Santo Domingo.- The Mexican singer-songwriter Alberto Aguilera Valadez, better known as Juan Gabriel, or “The Diva of Juárez,” marks 10 years since his passing this Friday, August 28, having developed a career of more than 50 record productions and leaving behind a catalog that includes around 1,800 compositions.
Juan Gabriel died on August 28, 2016, at the age of 66, in Santa Monica, California. Until the last months of his life, he remained active on stage with his tour “Mexico is Everything”.
A decade later, his songs continue to be part of Latin American popular music, and during these days, activities are being held to remember his career and his legacy.
From Alberto Aguilera Valadez to Juan Gabriel
Alberto Aguilera Valadez was born in 1950 in Parácuaro, Michoacán. During his childhood, he moved with his family to Ciudad Juárez, a location that would later be linked to his stage name.
He began developing his musical skills at the age of 13. Later, he traveled to Mexico City while trying to find opportunities within the recording industry. At 21, he adopted the name Juan Gabriel. “Juan” arose in recognition of Juan Contreras, one of his teachers, while “Gabriel” corresponded to his father’s name.
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The release of his first album, “Mi alma joven…”, opened a stage that would last for decades.
Throughout his career, he released more than 50 albums, sold over 150 million records, and composed about 1,800 songs, according to data compiled about his career. Among the songs associated with his repertoire are “Amor eterno,” “Hasta que te conocí,” “Abrázame muy fuerte,” “Así fue,” and “El Noa Noa.”
His career also reached the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where he received a star.
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His songs continued after his death
Although Juan Gabriel has been deceased for 10 years, projects related to his work have continued to appear over the last decade. Among them is the posthumous album Eterno, composed of 20 unreleased songs.
His compositions have also been performed by different artists and his work has maintained a presence among new generations. During the 2026 World Cup, the performer’s music once again occupied spaces related to the Mexican national team and its fans.
His passing also gave way to baseless versions that claimed the artist was still alive. These theories have circulated for years on social media, even though his death was recorded on August 28, 2016.
Tributes for the 10th anniversary of his death
The tenth anniversary has motivated different activities in Mexico to remember the singer.
Among the proposals is Juan Gabriel: My First Bellas Artes, a production that presents material from the concert the artist performed at the Palace of Fine Arts in 1990 accompanied by the symphony orchestra.
The show, which was previously screened again at Bellas Artes, also has scheduled screenings in movie theaters during the commemoration weekend.
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In Mexico City, cultural activities linked to his work were also developed. The Museo Universitario del Chopo presented an exhibition until August 23rd dedicated to the singer and various artistic expressions created around his figure.
On August 26th, Casa UC hosted JuanGa Fest as part of the Night of Museums, where fans gathered to perform songs from his repertoire.
