- Title: Fans bid farewell to icon Juan Gabriel at Mexico City wake
- Date: 6th September 2016
- Summary: VARIOUS OF MARIACHIS PLAYING AS FANS FILE INTO PALACE VARIOUS OF FANS LISTENING TO MARIACHIS
- Embargoed: 21st September 2016 02:02
- Keywords: Juan Gabriel wake Mexico City singer fans
- Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- City: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Music
- Reuters ID: LVA0064YAHXZ7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: It was standing room only at Mexico City's Palace of Fine Arts on Monday (September 05) as scores of fans filed into the building to pay their final respects to singer Juan Gabriel at his wake in the capital.
An elaborate homage to Gabriel's four decades-long body of work was on show at the Palace of Fine Arts as thousands filed past the ashes of the iconic entertainer.
Fans across Mexico have been in mourning since Gabriel's passing and came from far to Mexico City to say farewell.
"I came from Durango (state) because I knew that this (wake) would be very beautiful and it was worth it 100%. In my time here, I met people from all over the place. And I am 100 percent appreciative and happy to be here. I leave happy, very moved and very happy," said Maria Teresa Chavez.
Gabriel sold more than 100 million albums internationally and has performed to sold-out concerts throughout the world.
Diana Cobelich hails from Peru and told Reuters other memorials to Gabriel are taking place across Latin America.
"I am here representing my country, all those who loved him. Over there (in Peru) there are a lot of homages for him (Gabriel). He was loved a lot, a lot, my friends from Venezuela, from Colombia we're all here," she said.
During his prolific career, Gabriel produced more than 100 albums for more than 50 artists including Paul Anka, Lola Beltran, Rocio Durcal, and Lucha Villa. He also wrote more than 1,500 songs, which have been covered by such artists as Marc Anthony, Raul Di Blasio, Ana Gabriel and Son Del Son.
"Juan Gabriel is not dead. Juan Gabriel continues on in the hearts of all Mexicans and we're going to continue to remember him through his songs," said fan, Juan Duran.
Gabriel's rags-to-riches story was the inspiration of many Mexicans.
Born in 1950 into a poor family in the western Mexican state of Michoacan, Gabriel, whose real name was Alberto Aguilera, rose to superstardom and his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: Audio restrictions: This clip's Audio includes copyrighted material. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing the audio contained in this clip.