Mexican Legend, Juan Gabriel, Dies At 66

Juan Gabriel, who was a Mexican singer and songwriter, died at the age of 66 at his home in Santa Monica, California. He died from a heart attack Sunday morning at 11:30.

“Juan Gabriel” was actually a stage name, with his legal name being Alberto Aguilera Valadez. Fans also called him the “Divo de Juárez,” because of his flamboyant style.

People all across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Spain listened to his romantic ballads and Mariachi music. His songs range from various genres, such as pop, rock, ranchera, and many more. Fan favorites include, “Hasta Que Te Conoci” and “Querida,” which topped Mexico’s charts for an entire year. Gabriel also had 20 Top 10 albums on Billboard’s Latin Pop Album chart, and was a six-time Grammy nominee.

Juan Gabriel – Querida

He recently performed Friday night at the Forum, in Inglewood, California and also had a performance scheduled for Sunday in El Paso, Texas at the Don Haskins Center. The University of Texas confirmed that the venue will issue refunds to fans who bought tickets.

Many fans are mourning right now, including Mexican President, Enrique Pena Nieto. He tweeted, “I regret the death of Juan Gabriel, one of the great musical icons of our country. My condolences to his relatives and friends.” A second tweet stated, “A voice and a talent that represented Mexico. His music was a legacy to the world. He has gone too soon. May he rest in peace.”

All of us at Celemix want to extend our condolences to Gabriel’s friends, family, and fans.

What is your favorite Juan Gabriel song? Make sure to tweet us at @CelebMix.

Written by Michele Mendez

Michele Mendez is an editor at CelebMix.com, where she covers all things pop culture, including entertainment, music, television, and film. In her free time, you can find her analyzing BTS' music videos or watching yet another series on Netflix. #ARMY Have a story idea? Contact: michele@celebmix.com / michelemendez182@gmail.com TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, & FACEBOOK: @michmendezmedia