that he had them with "mi mejor amiga para toda la vida" (my best friend for all of my life).[15] He stated:"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",[16] as to the question if he was gay.

During most of his career, there was speculation of him being gay or not, because of his effeminate appearance and manners. He is reported to be gay by Spanish-language media.[citation needed]

On 14 November 2005, Aguilera was injured when he fell from the stage at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, and was hospitalized at the Texas Medical Center[17][18]

[edit] Charity Work

He continues to do ten to 12 performances per year as benefit concerts for his favorite children's homes and habitually poses for pictures with his fans and forwards the proceeds from the photo-ops to support Mexican orphans.[19] In 1987 Juan Gabriel founded Semjase[20], a house for orphaned and underserved children located in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Serving school children between the ages of 6 to 12.[21]

[edit] Awards and achievements

  • In 1986, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley declared October 5 "The Day of Juan Gabriel." [22]
  • Billboard, inducted into the Latin Music Hall Of Fame 1996[23][24]
  • ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Award in 1995[25]
  • A six time Grammy nominee[26]
  • Sold 30 million copies of his albums [27]
  • 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[28]
  • La Opinion Tributo Nacional (Lifetime Achievement Award), 1999[29]
  • 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.[30]
  • Singer and Composer Juan Gabriel Takes home 4 Billboard Awards, 2002[31]

[edit] Notable discography of Juan Gabriel[32]

[edit] Singles

  • "Yo No Se Que Me Paso," 1986
  • "El Palo," 1995
  • "Mi Pueblo" (with Paul Anka), 1996.
  • "Te Sigo Amando," 1997
  • "Asi Tu," 1998
  • "El Destino," 1997
  • "Hasta Que Te Conocí" ("Until 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 In My Mind")
  • "No Me Vuelvo A Enamorar" ("I Won't Fall In Love Again")
  • "Inocente Pobre Amigo" ("Innocent Poor Friend")
  • "Querida" ("My Dear")
  • "Abrázame Muy Fuerte" ("Hold Me Tightly")
  • "Inocente De Ti" ("Innocent of You")
  • "Se Me Olvidó Otra Vez" ("I Forgot Again")
  • "Yo Te Recuerdo" ("I Remember you")
  • "Te Sigo Amando" ("I Still Love you")
  • "No Tengo Dinero" ("I Have no Money") 1971
  • "Pero Que Necesidad",("But What Necessity …Why So Many Problems")1994

[edit] Albums

  • Baladas, RCA, 1978
  • Siempre Estoy Pensando en Ti, RCA, 1978
  • Recuerdos (Remember), Ariola, 1980
  • Cosas de Enamorados, RCA, 1982
  • Lo Mejor de Juan Gabriel con Mariachi, RCA, 1983
  • Todo, RCA, 1983
  • Recuerdos 2, RCA, 1984
  • Pensamientos, RCA, 1986
  • Frente a Frente, Vol. 1, RCA, 1987
  • Frente a Frente, Vol. 2, RCA, 1987
  • Debo Hacerlo, RCA, 1988.
  • Juan Gabriel con el Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, RCA, 1990
  • Juan Gabriel en el Palacio de Bellas Artes, RCA, 1990
  • Con Tu Amor, Ariola, 1992
  • Te Llegara Mi Olvido, RCA, 1992
  • Mis Ojos Tristes, Ariola, 1992
  • Inspiration, Fonovisa, 1992
  • En el Palacio de Bellas Artes, BMG, 1992
  • Gracias Por Esperar, BMG Latin, 1994
  • Musipistas, Discos DCO, 1995
  • El Mexico Que Se Nos Fue, Ariola, 1995
  • El Alma Joven, Voi. 3, RCA, 1996
  • Juan Gabriel Con El Mariachi De America De Jesus Rodriguez de Hijar, RCA, 1996
  • Juan Gabriel Con Mariachi, Vol. 2, RCA, 1996
  • Del Otro Lado, RCA, 1996
  • Siempre En Mi Mente, RCA, 1996
  • Mejor de Los 3 Grandes, RCA, 1996
  • Me Gusta Bailar Contigo, BMG, 1996
  • Espectacular, RCA, 1996
  • Gabriel, Juan, RCA, 1996
  • El Alma Joven, RCA, 1996
  • A Mi Guitarra, BMG, 1996
  • Juntos Otra Vaz, RCA, 1997
  • Lo Mejor de Gabriel Y Manzanero, Polygram, 1997
  • Juan Gabriel, BMG Latin, 1997
  • Homenaje a Juan Gabriel, Simitar Latino, 1997
  • 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, RCA, 1998
  • Con la Banda...El Recodo, RCA, 1998
  • Querida, RCA, 2000
  • Juan Gabriel, RCA, 2000

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.contactomagazine.com/juanga0418.htm
  2. ^ Hispanicnews.com,http://www.hispanianews.com/archive/1999/March19/06.htm
  3. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:ofx7gjvrj6im~T10
  4. ^ http://arts.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/gabriel-juan-biography
  5. ^ http://www.hispanianews.com/archive/1999/March19/06.htm
  6. ^ http://arts.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/gabriel-juan-biography,
  7. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:ofx7gjvrj6im~T10
  8. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:ofx7gjvrj6im~T10
  9. ^ Biography at Yahoo Shopping
  10. ^ http://www.ticketcity.com/Juan-Gabriel-Tickets.html
  11. ^ http://arts.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/gabriel-juan-biography
  12. ^ http://www.hispanianews.com/archive/1999/March19/06.htm
  13. ^ Chicago Sun-Times (April 2006,http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20060410/ai_n16182424
  14. ^ http://www.ticketcity.com/Juan-Gabriel-Tickets.html
  15. ^ http://www.teleguia.us/articulo/default.asp?EditionID=37&ArticleID=273
  16. ^ http://www.teleguia.us/articulo/default.asp?EditionID=37&ArticleID=273
  17. ^ NBC5 Chicago, http://www.nbc5.com/irresistible/5339032/detail.html?z=dp&dpswid=1260382&dppid=65193
  18. ^ http://www.click2houston.com/news/5320221/detail.html
  19. ^ http://arts.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/gabriel-juan-biography
  20. ^ Juan Gabriel.com, Bio, http://www.juangabriel.com.mx/AA/bio/biog4.html
  21. ^ Hispanicnews.com, http://www.hispanianews.com/archive/1999/March19/06.htm
  22. ^ http://www.hispanianews.com/archive/1999/March19/06.htm
  23. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:ofx7gjvrj6im~T10
  24. ^ http://www.hispanianews.com/archive/1999/March19/06.htm
  25. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:ofx7gjvrj6im~T10
  26. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:ofx7gjvrj6im~T10
  27. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:ofx7gjvrj6im~T10
  28. ^ http://arts.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/gabriel-juan-biography
  29. ^ http://arts.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/gabriel-juan-biography
  30. ^ http://arts.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/gabriel-juan-biography
  31. ^ http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2002_May_10/ai_85674084
  32. ^ http://arts.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/gabriel-juan-biography

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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