JUAN GABRIEL
Alberto Aguilera Veladez, better known by his stage name Juan Gabriel, is a Mexican singer, songwriter, recording artist and performer. Alberto was born January 7th, 1950 on Cinco de Mayo Street (now known as Juan Gabriel St) in the town of Parácuro. He was the youngest of ten siblings; when he was three months old his father intended to clear a piece of land by setting a fire. Due to windy conditions the fire grew out of control and started to destroy his home and the neighborhood. Unsure of what to do, Gabriel, Alberto’s father, dove into a river causing him severe injury which led to his placement in a psychiatric hospital. What happened to Gabriel after the psych hospital is unknown. One tale says he died in the institution from being mistreated another says he escaped to unknown whereabouts…either way his family never heard of him again. These events were later an inspiration for Juan Gabriel’s song titled “De Sol a Sol (A mis padres).” A song dedicated to his parents meaning from sun up to sun down. Due to his mother’s stress and heartbreak Alberto was sent to boarding school in Juárez at the age of five. Being in a strange place and alone to fend for himself, Alberto befriended Juan Contreras, a teacher at his school who became his mentor and guardian. One of the greatest gifts Contreras taught Alberto was the teachings of various musical skills, especially the guitar. As a result by age 13 Alberto composed his first song La Muerte del Palomo; this was essentially the beginning of an amazing musical career. After years crafting his musical talent in boarding school, the longing of his family took a toll on Alberto and he decided to escape the school at age 15.
Trying to make a name for himself, Alberto left the city of Juárez traveling from Tijuana to Mexico City where he worked at various bars and nightclubs. Along his way he met Jose Alberto Jimenez, one of Mexico’s most famous preforming artists of the time. Anxious to spread his songs to the masses, which totaled about 100 by this time, he returned to Juárez where he began his preforming career at local nightclubs and television, using the stage name Adan Luna. After many attempts of preforming at popular night club El Noa Noa, the club owner gave him the opportunity to sing with the group Prisioneros del Ritmo. He quickly became a local sensation preforming popular hit songs and some originals. One of Alberto’s most popular was later titled El Noa Noa.
Not settling as a local performer he continued traveling landing a gig in Mexico City at RCA writing the chorus of songs for many established artists of the time. Working at RCA he crossed paths again with Jimenez who many years prior shared many similar struggles as Alberto did now. He became a mentor and a financial support for Alberto right before being offered a recording contract by RCA Records. In 1971, at age 21, singed his recording contract with RCA and officially changes his name to Juan Gabriel. Gabriel’s fame grew over the next fifteen years as he recorded 15 albums and sold over 20 million records. He has established himself as Mexico’s leading commercial singer-songwriter recording over thousands songs in a variety of genres such as rancheros, mariachi, ballads, pop, rock, disco and a string of hits for himself and leading Latin singers. In 1984 he scored what his fans consider his greatest hit “Querida” which stayed at the top of the hit charts for over a year. He has then become one of Mexico’s most successful vocalist, a six time Grammy nominee, and has performed sold-out concerts throughout the world.
In 1971, at age 21, singed his recording contract with RCA and officially changes his name to Juan Gabriel. Gabriel’s fame grew over the next fifteen years as he recorded 15 albums and sold over 20 million records. He has established himself as Mexico’s leading commercial singer-songwriter recoding over thousands songs in a variety of genres such as rancheros, mariachi, ballads, pop, rock, disco and a string of hits for himself and leading Latin singers. In 1984 he scored what his fans consider his greatest hit “Querida” which stayed at the top of the hit charts for over a year. He has then become one of Mexico’s most successful vocalist, a six time Grammy nominee, and has performed sold-out concerts throughout the world.
DISCOGRAPHY
1. 15 Exitos de Juan Gabriel
released July 27, 2004
genre: pop latino, Mariachi, Ranchero
Label Sony Int’l
2. Abrazame Bien Fuerte
released year 2000
genre: pop latino
Label RCA
3. El Alma Joven
recorded and released 1971
genre: Pop
Label RCA records
4. Ella
recorded and release 1980
genre: romantic music, regional Mexicana
Label RCA Records
5. Juan Gabriel con Mariachi Vol I
recorded and released 1976
genre: mariachi
Label RCA Records
6. Los Gabriel: Cantan a Mexico with Ana Gabriel
released March 2008
genre: ranchera, regional,corrido
Label Sony BMG Latin
7. Los Gabriel: Simplemente Amigos Juan y Ana Gabriel
released 2007
genre: ranchera, regional, corrido
Label Sony BMG Latin
8. Mis Favoritos
released June 8 2010
genre: latin pop, mariachi
Label Sony BMG
9. Pensamientos
released November 28 1986
genre: latin pop, mariachi
label RCA Records
10. Por Mi Orgullo
released 1998
genre: romantic music, regional mexican
Label RCA Records
Bibliography:
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/juan-gabriel-mn0000240252
http://www.universalmusica.com/JuanGabriel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Gabriel
Alberto Aguilera Veladez, better known by his stage name Juan Gabriel, is a Mexican singer, songwriter, recording artist and performer. Alberto was born January 7th, 1950 on Cinco de Mayo Street (now known as Juan Gabriel St) in the town of Parácuro. He was the youngest of ten siblings; when he was three months old his father intended to clear a piece of land by setting a fire. Due to windy conditions the fire grew out of control and started to destroy his home and the neighborhood. Unsure of what to do, Gabriel, Alberto’s father, dove into a river causing him severe injury which led to his placement in a psychiatric hospital. What happened to Gabriel after the psych hospital is unknown. One tale says he died in the institution from being mistreated another says he escaped to unknown whereabouts…either way his family never heard of him again. These events were later an inspiration for Juan Gabriel’s song titled “De Sol a Sol (A mis padres).” A song dedicated to his parents meaning from sun up to sun down. Due to his mother’s stress and heartbreak Alberto was sent to boarding school in Juárez at the age of five. Being in a strange place and alone to fend for himself, Alberto befriended Juan Contreras, a teacher at his school who became his mentor and guardian. One of the greatest gifts Contreras taught Alberto was the teachings of various musical skills, especially the guitar. As a result by age 13 Alberto composed his first song La Muerte del Palomo; this was essentially the beginning of an amazing musical career. After years crafting his musical talent in boarding school, the longing of his family took a toll on Alberto and he decided to escape the school at age 15.
Trying to make a name for himself, Alberto left the city of Juárez traveling from Tijuana to Mexico City where he worked at various bars and nightclubs. Along his way he met Jose Alberto Jimenez, one of Mexico’s most famous preforming artists of the time. Anxious to spread his songs to the masses, which totaled about 100 by this time, he returned to Juárez where he began his preforming career at local nightclubs and television, using the stage name Adan Luna. After many attempts of preforming at popular night club El Noa Noa, the club owner gave him the opportunity to sing with the group Prisioneros del Ritmo. He quickly became a local sensation preforming popular hit songs and some originals. One of Alberto’s most popular was later titled El Noa Noa.
Not settling as a local performer he continued traveling landing a gig in Mexico City at RCA writing the chorus of songs for many established artists of the time. Working at RCA he crossed paths again with Jimenez who many years prior shared many similar struggles as Alberto did now. He became a mentor and a financial support for Alberto right before being offered a recording contract by RCA Records. In 1971, at age 21, singed his recording contract with RCA and officially changes his name to Juan Gabriel. Gabriel’s fame grew over the next fifteen years as he recorded 15 albums and sold over 20 million records. He has established himself as Mexico’s leading commercial singer-songwriter recording over thousands songs in a variety of genres such as rancheros, mariachi, ballads, pop, rock, disco and a string of hits for himself and leading Latin singers. In 1984 he scored what his fans consider his greatest hit “Querida” which stayed at the top of the hit charts for over a year. He has then become one of Mexico’s most successful vocalist, a six time Grammy nominee, and has performed sold-out concerts throughout the world.
In 1971, at age 21, singed his recording contract with RCA and officially changes his name to Juan Gabriel. Gabriel’s fame grew over the next fifteen years as he recorded 15 albums and sold over 20 million records. He has established himself as Mexico’s leading commercial singer-songwriter recoding over thousands songs in a variety of genres such as rancheros, mariachi, ballads, pop, rock, disco and a string of hits for himself and leading Latin singers. In 1984 he scored what his fans consider his greatest hit “Querida” which stayed at the top of the hit charts for over a year. He has then become one of Mexico’s most successful vocalist, a six time Grammy nominee, and has performed sold-out concerts throughout the world.
DISCOGRAPHY
1. 15 Exitos de Juan Gabriel
released July 27, 2004
genre: pop latino, Mariachi, Ranchero
Label Sony Int’l
2. Abrazame Bien Fuerte
released year 2000
genre: pop latino
Label RCA
3. El Alma Joven
recorded and released 1971
genre: Pop
Label RCA records
4. Ella
recorded and release 1980
genre: romantic music, regional Mexicana
Label RCA Records
5. Juan Gabriel con Mariachi Vol I
recorded and released 1976
genre: mariachi
Label RCA Records
6. Los Gabriel: Cantan a Mexico with Ana Gabriel
released March 2008
genre: ranchera, regional,corrido
Label Sony BMG Latin
7. Los Gabriel: Simplemente Amigos Juan y Ana Gabriel
released 2007
genre: ranchera, regional, corrido
Label Sony BMG Latin
8. Mis Favoritos
released June 8 2010
genre: latin pop, mariachi
Label Sony BMG
9. Pensamientos
released November 28 1986
genre: latin pop, mariachi
label RCA Records
10. Por Mi Orgullo
released 1998
genre: romantic music, regional mexican
Label RCA Records
Bibliography:
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/juan-gabriel-mn0000240252
http://www.universalmusica.com/JuanGabriel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Gabriel