Mexican musical icon Juan Gabriel dies at 66

Juan Gabriel, the famed Mexican singer and songwriter who composed more than 1,500 songs, died Sunday at his home in California. He was 66.

His publicist confirmed his death, and the Los Angeles coroner's office said he died of natural causes. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto tweeted that Gabriel, known as the "Divo of Juarez," was "one of the great musical icons of our country," and sent condolences to his family and friends. Born Alberto Aguilera Valdez on Jan. 7, 1950, the youngest of 10 children, Gabriel wrote his first song at 13. He was Mexico's top-selling artist, known for his ballads and mariachi songs, with his hits including "Hasta Que Te Conoci" ("Until I Met You"), "Amor Eterno" ("Eternal Love"), and "Querida" ("Dear"). While trying to break into the music business, he moved to Mexico City and slept on the streets and in train stations, the Los Angeles Times reports. He signed his first record contract in 1971.

A six-time Grammy nominee, Gabriel was named the ASCAP Songwriter of the Year in 1995, inducted into the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame in 1996, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2009. In 1990, he became the first commercial singer to hold a concert at Mexico City's Palace of Fine Arts, until then reserved just for classical musicians. Proceeds from his three sold-out shows went to the National Symphony Orchestra. He performed around the world, with his last concert Friday night at the Forum in Inglewood, California. He was scheduled to perform Sunday night in El Paso. He is survived by four children.

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