Ranchera
Stylistic origins	Mariachi
Cultural origins	México
Typical instruments	Guitar, Vihuela, Trumpet, Violin, Guitarrón
Mainstream popularity	1930–present
Subgenres
bolero, ranchero, corrido,Narcocorrido
Other topics
Charro - Jarabe tapatío (also the name of a song) - Zapateado - Son Huasteco - Huapango - Mexican pop

Ranchera (pronounced: [ranˈtʃeɾa]) is a genre of the traditional music of Mexico originally sung by only one performer with a guitar. It dates to the years of the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century. It later became closely associated with the mariachi groups which evolved in Jalisco. Ranchera today is also played by norteño (or Conjunto) or banda. Drawing on rural traditional folk music, ranchera developed as a symbol of a new national consciousness in reaction to the aristocratic tastes of the period. The greatest exponents of ranchera are Antonio Aguilar, Flor Silvestre, Amalia Mendoza, Lucha Villa, Cuco Sanchez, Rocío Dúrcal, José Alfredo Jiménez, Lola Beltrán, Vicente Fernández, Pedro Infante, Jorge Negrete, and Javier Solís.

Ranchera defined[link]

Traditional rancheras are about love, patriotism or nature. Rhythms can be in 3/4, 2/4 or 4/4, reflecting the tempo of, respectively, the waltz, the polka, and the bolero. Songs are usually in a major key, and consist of an instrumental introduction, verse and refrain, instrumental section repeating the verse, and another verse and refrain, with a tag ending. Instrumentation may include guitars, strings, trumpets, and/or accordions, depending on the type of ensemble being utilised. Besides the typical instrumentation, ranchera music, as well as many other forms of traditional Mexican music, is also noted for the grito mexicano, a yell that is done at musical interludes within a song, either by the musicians and/or the listening audience.

The normal musical pattern of rancheras is a/b/a/b. Rancheras usually begin with an instrumental introduction (a). The first lyrical portion then begins (b), with instrumental adornments interrupting the lines in between. The instruments then repeat the theme again, and then the lyrics may either be repeated or begin a new set of words. One also finds the form a/b/a/b/c/b used, in which the intro(a) is played, followed by the verse(b). This form is repeated, and then a refrain(c) is added, ending with the verse.

The most popular ranchera composers include Lucha Reyes, Cuco Sánchez, Antonio Aguilar, Vicente Fernandez and José Alfredo Jiménez, who composed many of the best-known rancheras, with compositions totaling more than 1000 songs, making him one of the most prolific songwriters in the history of western music.

Another closely related style of music is the corrido, which is often played by the same ensembles that regularly play rancheras. The corrido, however, is apt to be an epic story about heroes and villains, whereas rancheras may not necessarily be heroic ballads, and also vary more in terms of tempo. However, two notable exceptions to this rule are the songs, 'Corrido de Chihuahua' and the 'Corrido de Monterrey', which are considered rancheras in spite of their names. Their lyrics are concerned with patriotism for the states of Chihuahua and Nuevo León, respectively.

The word ranchera was derived from the word rancho because the songs originated on the ranches and in the countryside of rural Mexico. Rancheras that have been adapted by conjuntos, or norteño bands from northern Mexico and the southwestern US, are sometimes called norteños, from the Spanish word for northern.

Some well-known rancheras[link]

• Amanecí en Tus Brazos (I awoke in your arms) by José Alfredo Jiménez, Rocío Dúrcal, Javier Solís, Luis Miguel, and others.
• Amor Eterno (Eternal Love) by Rocío Dúrcal
• Ay, Jalisco, no te rajes! (Hey, Jalisco, don't back down),by Jorge Negrete
• Camino de Guanajuato (Road to Guanajuato) by José Alfredo Jiménez and Pedro Fernández
• Carta a Eufemia (Letter to Eufemia) by Pedro Infante
• Cielito Lindo (Lovely little Heaven) by Vicente Fernández and many others.
• Cien Años (One hundred years) by Pedro Infante
• Corazón, Corazón (My heart, my heart) by Lola Beltrán and Lucha Villa.
• Corrido de Chihuahua (The Chihuahua corrido) by Lucha Villa, Miguel Aceves Mejía and Antonio Aguilar
• Corrido de Monterrey (The Monterrey corrido) by David Zaizar, Lorenzo de Monteclaro and Vicente Fernández
• Costumbres (Customs) by Rocío Dúrcal
• Cuatro Caminos (Four roads) by José Alfredo Jiménez and Lola Beltrán
• Cu-cu-rru-cu-cú Paloma (Cooing dove) by Lola Beltrán and Rocío Dúrcal.
• De Qué Manera Te Olvido (How can I forget you) by Rocío Dúrcal, Vicente Fernández. and others.
• Echame a Mí la Culpa (Blame me) by José Ángel Espinoza "Ferrusquilla", Javier Solís, Luis Miguel, Rocío Dúrcal. and others.
• El Crucifijo de Piedra (The stone crucifix) by Miguel Aceves Mejía
• Ella (She) by José Alfredo Jiménez, Pedro Fernández, Vicente Fernández, and others.
• El Pastor (The shepherd) by Miguel Aceves Mejía
• El Rey (The king) by José Alfredo Jiménez, Luis Miguel and Vicente Fernández.
• El Siete Mares (The Seven Seas), by José Alfredo Jiménez
• La Cruz De Olvido (The cross of forgetfulness), by Juan Zaizar and Alvaro Torres.
• La Puerta Negra (The black door), by Antonio Aguilar
• Media Vuelta (Half Turn), by Javier Solís, Lucha Villa, Rocío Dúrcal and Luis Miguel.
• México Lindo y Querido (Lovely and beloved Mexico), by Jorge Negrete, Alejandro Fernández
• Noches Eternas (Eternal nights), by Vicente Fernández
• Pa' Todo el Año (For the whole year), by José Alfredo Jiménez, Pedro Fernández, Vicente Fernández, and others.
• Payaso (Clown), by Javier Solís
• Poco a Poco (Little by little), by Javier Solís
• Por Tu Maldito Amor (For your cursed love), by Vicente Fernández
• Por Una Mujer Casada (For a married woman), by David Zaizar
• Si Nos Dejan (If they let us), by Rocío Dúrcal, José Alfredo Jiménez, Lola Beltrán, Vikki Carr, Luis Miguel. and others.
• Sombras (Shadows), by Javier Solís
• Un Puño de Tierra (A handful of earth), by Antonio Aguilar
• Volver, Volver (Come back, come back), by Vicente Fernández

Celebrated ranchera singers[link]

• Miguel Aceves Mejía
• Antonio Aguilar
• Pepe Aguilar
• Lola Beltrán
• Aida Cuevas
• Yolanda Del Rio
• Rocío Dúrcal
• Alejandro Fernández
• Pedro Fernández
• Vicente Fernández
• Pedro Infante
• José Alfredo Jiménez
• Lorenzo de Monteclaro
• Jorge Negrete
• Lucha Reyes
• Cuco Sánchez
• Flor Silvestre
• Javier Solís
• Chavela Vargas
• Lucha Villa

Bibliography[link]

• Brenner, H. (1996). Música ranchera. Das mexikanische Äquivalent zur Country and Western Music aus historischer, musikalischer und kommerzieller Sicht (Música ranchera: El equivalente mexicano de la música country y la música del Oeste) (Musikethnologische Sammelbände 14). Foreword by Thomas Stanford. Tutzing: Verlag Hans Schneider, 1996 [ISBN 3 7952 0867 X].

See also[link]

• Plaza Garibaldi

External links[link]

• Rancheras - music
• Musical analysis
• Northern ranchera lyrics

Juan Gabriel
Juan Gabriel in concert.
Background information
Birth name	Alberto Aguilera Valadez
Also known as	Adan Luna, Juan Gabriel, Juanga, El divo de Juárez,
Born	(1950-01-07) 7 January 1950 (age 62) Parácuaro, Michoacán, Mexico
Genres	Mariachi Ranchera Latin Pop / Mexican pop
Occupations	Singer/Composer
Years active	1971–present
Labels	Universal Music BMG RCA Records
Website	JuanGabriel[dead link]

Alberto Aguilera Valadez (Spanish pronunciation: [alˈβeɾto aɣiˈleɾa βalaˈðes]) (born January 7, 1950), better known by his stage name Juan Gabriel (pronounced: [ˈxwaŋ ɡaˈβɾjel]), is a Mexican singer, songwriter, recording artist, and performer.^[1][2]

Biography[link]

Early life[link]

Born on 7 January 1950, on Cinco de Mayo street (now known as Juan Gabriel Street) in the small town of Parácuaro, Michoacán, to father Gabriel Aguilera Rodríguez and mother Victoria Valadez Rojas, he is the youngest of 10 siblings: Rosa who died shortly after birth, Virginia, José Guadalupe, Gabriel, Pablo, Miguel (died) and three brothers named Rafael who all three have also died.

Around the age of three months, Alberto's father, Gabriel, being an agricultural field worker, intended to clear a piece of land by setting fire to the field. Due to windy conditions, sadly he lost control of the fire which began to spread to neighboring properties and homes. Deeply disturbed and worried over the consequences he brought onto his family, Gabriel knew not what to do and threw himself into a river. Badly injured from the fall, Gabriel was hospitalized and committed to La Castañeda psychiatric ward in México City. What happened to Gabriel after the psychiatric ward is unknown. One tale is that he died while in La Castañeda for their alleged patient mistreatment, while others say that Gabriel escaped from the mental ward to unknown whereabouts. Either way, Alberto and his family never heard from their father again. These accounts would later be Alberto's inspiration for the song titled "De Sol a Sol (A Mis Padres)" - English translation, "From Sun Up to Sun Down (To My Parents)".

After some time, Alberto's mother, Victoria, felt obligated to leave Parácuaro, move the family to Apatzingan, Morelia for a short while and finally settle in Juárez, Chihuahua, where Alberto lived the remainder of his childhood.

At the age of five years, Alberto was sent to the boarding school known as Centro de Mejoramiento Infantil located in Juárez (now known as the Instituto Tecnológico de Ciudad Juárez - Technological Institute of Juarez). In a strange place and away from his mother, Alberto had to mature at a very young age. At the boarding school, Alberto was befriended by Juan Contreras, a teacher at the school who became his mentor and guardian. Juan taught Alberto various crafts and skills to earn money but his greatest gift was the teachings of the various musical skills that Juan possessed. Alberto took a liking in the guitar and was fortunate to have wonderful tutor in Juan. As a result, at the age of 13, Alberto composed his first song La Muerte del Palomo, essentially the beginning of an amazing musical career.

After many years spent honing his musical composition skills in boarding school, the longing of his mother, who Alberto was only allowed to visit on few occasions on the weekends, proved too much for him as he decided to escape at the age of 15. Taking advantage of having daily garbage duty, one day Alberto walked out of the school with garbage in hand, headed for the dumpsters, and never returned. Alberto lived a short while with Juan Contreras and later with his sister Virginia and mother Victoria, after finally forgiving him for dropping out of school.

Making A Name For Yourself[link]

Anxious to spread his songs to the masses, which totaled over 100 by this time, Alberto left Juárez to pursue his dream and spent time in various towns among the northern parts of Baja California. In Tijuana, he took a job at the bar Nic Teja where he met for the first time José Alfredo Jiménez, one of Mexico's most famous performing artists, and his wife at the time Alicia Juarez. Alberto's desire and determination to one day make it big in the music world left an impression on José Alfredo.

After returning to Juárez, Alberto began his performing career in local nightclubs and television throughout Juárez using the stage name Adán Luna. After many attempts to perform at the popular nightclub El Noa Noa, the owner David Bencuomo finally gave Alberto the opportunity to sing with the group Prisoneros del Ritmo. Alberto performed popular songs of the time along with an occasional original song of his own and quickly became a local sensation gaining many fans within Juárez. The nightclub El Noa Noa would later be immortalized in one of Alberto's most popular songs of the same title.

Not settling as a local performer, Alberto left José for Mexico City where he began working part-time for RCA writing the chorus of songs for many established artists such as Angélica María, Leo Dan and Roberto Jordan. Working at RCA, he crosses paths again with José Alfredo Jiménez. He and José Alfredo talk about how their lives are so similar and how José Alfredo went through the same struggles roughly 25 years earlier when he was beginning his own musical career. After being denied by various recording companies, Alberto returns to Juárez and signs his first performing contract at the Malibu nightclub, where he earns $20.00 a night. Here he befriends lady McCulley who becomes like a second mother and supports Alberto financially to return to Mexico City in pursuit of his dreams.

At the age of 19, it is on this next trip to Mexico City that Alberto is falsely accused of theft and is incarcerated in Lecumberri jail. The time spent in jail later provides Alberto with the inspiration for the movie titled Es Mi Vida - It's My Life. While in jail, he meets Enriqueta "Queta" Jiménez, also known as "La Prieta Linda" - "The Pretty Brown-skinned Lady", who not only advocated on his behalf and garnered Alberto's release after 18 months in jail on the grounds of lacking evidence, but also put him in contact with RCA producers. Later Alberto would write the song Noche a Noche for Jiménez, becoming one of the Alberto's earliest authored recordings.

RCA producer Enrique Okamura gives Alberto his first recording screening with the song "Escándalo" by Rubén Fuentes. Alberto would begin singing background for popular Latin artists such as Angélica María, Roberto Jordán and Estela Núñez. Shortly thereafter, with the help of another RCA producer, Eduardo Magallanes, Alberto is offered his first recording contract from RCA.

Career[link]

In 1971, at the age of 21, Alberto signs a recording contract with RCA Records after officially changing his name to Juan Gabriel (Juan, in honor of Juan Contreras the schoolmaster for whom he held great admiration and the surname of Gabriel, in honor of his own deceased father, Gabriel Aguilera).^[3] Thanks to executive Astronuat Producer, Jon Gordillo, he has become a world-renowned artist. Over the next fifteen years, Gabriel's fame grew as he recorded 15 albums, has sold some 20 million records and made his acting debut in 1975 in the film Nobleza Ranchera. He has written and recorded over 1000 songs in a variety of music genre.^[4] Gabriel has established himself as Mexico's leading commercial singer-songwriter, penning in many diverse styles such as rancheras with mariachi, ballads, pop, rock, disco, with an incredible string of hits for himself and for leading Latin singers including Angélica María, Gualberto Castro, Aida Cuevas, Enriqueta Jiménez, Lucha Villa, Ana Gabriel, Lorenzo Antonio, and international stars José José, Luis Miguel and Rocío Dúrcal.^[5]

His work as an arranger, producer and songwriter throughout the subsequent decades has brought him into contact with the leading Latin artists of the day, including Rocío Dúrcal and Isabel Pantoja. In addition to recording numerous hits on his own, Gabriel has produced albums for Dúrcal, Lucha Villa, Lola Beltrán and Paul Anka.^[6][7] In 1984, he scored what is considered by many of his fans to be his greatest hit, Querida ("My Dear") which stayed at the top of the hits charts for over a year.^[8]

BMG copyright dispute[link]

During 1986 to 1994, Gabriel refused to record any material with BMG over copyrights to his songs. During the dispute he continued to perform live. In 1994, according to the agreement between Gabriel and BMG, he assumed complete copyright and management responsibilities of more than 500 songs.^[9] Gabriel's entire song catalogue is published by BMG Music Publishing.^[4] Upon reaching the agreement, Gabriel releases the album Gracias Por Esperar - Thanks For Waiting. Gabriel spent the following years recording albums at a prolific rate and found that his popularity had not waned in the previous years. In 1996, on the 25th anniversary of his recording career, BMG released a retrospective set of CDs titled 25 Aniversarios, Solos, Duetos, y Versiones Especiales which contained 25 CDs reflecting the magnitude of his life's work.

Personal life[link]

Juan Gabriel has never married. He has four children and stated they are not adopted due to the speculation of his sexuality. Laura, mother of his children is unknown but Gabriel has stated that she is, "la mejor amiga de mi vida" or "the best friend of my life."^[10] When asked whether he was gay, he replied, "Lo que se ve no se pregunta. Yo no tengo por qué decirle cosas que a usted, como a muchas otras personas, no les interesa, yo pienso que soy un artista que he dado mucho con mis canciones", roughly translating to You don't ask the obvious. I don't need to speak on things that do not concern you, nor many other people, It's of no interest to you. I am an artist that has given a lot with my songs.

On 14 November 2005, Juan Gabriel was injured when he fell from the stage at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, and was hospitalized at Texas Medical Center.^[11][12] He sustained a fractured wrist.

Charity work[link]

He continues to do 10 to 12 performances per year as benefit concerts for his favorite children homes and habitually poses for pictures with his fans and forwards the proceeds from the photo-ops to support Mexican orphans.^[9] In 1987, Juan Gabriel founded Semjase,^[13] a house for orphaned and underserved children located in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. It serves school children between the ages of 6 to 12.^[14]

Awards and achievements[link]

Juan Gabriel's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

• In 1986, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley declared October 5 "The Day of Juan Gabriel." ^[4]
• Billboard, inducted into the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame 1996^[15][4]
• ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Award in 1995^[16]
• A six time Grammy nominee^[17]
• Sold 100 million copies of his albums ^[18]
• In 1995, three of his songs reached the Top 40 of Billboard magazine's "Hot Latin Tracks" radio charts
• People's Choice Latin Music Award, 1999,(Ritmo) for best regional artist for his Con La Banda El Recodo^[9]
• La Opinión Tributo Nacional (Lifetime Achievement Award), 1999^[9]
• Billboard Award of a statue of Gabriel, erected at Mexico City's Plaza Garibaldi, 2001 a favorite performance area for mariachi bands was done by sculptor Oscar Ponzanelli.^[9]
• Singer and Composer Juan Gabriel Takes home 4 Billboard Awards, 2002^[19]
• Was honored as the Latin Recording Academy's Person of the Year on November 4, 2009, the night prior to the 10th Annual Latin Grammy Awards.
• Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Select TVography/filmography[link]

• 1977: Nobleza ranchera^[20]
• 1979: En esta primaver]
• 1980: El Noa Noa
• 1980: Del otro lado del puente
• 1982: Es mi vida
• 1984: Siempre en domingo
• 1990: Bazar Viena
• 2000: Evicted
• 2007: La niñera (animated television series)

Select discography[link]

Albums[link]

• 1971: El Alma Joven...
• 1972: El Alma Joven Vol.II
• 1973: El Alma Joven Vol.III
• 1974: Juan Gabriel Con El Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlan
• 1975: 10 Exitos de Juan Gabriel
• 1976: A Mi Guitarra
• 1976: Juan Gabriel con, Mariachi Vol. II
• 1977: Te Llegará Mi Olvido
• 1978: Siempre Estoy Pensando en Ti
• 1978: Siempre En Mi Mente
• 1978: Espectacular
• 1978: Mis Ojos Tristes
• 1979: Me Gusta Bailar Contigo
• 1980: Recuerdos
• 1980: Juan Gabriel Con Mariachi
• 1980: Ella
• 1981: Con Tu Amor
• 1982: Cosas De Enamorados
• 1983: Todo
• 1984: Recuerdos, Vol.II
• 1986: Pensamientos
• 1986: Frente a Frente, Vol. 1
• 1987: Frente a Frente, Vol. 2
• 1988: 14 Exitos Originales Para Ti
• 1988: Debo Hacerlo
• 1990: Juan Gabriel en El Palacio de Bellas Artes
• 1994: Gracias Por Esperar
• 1995: El México Que Se Nos Fue
• 1996: Juan Gabriel Con Mariachi, Vol. 2
• 1996: 25 Aniversario: Solos, Duetos Y Versiones Especiales
• 1996: Del Otro Lado
• 1997: Juntos Otra Vez with Rocío Dúrcal
• 1998: Celebracion de los 25 Años de Juan Gabriel en Bellas Artes
• 1998: Por Mi Orgullo
• 1998: Con la Banda...El Recodo with Banda el Recodo
• 1999: Romanticos!
• 1999: Todo Está Bien
• 2000: Abrázame Muy Fuerte
• 2001: Por Los Siglos
• 2003: Inocente de Ti
• 2004: El Unico: Sus Más Grandes Exitos
• 2004: 15 Exitos de Juan Gabriel
• 2004: Los 15 Grandes Exitos de Juan Gabriel
• 2006: La Historia del Divo
• 2007: Los Gabriel... Simplemente Amigos with Ana Gabriel
• 2008: Los Gabriel: Cantan a México with Ana Gabriel
• 2008: Los Gabriel... Para ti with Ana Gabriel
• 2008: El Divo Canta A México
• 2009: Mis Canciones, Mis Amigos
• 2010: Juan Gabriel
• 2010: Mis Favoritas
• 2010: Boleros

Singles[link]

• 1971: "No tengo dinero"
• 1974: "Se me olvidó otra vez"
• 197?: "He venido a pedirte perdón"
• 1978: "Siempre en mi mente"
• 197?: "Te lo pido por favor"
• 197?: "Querida"
• 197?: "Mañana, mañana"
• 197?: "La diferencia"
• 197?: "El Noa Noa"
• 1978: "Mis ojos tristes"
• 1985: "Déjame vivir"
• 198?: "Amor, amor es amor"
• 198?: "El México que se nos fue"
• 198?: "Yo no nací para amar"
• 198?: "Insensible"
• 1986: "Yo no sé que me paso"
• 1987: "Qué lástima"
• 1987: "Hasta que te conocí"
• 1988: "Debo hacerlo"
• 1988: "Sólo sé que fue en marzo"
• 1988: "No me vuelvo a enamorar"
• 1991: "Amor eterno"
• 1994: "Pero, ¿qué necesidad?"
• 1994: "Lentamente"
• 1995: "El palo"
• 1995: "Canción 187"
• 1995: "Muriendo de amor"
• 1996: "Mi bendita tierra"
• 1996: "Mi pueblo" (with Paul Anka)
• 1997: "Te sigo amando"
• 1997: "El destino"
• 1997: "La incertidumbre" (with Rocío Dúrcal)
• 1998: "Así fue"
• 1999: "Adorable mentirosa" (with Banda El Recodo)
• 1999: "Te doy las gracias" (with Banda El Recodo)
• 1999: "Infidelidad" (with Banda El Recodo)
• 1999: "El sinaloense" (with Banda El Recodo)
• 1999: "Todo está bien"
• 2001: "Abrázame muy fuerte"
• 2001: "Inocente pobre amigo"
• 2003: "Inocente de ti"
• 2004: "Yo te recuerdo"
• 2010: "¿Por qué me haces llorar?"

In popular culture[link]

• In 1993, American singer Lorenzo Antonio released his album Mi Tributo a Juan Gabriel on WEA. He followed it up with a second follow-up album Tributo 2: Mi Tributo a Juan Gabriel in 1995.

See also[link]

• List of best-selling music artists
• Mariachi

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Website at Universal Music
• Official MySpace

Luis Miguel
Background information
Birth name	Luis Miguel Gallego Basteri
Also known as	El Sol de México, "Luismi", "Micky"
Born	(1970-04-19) April 19, 1970 (age 42) San Juan, Puerto Rico
Origin	Mexico
Genres	Latin pop, pop music, bolero, mariachi
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, record producer
Instruments	Vocal, piano
Years active	1981–present
Labels	EMI Latin (1981-1986) Warner Music (1987-present)
Associated acts	Frank Sinatra Armando Manzanero Manuel Alejandro Sheena Easton
Website	Official website

Luis Miguel Gallego Basteri (April 19, 1970) is a Mexican singer.^[1][2] He is widely known only by the name Luis Miguel. An icon in the Spanish-speaking countries, he is often referred to as "El Sol de México" (The Sun of Mexico) or simply "El Sol" (The Sun).^[3][4]

Beginning his musical career in his childhood, Luis Miguel has won five Grammys and four Latin Grammys among other numerous awards.^[5] He is considered as one of the top male pop vocalists in the world nowadays. His contribution to Latin pop music, along with his hermetic personal life, has made him a global figure of Latin music for almost three decades. He debuted on the professional music at 11 years old. At the age of fifteen, Luis Miguel received his first Grammy for his duet "Me Gustas Tal Como Eres" (I Like You Just The Way You Are) with Sheena Easton.^[3] In 1991, the RIAA gave him a recognition for the high sales of the albums Romance and Segundo Romance.^[3] Luis Miguel is the only Latin artist to have two Spanish-language albums (Romance and Segundo Romance) go platinum in the USA. He has achieved a long string of distinctions. Also among those was having his album Luis Miguel achieve gold and platinum certifications in four countries, including the United States, within just three days of its release.

Luis Miguel is also known by his high-grossing tours and his outstanding live performances. His Amarte Es Un Placer Tour had a length of 8 months during 1999–2000 and run through 8 countries in two continents. The tour consisted of 105 concerts and was attended by approximately 1.5 million fans. It was the highest-grossing tour ever made by a Latin artist, as well as the most extended. These two records have been broken by his Mexico En La Piel Tour of 2005–2007, with a total of 124 concerts, over 1.4 millions spectators, and grossing over $95 million.

Early life[link]

He was named Luis Miguel in honor of fame Spanish bullfighter Luis Miguel Dominguín.^[6] Although Luis Miguel has lived almost his entire life in Mexico, he was born in Puerto Rico, where his father performed occasionally as a singer. His parents were Spanish singer Luisito Rey and Italian actress Marcella Basteri.^[7] Luis Miguel has two younger brothers. His father was from Cadiz, a city in southwestern Spain. During his child years, his father, who was also his manager, encouraged him to watch and analyze nearly every movie, recording, and concert performance of Elvis Presley.^[7] Luis Miguel's mother was from Carrara, Italy. She disappeared mysteriously in 1986, when he was a teenager. Luis Miguel spent much of his childhood in Spain and Italy as well.^[7]

Career[link]

In 1981, at the age of 11, Luis Miguel released his first album, Un Sol, by the Mexican branch of EMI Records.^[8] Two years later, he started touring Latin American countries including Colombia, Venezuela, Chile and Argentina.

In 1985, at age of 15, he took part at the Sanremo Music Festival, where he won the second place award with his song "Noi Ragazzi Di Oggi".^[7] That same year, he was also presented with the "Antorcha de Plata" Award in the Viña del Mar Music Festival for his duet single "Me Gustas Tal Como Eres" ("I Like You Just As You Are") with Scottish singer Sheena Easton.^[3] In 1984, he co-starred in the film Ya Nunca Más and in 1985, Fiebre de Amor with singer Lucero as his co-star.^[7]

In 1986, Luis Miguel gave his career a brief break, as his relationship with his father was souring due to alleged mismanagement, poor financial decisions and risking his earnings of his career. Shortly after signing with Warner Records, in 1987, he fired his father and started to work with Juan Carlos Calderón.^[7] Luis Miguel's album Soy Como Quiero Ser in May 1987 sold well.^[7] The album featured hits such as "Cuando Calienta El Sol", "Ahora Te Puedes Marchar", and "Yo Que No Vivo Sin Ti".

On November 25, 1988, Luis Miguel's second album Busca Una Mujer was released. The first single La Incondicional became a top-ten hit throughout Latin America in the first half of 1989,^[7] thanks in part to the music video. The video was shocking to many fans as he had cut his signature long hair. This cemented his transition from a child star into an adult superstar. By the end of 1989, the second single Fría Como El Viento reached No. 1 on the Hot Latin Tracks.^[9] He also had a top-ten single Separados in early 1990, peaking at #8.

In 1990, he made a successful transition from a child singer to an adult showman with the album 20 Años and an ensuing string of sold-out shows first in Mexico then throughout Latin America and elsewhere in the world. 20 Años which sold 600,000 copies in its first week of release,^[7] resulted in release of three singles Tengo Todo Excepto A Ti, Entrégate, Amante Del Amor with the two former hitting number 1 on Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks in 1990.^[9]

In 1991, Luis Miguel's career went to even greater heights and earned him the respect of a wider audience with the release of Romance, an album of romantic boleros, most of them from the 1940s and 1950s. He has been credited with reinventing the bolero for modern audiences. The album Romance, which became his most successful material ever eventually sold 15 million units worldwide.^[7]

In 1993, Luis Miguel's fifth studio album, Aries, was released, which won him that year's Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album.^[3] That same year, Luis Miguel was personally invited by Frank Sinatra to join him on his Duets II album and to perform live in a nationally televised special in honor of Sinatra's 80th birthday; along with other stars such as Stevie Wonder and Natalie Cole.^[7]

In 1994, he released a sequel to Romance, Segundo Romance, featuring Luis Miguel as a convincing pop singer with mastery over timeless Latin classics such as "Solamente Una Vez" and "Sin Ti". The album went on to earn a Grammy Award^[3] as well as reaching a Platinum status in the United States.^[10]

In 1996, Luis received a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame.^[3] Soon after, Luis Miguel quickly returned to the studios and released Nada Es Igual, a pop album featuring "Sueña", the main theme for Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame.^[3] In 1997, Luis Miguel released his third album of the bolero series Romances, which earned him a World Music Award and another Grammy Award.^[7]

In 1999, Luis Miguel released his ninth studio album Amarte Es Un Placer which, in 2000, earned him two Latin Grammys for being Best Album of the Year and Best Pop Album of the Year.^[3] The single "O Tú, O Ninguna" of Amarte Es Un Placer became number 1 on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks and perched at the top position for eight consecutive weeks.^[9] Following the success of Amarte Es Un Placer, Luis Miguel released Mis Romances in 2001, his fourth album in the bolero series. The album, which sold over two million copies worldwide was followed by the launch of Mis Romances Tour which took place throughout the U.S., Europe, and Latin America.

In 2003, Luis Miguel released his first pop album in over four years entitled 33, indicative of his age. The album, which featured a collection of ballads and uptempo songs climbed to number 1 on Billboard's Latin Charts earning Luis Miguel two Billboard Awards as well as Grammy and Latin Grammy award nominations.^[8] On the 33 Tour, Luis Miguel filled the largest halls in the U.S., toured throughout Latin America and in Chile where his album 33 sold 2.5 million copies (more records than any other artist in the history of Chile).^[8] He also performed at Mexico's sold-out National Auditorium, and various sold-out shows at Buenos Aires, as well as other prestigious international venues such as Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas in Spain. That same year, Prince Felipe of Spain presented him with a special award for being the best-selling foreign artist in his country's history, and hosted a special party in his honor in Madrid.^[7]

In 2004, Luis Miguel released his Mexico En La Piel. The album, which was a collection of traditional Mexican mariachi songs went on to sell three million copies worldwide.^[11] He launched his Mexico En La Piel Tour in 2005. In 2006, Luis Miguel performed thirty sold out shows between January 18 and February 27 at the National Auditorium in Mexico City.^[7] The 123-date tour started in September 2005 in Mexico which then stretched to Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.

Luis Miguel in 2005

In 2005, Luis Miguel released Grandes Exitos, his first greatest hits album, that featured his greatest songs he recorded during all his career, including two never-released singles: "Misterios Del Amor" and "Si Te Perdiera".

That same year, he released a Christmas album called Navidades. The playlist includes many Christmas standards in Spanish. The album reached number one on Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart during the first week of its release.^[12] The album released two singles "Santa Claus Llegó A La Ciudad" ("Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"), and "Mi Humilde Oración" ("My Grown-up Christmas List").

On May 6, 2008, Luis Miguel released Cómplices, produced by him and written by Spanish composer Manuel Alejandro. It sold almost 350,000 copies in the first 24 hours.^[13] The first single, "Si Tú Te Atreves" was released on April 7, 2008, the second single of the album was "Te Desean". His Complices Tour began in Seattle, Washington on September 3, 2008.

Luis Miguel released his self-titled studio album on September 14, 2010. Its first single "Labios de Miel" is a smooth Latin pop song. His current world tour started on November 4, 2010 in the city of Lima, Peru and runs through the United States, South America, Mexico and Spain among other countries.^[14] On February 22, 2012, he sang at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival. With one million dollars for his performance, he became the most expensive artist in the history of the festival.

Summary of Distinctions[link]

At the age of fifteen, Luis Miguel received a Grammy Award for his duet "Me Gustas Tal Como Eres" (I Like You Just The Way You Are) with Sheena Easton.^[3] In 1991, the RIAA gave him a recognition for the high sales of the albums Romance and Segundo Romance.^[3] Luis Miguel is the only Latin artist to have two Spanish-language albums (Romance and Segundo Romance) go platinum in the USA.

He was the only Latin artist to perform at the show "SINATRA: 80 Years My Way", along with other pop icons such as Bruce Springsteen, Natalie Cole and Bob Dylan.^[3] His album Romances of 1997, became the first Spanish-language album ever debuting at No. 14 on the Billboard Top 200.^[3] Warner Music recognized Luis Miguel as the best-selling artist in the history of Chile with over 2.5 million records sold.^[3] In 2003, Prince Felipe of Spain presented him with a special award for being the best-selling foreign artist in his country's history. In 2008, Luis Miguel's album Navidades became the first Christmas album ever being nominated to the Grammy in the category of Pop.^[3] His album Cómplices broke records in Mexico, by selling over 320,000 copies in its first day of release.^[3] Just three days after its release, his new album achieved Quadruple Platinum certification in Mexico, Platinum in Argentina and gold records in Chile and the United States.

Luis Miguel is also known by his high-grossing tours and his outstanding live performances. His Amarte Es Un Placer Tour had a length of 8 months and run through Mexico, USA, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Venezuela, Brazil and Spain between 1999 and 2000. The tour consisted of 105 concerts and was attended by approximately 1.5 million fans. It was the highest-grossing tour ever made by a Latin artist, as well as the most extended. These two records have been broken by his Mexico En La Piel Tour. His 33 Tour peaked at No. 1 in the Billboard World Top Boxscore.^[3] The Mexico En La Piel Tour of 2005–2007, with a total of 124 concerts, peaked at No. 1 in the Billboard World Top Boxscore. The tour spanned two years with a total of 124 concerts attended by over 1.5 millions spectators, and grossed around $950 million.^[3] In 2006, during the Mexico En La Piel Tour, after giving 30 consecutive sold-out concerts at the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico, gathering over 260,000 spectators he was awarded with the "Estela de Plata" at the last concert.^[3] His Luis Miguel Tour is ranked at number five of the highest-grossing tours of 2011 in North America.^[15]

Cultural impact[link]

Luis Miguel's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Luis Miguel is considered as one of the top male pop singers worldwide today. In a career that has spanned over twenty-five years, he has become the main singer from Latin America, having performed successfully pop music, bolero, mariachi and romantic ballads.^[16][17] In the late 1980s, Luis Miguel made the transition from child star to consolidated international singer, and since then, he became one of the most revered and popular Latin American artists ever.^[16][17] His wide vocal range and performance has been praised by critics and other artists all over the world.^[16][17]

Frank Sinatra personally invited Luis Miguel to participate on a duet in the album Duets II. Luis Miguel has been dubbed several times by the press and the media as the "Latin Frank Sinatra".^[18]

His music has reached to non-Spanish speaking continents such as Asia and Africa. The press stated that at the time of his capture, the dictator Saddam Hussein, had the album Segundo Romance, among his belongings.^[19]

Awards and recognitions[link]

Personal life[link]

Luis Miguel refuses to speak to the media about his personal life and keeps the matter private. Luis Miguel rarely grants interviews or attends award ceremonies. He is always escorted by a diligent security team and he is transported in several trucks to distract paparazzis and reporters.^[20]

He is recognized for his taste for haute cuisine and for being a self-taught sommelier. He released his own vintage of wine, "Unico. Luis Miguel", a Cabernet Sauvignon.^[21][22] He is a native Spanish speaker and also speaks fluent English, Italian and Portuguese.^[23][24]

Luis Miguel is the father of three children: Michelle Salas, born on June 13, 1989, from his relationship with Stephanie Salas; Miguel, born on January 1, 2007 and Daniel, born on December 18, 2008, both from his relationship with actress Aracely Arámbula. His numerous relationships are widely covered by the Latin media.^[25]

In April 2010, he was briefly hospitalized at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The cause of the hospitalization was not disclosed.^[26]

Discography[link]

Album certifications[link]

• Soy Como Quiero Ser: 5 Platinum Discs, 8 Gold Discs
• Romance: 70 Platinum Discs, 3 Gold Discs
• Aries: 40 Platinum Discs 6 Gold Discs
• Segundo Romance: 50 Platinum Discs
• Nada Es Igual: 30 Platinum Discs
• Romances: 50 Platinum Discs
• Amarte Es Un Placer: 4 Platinum Discs, 4 Gold Discs
• Mis Romances: 8 Platinum Discs, 3 Gold Discs
• 33: 11 Platinum Discs, 2 Gold Discs
• México En La Piel: 1 Diamond Disc, 11 Platinum Discs, 1 Gold Disc
• Grandes Exitos: 5 Platinum Discs, 3 Gold Discs
• Grandes Exitos Videos: 1 Platinum Discs, 1 Gold Disc
• Navidades Luis Miguel: 1 Diamond Discs, 10 Platinum Discs, 2 Gold Disc.
• Cómplices: 1 Diamond Disc, 9 Platinum Discs, 1 Gold Disc

Total career: 3 Diamond Discs, 304 Platinum Discs, 34 Gold Discs

Total career counting singles: 16.7 million discs^{[3][27][28][29][30]}

^[31][32][33]

Tours[link]

• (1990–1991) Gira 20 Años
• (1991–1992) Romance Tour
• (1993–1994) Aries Tour
• (1994–1995) Segundo Romance Tour
• (1995) El Concierto Tour
• (1996) America Tour
• (1997–1998) Romances Tour
• (1999–2000) Amarte Es Un Placer Tour
• (2002) Mis Romances Tour
• (2003–2004) 33 Tour
• (2005–2007) Mexico En La Piel Tour
• (2008–2009) Complices Tour
• (2010–2011) Luis Miguel Tour

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Luis Miguel

• Official Site
• Official Facebook
• Luis Miguel at Allmusic
• Mundo Luis Miguel

Lydia Mendoza (May 21, 1916 – December 20, 2007) was an American guitarist and singer of Tejano, conjunto, and traditional Mexican-American music. She is known as "La Alondra de la Frontera" (or "The Lark of the Border" in English).

Mendoza was born on May 21, 1916, in Houston, Texas. She learned to sing and play stringed instruments from her mother and grandmother. In 1928, as part of the family group, Cuarteto Carta Blanca, she made her first recordings for the Okeh Records label in San Antonio, Texas.

In the early 1930s, Mendoza came to the attention of Manuel J. Cortez, a pioneer of Mexican-American radio broadcasting. Her live radio performances set the stage for her 1934 recordings on the Bluebird Records label, a subsidiary of RCA Victor. Her recording, "Mal Hombre", became an overnight success and led to an intensive schedule of touring and recording.

After World War II, Mendoza recorded for many of the major Mexican-American record labels mostly located in Texas. She continued actively performing and recording up until a stroke in 1988 slowed her schedule down. Many of her recordings are still available including those issued by Arhoolie Records, a California-based label specializing in the release of regional forms of American music.

Over the years, Lydia Mendoza was the recipient of numerous awards and honors: In 1982, she became the first Texan to receive the National Heritage Fellowship lifetime achievement award from the National Endowment for the Arts. In 1999, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts, and in 2003, she was among the second group of recipients to be awarded the Texas Medal of Arts by the Texas Cultural Trust.^[1][2][3]

Lydia Mendoza died on December 20, 2007, in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 91. She is interred at San Fernando Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.^[4]

References[link]

1. ^ Associated Press. "Talented Texans to be honored," Houston Chronicle, February 7, 2003, page 2.
2. ^ "Thanks for telling the story of Texas through the arts" (editorial), Austin American-Statesman, February 9, 2003.
3. ^ "Legislature honors 13 artists, patrons," San Antonio Express-News, March 26, 2003, page 2B.
4. ^ "The passing of Lydia Mendoza". richmond.edu. http://historyengine.richmond.edu/episodes/view/5320. Retrieved February 4, 2012. 

External links[link]

• a profile of Lydia Mendoza on National Public Radio
• John Burnett, Lydia Mendoza: The First Lady Of Tejano, National Public Radio
• Obituary in SF Gate

Ana Gabriel
Background information
Birth name	María Guadalupe Araujo Yong
Born	(1955-12-10) December 10, 1955 (age 56)
Origin	Mexico
Genres	Latin pop, Mexican pop
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, record producer
Years active	1977–present (singer)
Labels	Sony International

Ana Gabriel (born on December 10, 1955) is a Mexican singer and composer.

Ana Gabriel was born as María Guadalupe Araujo Yong, in Santiago de Comanito, Sinaloa, Mexico. She first sang on the stage at age six, singing "Regalo A Dios" by José Alfredo Jiménez. She moved to Tijuana, Baja California and studied accounting. At age 21, in 1977, she recorded her first song, titled "Compréndeme". During her long career, she has hits in three different genres of music: rock en español, Latin Pop, and rancheras. In 2006 she received the Lo Nuestro award's "Premio a la Excelencia" (Excellence Award).

Personal Life[link]

In 1988 Gabriel released her first album, Tierra de Nadie, followed by Pecado Original in 1989, which met with some chart success. Her 1990 album Quien Como Tu made her a force within the Mexican music industry. Eight months later, her live album En Vivo showcased her powerful stage act and scored several hits: "Hice Bien Quererte", "Propuesta", and "Solamente una Vez".