Juan Gabriel

I know he's not that well-known outside latin countries but he was huge in Mexico. If there's mariachi/banda/ranchero playing in your party you will likely hear at least one song by him. There's hundreds of cover versions of his songs and it doesn't matter if you listen to metal or electronica or hip hop or rock everyone in mexico knows by heart at least one of his songs.

Don't know what artist to compare him to elsewhere but this is in Mexico the equivalent to have Elton John die in the UK or Dylan in the US.

Elton is the referent that keeps coming up.

cept that Americans also more likely to know Elton songs, not Dylan.

There's hundreds of cover versions of his songs and it doesn't matter if you listen to metal or electronica or hip hop or rock everyone in mexico knows by heart at least one of his songs

The first time I ever heard his name was in 1990/91, when I heard the cover of "Querida" that's at the end of Maldita Vecindad's album El Circo.

A guest on the BBC this morning was talking about which Juan Gabriel songs are usually played at Mexican weddings, and which ones at funerals, etc.

colleague went to his last show

the venue was apparently almost empty when the it started. i guess he is very punctual, so it started right at 8pm, but the venue didn't fill up til 9

heard some of his tunes here and there (over 15 years ago), only know the classics (amor eterno, querida, etc) and had a cursory knowledge of him

i've not read any info on his death, but he hadn't shown signs of any illness, right? it was all pretty sudden

xp

yes apparently a lot of people play amor eterno at funerals (my colleague has informed me of this)

Also from Gustavo, 20 of his best:

http://www.ocweekly.com/music/juan-gabriel-mexican-music-legend-passes-away-here-are-his-20-best-songs-7467166

Those two Gustavo Arellano pieces are great (esp highlighting the covers/reworkings), as is Carla's tribute. Hadn't seen the Kumbia Kings rework of "No Tengo Dinero" with the kids in the video, awww.

Going to be gauche and link Alfred's obit: https://humanizingthevacuum.wordpress.com/2016/08/28/juan-gabriel-rip/

Kinda curious if TSJ will run an equiv to their Bowie/Prince RIP roundups ...

Thanks!

As for TSJ, discussiono are happening.

Nice personal take here:

https://mividavegan.wordpress.com/2016/08/30/recuerdos-de-juan-gabriel/

Those are excellent posts. He did have a somewhat interesting life, the rags to riches story. Oddly enough a telenovela about him was aired this year and it ended the same day he died. Haven't watched it but my mother and my grandmother loved it - this probably means it's not that good but it's an option to learn about his life... We were just talking about the series an hour before his death hit the news. Here's the promo:

http://youtu.be/XKw793ApYb0

http://jonathanbogart.tumblr.com/post/149982946585/juan-gabriel-1950-2016