Juan Gabriel was a prominent Mexican actor/singer/songwriter famous for being one of the best-selling musicians and songwriters in Latin America. Also renowned for his iconic songs and flamboyant style, the singer is considered to this day the king of Mexican pop and a major influence on several accomplished singers around the world. Juan is considered one of the most prolific stars of the Mexican scene of all time, having lived his life on the microphone from 1971 until 2016, when he breathed his last.
Who is Juan Gabriel?
Professionally known as Juan Gabriel, Juan deSouvenir Blessed was born on January 7, 1950, in Paracuaro, Michoacán, Mexico, Alberto Aguilera Valadez, to peasants Victoria Valadez (mother) and Gabriel Aguilera (father). He was a prominent songwriter, singer, and actor, born to his parents’ tenth child. When Gabriel was just three months old, his father mistakenly burned down some foreign land, which pissed him off and nearly led him to commit suicide. He was then taken to prison and admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Mexico City. After a while, no more was heard of Gabriel, as it is unknown whether he died or escaped from prison. His disappearance caused many problems in his family and also forced his wife to
Moving to Ciudad Juarez, Juan’s mother started working as a housekeeper and later sent him to boarding school when he was 5 years old. It was during his time at school that Alberto met a teacher called Juan Contreras, who taught him to play guitar and sing.
Here’s everything you need to know about the singer
Career
Juan Gabriel began writing songs at night at the age of thirteen. He finally left his home at the age of 16 to devote himself more to his passion. He started singing in choirs, discos, restaurants and event centers. Shortly after, he decides to make sure of the future of his musical career in Mexico but he is rejected by many labels who think that his songs are simple and that they do not need more pop singers. . Juan was returning to Juarez to take on various jobs, after which he moved to Mexico to try his luck again. This time he was hired as a backup vocalist for several renowned musicians.
When he attends a friend’s birthday party in town, he was arrested after being wrongfully accused of theft. Gabriel spent a year and six months in prison, crossing paths with the prison warden, who was touched by his story and introduced Gabriel to famous Mexican actress/singer Enriqueta, who would help him regain his freedom.
Upon his release, Alberto began banding with the record label, RCA Victor, under the stage name Juan Gabriel (Gabriel and Juan in honor of his father and teacher, respectively). Gabriel dropped his first album titled “El alma joven” in 1971. Prior to his death, Juan had sold over 100 million copies, 66 albums, over 1,800 songs, a television series based on his life and two films to his credit.. Among his most famous songs are El Noa Noa, Te sigo amando, Amor eterno, Yo no nací para amar, Siempre en mi mente, Querida, No tengo dinero, Pero qué necesidad, Hasta que tu conocí, Abrasame muy fuerte, Le mot If you prefer, En esta primavera, Siempre en mi mente, De mí enamórate, among others.
Juan Gabriel is considered one of the biggest musical influences for many Mexican and musical stars, including singer-songwriter Julieta Venegas and singer Marc Anthony.
Movies and TV series
As an actor, Gabriel starred in notable Mexican television series and films, including 1979: En esta primavera (1979), 1980: El Noa Noa (1980), Nobleza ranchera (1977), ¿Qué Le Dijiste A Dios? (2014), 1965: Noches Rancheras (1965), Del otro lado del puente (1978), Es mi vida (1981), Hasta que te conocí (2016).
Family – Children
Despite his fame and success that transcended generations, borders and social classes, Juan Gabriel died without tying the knot with any woman, although he had six children before death came knocking at the door.
According to sources, the pop icon designed four children; Jean Gabriel, Joan Gabriel, Iván Gabriel and Hans Gabriel through artificial insemination with a close friend known as Laura Salas. However, almost a month after his passing, it was discovered that the singer had a fifth child, a son named Luis Alberto Aguilera. As Primer Impacto news show proves, Gabriel had a long-distance relationship with Luis, who currently lives in Las Vegas and is the son of Guadalupe Gonzalez, Juan’s former housekeeper. Joao Gabriel, the singer’s alleged seventh child, was later found by the same news program on October 26, 2016. Primer Impacto reported that Consuelo Rosales is the mother of the young man based in Los Angeles, California, and that Rosales had once served as a servant to Juan. employee.
It was also learned that the genetic material used to carry out genetic tests on Luis Alberto and Joao was provided by the singer’s brother, Pablo Aguilera. Reports of Gabriel’s supposed children were however not legally substantiated, they were considered newspaper speculation.
Sexuality
In his lifetime, Juan Gabriel was considered Mexico’s gay icon, although he did not comment on his sexuality or identify with the gay community. On stage, he usually does big, sexy moves and was popular for his occasional eye makeup touch-ups and sexier outfits, like David Bowie and Prince. Throughout his years in the spotlight, he decided to protect his sexual preference while making the most of his career.
Dead
The Mexican singer died after a heart attack he suffered on August 28, 2016 in Santa Monica, California. His death rocked Mexico and shocked other Spanish-speaking countries as well. In their respective statements on social media, the Presidents of the United States and Venezuela expressed their condolences to Juan’s family, while the President of Mexico ordered that the singer be memorialized at the iconic Palacio de Bellas Artes, in Mexico. Juan’s body was later cremated and his ashes placed in his personal home in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. His family chose not to perform an autopsy to determine the exact cause of his death.