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Ana Gabriel
Ana Gabriel performing in 2006
Born	María Guadalupe Araujo Yong (1955-12-10) December 10, 1955 (age 69) Guamúchil, Sinaloa, Mexico
Occupations	Singer songwriter record producer
Musical career
Genres	Latin pop, Latin ballad, ranchera, mariachi, rock
Years active	1974–present
Labels	Sony
Musical artist

María Guadalupe Araujo Yong (born December 10, 1955), known professionally as Ana Gabriel, is a Mexican singer and songwriter. With over 40 million records sold worldwide, Gabriel is the best-selling Mexican female artist, and one of the best-selling Latin music artists of all time. Dubbed as the "Diva de América" and the "Luna de América", during her long career, she has performed different genres of music (primarily Latin pop, Latin ballad and Ranchera).

As of 2013, Gabriel had released twenty studio albums, three live albums, and fifteen compilation albums. Three of Gabriel's albums have topped the Top Latin Albums chart, and has achieved 7 number-one singles and 20 top 10 hits on the Hot Latin Songs chart, including "Ay Amor", "Es Demasiado Tarde", and "Quién Como Tú"; for which she has been named the chart's seventh Greatest of All Time Artist.

She was included among the Greatest Latin Artists of All Time by Billboard. Her accolades include a Grammy Award nomination, four Latin Grammy Award nominations, five Billboard Latin Music Awards, thirteen Lo Nuestro Awards (including the Excellence Award), the Living Legend Award by Billboard Latin Women in Music; as well as awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017.

Early life

María Guadalupe Araujo Yong was born in Guamúchil, Sinaloa, Mexico on December 10, 1955. She did not receive formal training for singing and she credits her maternal grandfather Roberto Yong, an immigrant from China, for providing the only singing coaching she received.

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".

Career

In 1987, Ana Gabriel won third place at the OTI Festival, celebrated in Lisbon, Portugal, where she performed an orchestral version of the pop-power ballad song "Ay Amor", which later was released as a single in its album version; it climbed to the top position in Mexico, throughout Ibero-America and on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart for 14 consecutive weeks.

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 Quién Como Tú 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".

Throughout the 1990s Gabriel released an album almost every year. A versatile singer, she showcased her talent as an interpreter of many different musical styles, from lambada to mariachi and romantic ballads to pop music. She also honed her skills as a songwriter and a producer, releasing Mi México, a ranchera-influenced, mariachi-backed pop album, in 1991. This unique blend of styles was also reflected in the songs, all written by Gabriel. Her lyrics described strong, active women involved in their love lives, counter to their passive, traditional depiction in older songs. The album also included a tribute to Mexico's most popular singer-songwriter, Juan Gabriel (no relation).

Gabriel scored a number-one hit with the duet "Cosas del Amor" in 1991, which she sang with Vikki Carr, a Mexican-American pop singer. The single earned Gabriel a Lo Nuestro Award for Song of the Year in 1992. At the same awards ceremony, Gabriel was also named Female Artist of the Year in the Regional Mexican category and Pop Female Artist of the Year; Mi México was named Regional Mexican Album of the Year. In 1993, Gabriel was awarded Best Pop Female Performer at the Lo Nuestro Awards. The following year, she appeared as a guest artist on Plácido Domingo's Grammy-nominated album, De Mi Alma Latina.

In 1996 she released the pop-oriented Vivencias. She followed this with the traditional ranchera album Con un Mismo Corazón in 1997, an album she wrote and produced herself. Of particular interest is her title-track duet with Vicente Fernández, one of the most prolific and popular ranchera singers in Mexican history. Burr wrote of the duet, "The beauty here lies in the melding of two great voices—Gabriel's husky sensuality and Fernandez's powerful, understated expressions—set against a 25-piece symphony."

Gabriel released another live album in 1998, En la Plaza de Toros México, a 30-track boxed set. That same year she traveled to Miami to work with the producer Emilio Estefan, Jr., on her 1999 album Soy Como Soy. The result was a pop-influenced ranchera album that went gold in the Latin music market and helped Gabriel win the Ritmo Latino Music Award for Female Pop Artist of the Year in 2000.

With the release of Eternamente in 2000, Gabriel returned to mariachi love ballads, using only guitar as accompaniment. That same year she also appeared with other Mexican music icons in an Independence Day television special called Viva Mexico, a celebration of Mexican music and history. In 2001 Gabriel released Huelo a Soledad, once again balancing the traditional sounds of Eternamente with sophisticated pop songs, a cappella numbers, and dance tracks.

In 2002, Gabriel's platinum-selling album Sagitario was released. In that same year, she won the Billboard Latin Music Estrella Award in recognition of her contribution to the Latin music industry, performed at a tribute concert for Vicente Fernandez sponsored by the Latin Music Awards, and participated in the ninth annual Las Cruces International Mariachi Concert and Festival in New Mexico. In December of that year, she was scheduled to perform at the eleventh annual Christmas Mariachi Festival in Phoenix, Arizona, but was denied a work visa and refused entry into the United States.

In December 2014, singer Ana Gabriel told reporters on TV Azteca's Ventaneando program that in 2015 she would release her new recording project after seven years without releasing an album with unreleased songs. She performed at the 2014 Viña del Mar Festival, receiving the award for most popular artist along with the Golden and Silver Seagull and Torch awards. In 2015, she received the Legend Award at the Hispanic Heritage Awards. Two years later, she was inducted into the Latin American Songwriters Hall Of Fame.

In 2017, Gabriel appeared in the multi award-winning documentary film The American Epic Sessions directed by Bernard MacMahon. In the film, Gabriel recorded live on the restored first electrical sound recording system from the 1920s. She performed Lydia Mendoza's "Mal Hombre" accompanied by a large band featuring Omar Rodríguez-López and Van Dyke Parks. Stephen Dalton in The Hollywood Reporter described her performance as "fantastic".

Personal life

Gabriel identifies as asexual.

Discography

Studio albums

• Un estilo (1985)
• Sagitario (1986)
• Pecado Original (1987)
• Tierra de nadie (1988)
• Quién como tú (1989)
• Mi México (1991)
• Silueta (1992)
• Luna (1993)
• Ayer y hoy (1994)
• Joyas de dos siglos (1995)
• Vivencias (1996)
• Con un mismo corazón (1997)
• Soy como soy (1999)
• Eternamente (2000)
• Huelo a soledad (2001)
• Dulce y salado (2003)
• Tradicional (2004)
• Dos amores, un amante (2006)
• Arpegios de amor (2007)
• Renacer... Homenaje a Lucha Villa (2009)
• Por Amor a Ustedes (2020)

Live albums

• En Vivo (1990)
• ...En la Plaza de Toros México (1998)
• Altos de Chavón: El Concierto (2013)
• Un Mariachi en Altos de Chavón (2013)

Compilation albums

• The Best (1992)
• Ayer y Hoy (1995)
• The Best: The Latin Stars Series (1998)
• 20th Anniversary (1999)
• 3 CD Box (1999)
• Una Voz Para tu Corazón - 30 Grandes Éxitos (2001)
• Colección de Oro (2002)
• Personalidad: 20 Éxitos (1992)
• Historia de Una Reina (2005)
• Canciones de Amor (2006)
• La Reina Canta a México (2006)
• Best of Ana Gabriel (2006)
• Con Sentimiento (2006)
• Los Gabriel… Simplemente Amigos (2007)
• Los Gabriel: Cantan a México (2008)
• Mis Favoritas (2010)
• Mi Regalo, Mis Número 1... (2015)
• Personalidad (2nd. Edition) (2016)
• Music from The American Epic Sessions (2017)

Awards

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in the United States. Ana Gabriel has received one nomination.

Latin Grammy Awards

The Latin Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences in the United States. Gabriel has received four nominations.

Lo Nuestro Awards

The Lo Nuestro Awards are awarded annually by television network Univision in the United States. Ana Gabriel has received thirteen awards from twenty-nine nominations.

See also

• List of best-selling Latin music artists

References

1. Johnson, Catalina Maria (February 7, 2020). "Ana Gabriel lives up to the title 'La Diva de América'". Chicago Reader. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
2. tolsen (October 17, 2016). "Greatest Of All Time Hot Latin Songs Artists". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
3. Cabison, Rosalie (October 19, 2020). "Greatest of All Time Latin Artists". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
4. "Ana Gabriel será Máxima Excelencia de Lo Nuestro" (in Spanish). terra.com. February 13, 2006. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
5. Flores, Griselda (February 6, 2017). "Romeo Santos & Ana Gabriel Among 2017 Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame Nominees". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
6. "Ana Gabriel" (in Spanish). formulamexicana.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
7. ^ Lo Nuestro Awards:
   • 1989 Awards:Premio Lo Nuestro 1989 (Television). Miami, Florida, United States: Univision. 1989.
   • 1990 Awards:"Lo Nuestro 1990 – Historia". Univision (in Spanish). Univision Communications, Inc. 1990. Archived from the original on October 15, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
   • 1990 Nominees:Houston Chronicle News Services (March 29, 1990). "Latin Music Awards – 3 Houston acts earn nominations". Houston Chronicle.
   • 1991 Awards: Lannert, John (May 24, 1991). "Hispanic Music Industry Salutes Its Best Wednesday". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
   • 1991 Awards: Lannert, John (June 1, 1991). "Latin Music Finds Harmony in Awards Crisp, Entertaining Tv Program A Breakthrough For Fledgling Trade Group". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
   • 1992 Awards: Lannert, John (November 28, 1998). "Ana Gabriel Captures 4 Latin Awards". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 22. p. 10. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
   • 1992 Nominees:"Ana Gabriel leads nominees for Latin Music Awards". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 13. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. March 28, 1992.
   • 1993 Awards: Lannert, John (March 30, 1993). "Secada Lead Latin Noms Following Grammy Win". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 10. p. 10. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
   • 1996 Awards:"Univision Announces the Nominees for Spanish-language Music's Highest Honors Premio Lo Nuestro a la Musica Latina". Univision. March 27, 1996. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
   • 1998 Awards:Barquero, Christopher (1998). "Premios Lo Nuestro: Los galardones a la música latina serán entregados en mayo próximo". La Nación (in Spanish). Grupo Nación GN, S.A. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
   • 1999 Awards:"Lo Nuestro 1999 – Historia". Univision (in Spanish). Univision Communications, Inc. 1999. Archived from the original on June 23, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
   • 2000 Awards:"Lo Nuestro 2000 – Historia". Univision (in Spanish). Univision Communications, Inc. 2000. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
   • 2006 Awards:"Recibirá Ana Gabriel la "excelencia" en Premios Lo Nuestro". El Universal (in Spanish). Compañía Periodística Nacional. February 11, 2006. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
8. Lannert, John (January 21, 1995). "Latin Notas". Billboard: 36. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
9. "De mi alma latina". AllMusic. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
10. AP (September 18, 2015). "Ana Gabriel se alzó con el premio de la Herencia Hispana". El Universo (in Spanish). Retrieved November 16, 2022.
11. Flores, Griselda (February 6, 2017). "Romeo Santos & Ana Gabriel Among 2017 Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame Nominees". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
12. "The Long-Lost, Rebuilt Recording Equipment That First Captured the Sound of America". WIRED. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
13. "The Performers in 'The American Epic Sessions'". WTTW Chicago Public Media – Television and Interactive. June 6, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
14. "American Epic Sessions song list" (PDF). Thirteen.org. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
15. "'The American Epic Sessions': London Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
16. "Ana Gabriel: "Soy asexual como los ángeles"". Diario Libre (in European Spanish). October 20, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
17. "Ana Gabriel dice: Soy asexual". Cuatro Poder (in Mexican Spanish).
18. Grammy Awards:
    • 1991 Awards:Cromelin, Richard (January 11, 1991). "Grammys—Round 1 : Pop music: Phil Collins' 8 nominations lead the pack and Quincy Jones sets a record with his 74th nod. The winners will be revealed on Feb. 20". Los Angeles Times. p. 3. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
19. Latin Grammy Awards:
    • 2005 Awards:"Complete list of 6th annual Latin Grammy nominations". USA Today. November 2, 2005. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
    • 2006 Awards:Gurza, Agustín (September 27, 2006). "For Shakira, success does translate well". Los Angeles Times. p. 3. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
    • 2008 Awards:"9th Annual Latin Grammy Awards". Los Angeles Times. September 10, 2007. Archived from the original on August 4, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2011.

Bibliography

• Lipsitz, George, Footsteps in the Dark: The Hidden Histories of Popular Music, U of Minnesota Press, 2007, ISBN 0-8166-5020-9

External links

• Ana Gabriel at IMDb

• Biography
• Latin music
• Mexico
• Music

• 1955 births
• Living people
• 20th-century Mexican songwriters
• 20th-century Mexican women singers
• 21st-century Mexican women singers
• Asexual women
• Latin music songwriters
• LGBTQ people in Latin music
• Mexican LGBTQ musicians
• Mexican people of Chinese descent
• Mexican women singer-songwriters
• Mexico in the OTI Festival
• People from Guamúchil
• Singers from Sinaloa
• Sony Music Mexico artists
• Women in Latin music