Celebrating Juan Gabriel

On this day in 1995, Juan Gabriel’s hit song El Palo ranked #1 on Billboard.

On January 7, 1950, Gabriel was born in Parácuaro, Michoacán with the name Alberto Aguilera Valadez. He attended school in Juárez where he met a music teacher who inspired him to start singing. At age 13, he left to work and write his first songs. His first performances were in church choirs and nightclubs. He went to Mexico City looking for stable work as a singer, experiencing periods of homelessness and even prison time for a wrongful accusation.

After years of hardships, Gabriel landed a recording contract and released his first studio album, El Alma Joven... He left his mark on rock, mariachi, ranchera, and pop but he’s best known for his soul-stirring ballads like Querida (My Dear) and Amor Eterno (Eternal Love).

His fame grew with each of his 30 albums, and fans adored his dramatic performance style. Some iconic shows include the 1990 Palacio de Bellas Artes, the 2009 Latin Grammys, and the 2012 Festival Acapulco.

Juan Gabriel never addressed whether he was LGBTQ+, but many in the community considered him an icon. His gender-bending glittery jackets and makeup exploration opened the door for other Mexicans to express themselves freely, regardless of gender or sexuality.

While the six-time Grammy nominee’s music impact is impressive, his legacy of giving back to his community is even greater. Gabriel gave proceeds from benefit concerts and photo ops to orphanages and founded a house for orphaned children called Semjase.

El Divo de Juárez is immortalized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Love or loss, hope or despair, and all the emotions in between, the soundtrack to many people’s lives are thanks to Juan Gabriel. His music lives on in the hearts of millions today.