The Latin American community mourns Mexican singer Juan Gabriel in the city where he died of a heart attack aged 66

Record ID: 88650

  • Title: The Latin American community mourns Mexican singer Juan Gabriel in the city where he died of a heart attack aged 66
  • Date: 29th August 2016
  • Summary: FANS PLACING WREATH AT THE STAR FANS GATHERING AROUND THE STAR AND SINGING GABRIEL'S SONG "AMOR ETERNO"
  • Embargoed: 13th September 2016 07:38
  • Keywords: Juan Gabriel singer death California Santa Monica Los Angeles Latin American Latino Mexican
  • Location: SANTA MONICA AND LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
  • City: SANTA MONICA AND LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA0024X6GIMB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Juan Gabriel fans gathered outside the home where the singer and composer reportedly died and at his star on the Walk of Fame to pay tribute to the musical icon across Latin America.
    Gabriel performed his last concert on Friday (August 26) at The Forum in Inglewood, California and was scheduled to leave Los Angeles on Saturday (August 27) to El Paso, Texas where he was scheduled to perform tonight (August 28) and continue with his tour "MeXXIco Es Todo 2016." Gabriel's US tour had 18 dates remaining and was scheduled to end on December 4th, 2016 in San Jose, California.
    "I went to his concert this past Friday in Inglewood, California and honestly the show was spectacular as always, but I did notice something was different because he would stop to take a breath and I wondered, what's wrong with my male diva. It was a bit different, it was good, but he did look a little sick and I wondered what was wrong, but I never thought this would happen," said Guadalupe Mendoza who gathered with hundreds of fans on Hollywood Boulevard at Gabriel's star on the Walk of Fame.
    Gabriel's music was timeless and fans from all ages got together to pay tribute at the home where he reportedly died and at his star on the Walk of Fame.
    "At 12 or 13 years old I bought my first album of Juan Gabriel and his 15 hits and it was then that I fell in love with his music and started signing his songs too," said Joan Salan who showed up with his guitar and together with fans sang some of Gabriel's memorable hits such as "Amor Eterno" or Eternal Love.
    The late singer was a musical icon across Latin America for more than 40 years, he died on Sunday of a heart attack at age 66. The prolific songwriter and performer, who was known for his powerful love ballads, died in Santa Monica, California.
    Gabriel, whose real name was Alberto Aguilera, was born in 1950 into a poor family in the western Mexican state of Michoacan and rose to sell millions copies of his albums.
    Gabriel, who lived much of his young life in the border city of Ciudad Juarez, entertained generations of Latin Americans with his energetic performances of songs such as "Querida" and "Amor Eterno" in glittering mariachi outfits.
    "A voice and a talent that represented Mexico," Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said on Twitter. "His music, a legacy for the world."
    Gabriel received the 2196th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 11, 2009.
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