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.”
Lamento la muerte de Juan Gabriel, uno de los grandes íconos musicales de nuestro país. Mis condolencias a sus familiares y amigos.
— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) August 28, 2016
Una voz y un talento que representaban a México. Su música, un legado para el mundo. Se ha ido muy pronto. Que descanse en Paz.
— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) August 28, 2016
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.