Mexico’s Music Icon “Juan Gabriel” passes away from heart attack at age 66 in Santa Monica, California

By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016

International music singer and songwriter Juan Gabriel, age 66, of Mexico passed away on Sunday, August 28, 2016, at 11:30 A.M. in Santa Monica, California of a massive heart attack after performing for his last time on Friday evening, August 26th, before a packed Inglewood Forum of 17,500 fans in Los Angeles, California, shocking the international music aficionados.

Born as Alberto Aguilera Valadez in Paracuaro, Michoacan, Mexico, Juan Gabriel was the youngest of 10 children born to Mexican farm laborers, Gabriel Aguilera Rodriguez and Victoria Valadez Rojas.

Juan Gabriel’s early love for music, singing, and dancing led him to grow up in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico on the U.S.-Mexico border and rise to national and international prominence and fame as both a prolific songwriter for over 800 recording artists and singer.  He authored over 1,800 songs which have been recorded by many artists worldwide and recorded over 35 albums/CDs during a spectacular 40 plus years as one of Mexico’s international music ambassadors and icon.  He also owned a home in El Paso. Texas.  Recently, however, he was residing in Quintana Roo, Mexico, whom he called a “paradise,” when not touring.

World music aficionados were deeply shocked and saddened upon hearing the news of his death at a young age of 66.  His songs and music were recorded in over 10 languages throughout the world, including Spanish, English, French, Japanese, German, Portuguese, Turkish, and others.

Early in his career he was affectionately known as “El Divo de Juarez” in reference to his growing up and living on the U.S.-Mexico border in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, opposite of El Paso, Texas, and remained with him until his death.  He started his professional singing career at a nightclub called “El Noa, Noa” in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.  He would go on to write a hit song titled “El Noa, Noa.”  He rose from extremely humble beginnings to the highest pinnacle in international music fame.

Hundreds of millions international and Mexican music lovers mourn the passing of one of Mexico’s greatest music icons.  Fans who were present at his last concert on Friday evening, August 26, 2016, at the famous Ingleside Forum in Los Angeles, California are in complete disbelief because they just heard and saw him sing to them and was honored with a thundering ovation and applause in appreciation of his unique and genuine ability to reach out and connect with all citizens from the poor to the elite through his divinely crafted words and ballads in his songs and music.

Rigoberto Gomez, Juan Gabriel’s musical director, stated Juan Gabriel’s concert on Friday evening in Los Angeles, California lasted almost three hours.  Gomez added that Juan Gabriel was scheduled to perform in El Paso, Texas on Sunday, August 28th, which he considered like a second home to him since he grew up in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, just across the Rio Grande River.  Juan Gabriels’s Los Angeles concert was his third of 50 scheduled concerts on this tour, which opened on August 19th in San Diego, California.

Although it is believed that he never married,  he did have four children born to Laura Salas, a longtime friend.

The Eagle Pass Business Journal expresses its deepest condolences to the family of Juan Gabriel and the millions of aficionados he commanded through his magical songwriting and music.  His legendary songs and musical legacy will be remembered forever unto eternity through current and future artists.  Rest in peace Juan Gabriel.