Who was Juan Gabriel and why was he such a big deal?

The Mexican singer died Sunday of a heart attack at age 66, leaving behind millions of heartbroken fans in Latin America and the U.S.
The name Juan Gabriel became a trending topic in social media on Sunday after the famous Mexican singer passed away at age 66, leaving Latin Americans and U.S. Latinos mourning the loss of an icon.

Who was this artist and why is he so important to Latinos?

Born Alberto Aguilera Valadez and known by his stage name Juan Gabriel, this prolific singer-songwriterwrote some 1,800 songsand recorded with 800 artists in seven languages.

Juan Gabriel, who died at age 66 on August 28, was one of Mexico's most beloved singers with a career spanning nearly five decades.

Born on January 7, 1950 in Parácuaro, Michoacán, Alberto Aguilera Valadez began to show a talent for music at age 13.

Gabriel's career took off with the 1971 album "The Young Soul," which made him a star.

Gabriel took a liking to luxuries he never had growing up, earning him the nickname "The Divo of Juárez."  

Gabriel's personal life has always been something of a mystery, and he refused to comment on his sexual orientation. 

Juan Gabriel rose to fame after launching his first album in 1971. Releasing 35 albums over the course of his45-year career, he becamebeloved by multiple generations of fans in Latin America, Spain and the United States. His genres varied widely, from mariachi to salsa to disco. He was an icon in Latin America, but especially in Mexico, where his songs became part of Mexican pop culture and helped inspire modern Mexican regional music. After Juan Gabriel's death, the president of Mexico tweeted his condolences.Singing of love, heartbreak and romance, Juan Gabrielmoved his fans to tearsduring his notoriously long concerts of up to three hours long.

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