Alberto Aguilera Valadez was born on January 7, 1950 in Parácuaro, Michoacan, Mexico to farm workers Gabriel Aguilera Rodriguez & Victoria Valadez Rojas. His father died at a young age and his mother took him to La Escuela Laica de Mejoramiento Social para Menores, an orphanage designed to give education to youth. In this orphanage, he wrote his first song with his surrogate parents and teachers Micaela Alvarado and Juan Contreras. At 14, he began singing at his local church choir and made his TV debut at the age of 15 on Noches Rancheras under the name “Adán Luna”. The following year, he performed at local bars, including one called “El Noa Noa”. At 19, he was signed with RCA and changed his name to Juan Gabriel, a name combining both his biological and surrogate fathers.
During his career, he released over 30 studio albums and wrote some of Mexico’s most iconic songs like “Hasta Que Te Conoci”, “Yo No Naci Para Amar”, and “El Noa Noa”, inspired by the bar he used to perform in. He even wrote songs for other prolific artists like Rocio Durcal and Isabel Panoja, including their hits “Amor Eterno” and “Asi Fue”, respectively. His music has been covered by hundreds of artists with their own legacies including Jaguares, Mana, Thalia, and Selena.
He is most well known for his eccentric outfits and dramatic performance. It made him stand out during a time when a man wearing sequins, fringe, and heavy patterns was unheard of. You didn’t see many male artists dress outside of their gender without massive outlash from the public. Despite this, Juan Gabriel was celebrated in Mexico. He was even nicknamed “El Divo de Juárez” to honor his presentation and colloquially was referred to as “Juanga”, a sign of camaraderie and closeness to the singer.
Something that many queer Latinx remember Juanga for was his boldness in his expression. He was constantly asked about his sexuality as a result. Juanga would often change the focus of the conversation to his art. He would either state that his art required his eccentricity because art was inherently feminine or emphasize that his sexuality wasn’t important in the grand scheme of the legacy he’d leave behind. There was one particular instance in which he was interviewed by Primer Impacto’s Fernando del Rincon where the topic of his sexuality was brought up. Juanga at first tried to redirect the conversation but when asked more directly, he infamously stated, “Lo que se ve, no se pregunta”. Translated in English, this means “What you can see, you don’t have to ask.”
This quote alone allowed many to reflect on the public’s extreme fascination with a public figure’s sexuality. Juanga didn’t want his music to be associated with his sexuality because he believed his art spoke for itself, which is correct. Even in the most conservative Mexican households, you can almost see the massive sound waves of “Te Lo Pido Por Favor” hovering over the stench of Fabuloso and Lemon Pledge. Whether due to unawareness or willful ignorance, Juanga’s music lives outside the spectrum of acceptance, bigotry, and political beliefs. He took charge of his own narrative, not to hide his sexuality but to redirect the focus of his career to what’s most important, his art.
Some of his notable songs include:
Some songs he wrote for other artists include:
His most notable performance was at El Palacio De Bellas Artes. This show was recorded and released both as an album and a concert movie, parts that are readily available on YouTube. He performs songs he released himself and others that he wrote or other artists.