The 12 basic facts you should know about Juan Gabriel

With more than 40 years of career the Mexican singer, who died this Sunday at 66, is one of the icons of Mexican music and popular culture. Here is a very brief summary of its history and its legacy. 1. Falleció de un infarto el último gran compositor mexicano
El cantante y compositor Juan Gabriel falleció el domingo 28 de agosto a las 11:43 am en Santa Mónica, California, a los 66 años de edad a causa de un infarto, según confirmó la familia. 2. His name was not Juan Gabriel but Alberto Aguilera Valadez
The singer was known by his stage name, which he decided in honor of his benefactor and master builder Juan Contreras and his father Gabriel Aguilera. However, the closest ones called him by his first name. Both names gave rise to an alter ego, to the point that on one occasion he interviewed himself.

1. Its importance crossed all the cultural and social spheres of Mexico
   The artist had a strong sociocultural importance in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries. He went from being a popular singer to being the motive of almost anthropological analysis of several Mexican intellectuals. His presentation in Fine Arts, his lyrics, his mannerisms marked an era and several generations. As noted by Mexican journalist Eileen Truax "was (along with José Alfredo Jiménez) co-author of the Mexican sentimental education." 4. The 'Divo de Juárez', in fact, was born in Michoacán
   Juan Gabriel was born in Parácuaro, Michoacán, although he only spent seven months of his childhood in this place. He is best known for the place where he was born as an artist: Ciudad Juárez, México.

2. Noa Noa is a place of environment, where everything is different
   One of the most famous songs of Juan Gabriel is dedicated to a bar (disappeared and then rebuilt) in Ciudad Juarez, the forum in which he debuted in 1966.

3. When in doubt about his sexual orientation, he had the best answer: "What you see is not asked"
   This is one of the most famous declarations of the singer. Before years of speculation, Juan Gabriel gave a brilliant response to the journalist Fernando Del Rincón when he asked him, directly and without qualms, if he was gay. 7. His first song, famous, is called 'I do not have money'
   In 1971 the singer achieved his first success with this melody, despite the fact that his first composition was actually 'La muerte del Palomo' in the mid-sixties.

4. His last concert was in Los Angeles
   Two days before his death, the singer offered a concert at the Inglewood Forum in California where he was accompanied by more than 17,000 attendees, 60 musicians and, as was already a tradition, a mariachi. Juan Gabriel was on the "MeXXIco es todo" tour in the United States.

5. Recorded 35 records, 1,800 songs
   The 'Divo de Juárez' has an important accumulated success in his collection that almost haunt the 2,000 compositions. His legacy to music includes songs like 'Eternal Love', 'Dear' and 'I forgot again', plus a number of tributes and imitators.

6. He has been considered "El Elvis" of Latin American music
   The music of Juan Gabriel has influenced artists of the stature of Marc Anthony. Recently, singer Juanes affirmed that he considered him 'the Mexican Elvis'.

7. Never won a Grammy
   Although he was nominated six times for the prize in English and one for the Latin Grammy, he never won that coveted award. However, in 2009 the Academy honored him as Person of the Year. 12. It was distinguished by its exotic way of dressing on stage

The sequins, the striking colors and the intrigued charro costumes were part of the folklore of this artist and accompanied his gestures and steps of dances. Some of his costumes cost up to $ 5,000.