Legendary Mexican singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel has died of a heart attack at the age of 66:

Juan Gabriel, who was born Alberto Aguilera Valadez, was beloved by generations of fans and known for his flamboyant style. The singer was on tour in California at the time of his death. His son Ivan Aguilera said in a statement, “My father’s untimely passing is a tragic loss for all of us, his family, colleagues, and fans alike. We give heartfelt thanks for the outpouring of condolences we have received from around the world including from President Enrique Pena Nieto. We know that our father will miss entertaining his countless fans, who brought him tremendous joy in life.” Juan Gabriel’s family said they would release further details about his death in the coming days, and asked for his fans and media to “to allow them this very brief window to mourn the loss of Juan Gabriel.” The superstar singer Juan Gabriel had performed a concert at The Forum in Los Angeles Friday night, just hours before his death, Billboard reports. He suffered a massive heart attack Sunday morning while preparing to fly from Los Angeles to El Paso, Texas, the next stop in his tour, according to Billboard. In a review of Friday night’s concert, Billboard’s Griselda Flores called Juan Gabriel the “ultimate showman.” Flores wrote, “Accompanied by a full mariachi band, an orchestra and a troupe of 20-plus dancers, the Mexican crooner serenaded his fans at The Forum for two hours straight. The high energy show kicked off in full force with a patriotic performance that screamed Mexican pride with follkloricos and breathtaking images of Mexico playing on the screens. Then, “El Divo de Juarez” appeared on the 360-stage wearing a black suit with a royal blue silk shirt underneath that matched the color of his mariachi.” It was not known what caused the heart attack. He was not known to have been ill, but has had health issues in the past. In November 2014, Juan Gabriel was hospitalized in Las Vegas for three weeks during a battle with pneumonia, according to the Latin Times. “Everything is fine,” he wrote on Twitter. “There is nothing to worry about, we only need to take care of ourselves. Thanks to all the kind messages and good wishes.” Despite rumors he was near death or had died spreading on social media, he made a full recovery and returned to touring. But Juan Gabriel told the Latin Times last August that he died and came back to life during that health scare. “I already died when I was in Las Vegas. I don’t remember if it was May or June, but I came back because they gave me permission to come back,” he said. “I don’t know for how long, but I know that while I sing, write nice songs, record, and go up and down with my tours, I will transform into what I’ve done: music.” That same month, sources close to him told TVnotas the singer “doesn’t take care of himself, it’s going to be difficult for him to get better” The source said Juan Gabriel “needs to follow a strict diet, drink a lot of water and eat healthy, fruits, vegetables, and everything in small portions, he also needs to rest a lot, and he is not doing any of that,” adding that he has put on weight and complained about muscle pain and lack of breath after concerts. “He complains about muscle pain, but what worries him the most is the lack of air. As soon as he finishes ‘un Palenque,’ he immediately walks to his dressing room, but he takes his boots off because he can’t walk in them, he needs someone to help get there,” the source told TVnotas. Juan Gabriel sold millions of records during his career, which spanned more than four decades. He signed his first recording contract in 1971 and his first hit was “No tiengo dinero,” according to ABC News. He went on to write and sing more than 1,500 songs. He was nominated for multiple Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame in 1996, among the many honors he has received. According to Billboard, Juan Gabriel remained one of the top Latin singers, and highest grossing musicians of any genre, up until his death. He ranked No. 18 on Billboard’s 2015 Money Makers list, and earned $11.6 million in touring revenue in 2015, the second-highest-grossing Latin tour of the year. He also had the top-selling Latin album, Los Duo, Billboard reports. Juan Gabriel was born January 7, 1950, in the small town of Parácuaro, Mexico, as the youngest of 10 children, according to the Los Angeles Times. He talked about his childhood in a 1993 interview with the LA Times: I was born in Michoacan, which is in the south of Mexico. When my father died, my mother moved to Ciudad Juarez. She had to go to work as a housekeeper and couldn’t take care of me at home. She sent me to an institution, where I spent most of my childhood. I didn’t go anywhere, except church, and would see my mother maybe twice or three times a year. That’s why I think I have the authority to tell parents not to do that to their children. Give them all your love and think very thoroughly before you bring a child to the world. He began singing at a young age and eventually ran away to start a career at 15. “When I was 15, all I knew was that I had to be somebody and that I could be somebody. So I exploited the only thing I knew, which was singing and songwriting,” he told the newspaper. “Even if my childhood had been different, I would’ve still sung. But the (hardships) gave me strength and made me realize that I must do something if I wanted to get out of that situation. I’m glad it paid off.” Juan Gabriel is survived by his four children, Jean, Jean, Ivan, and Joan. He was not married. “I’m not married; I don’t ever plan to marry. I’m happy single,” Juan Gabriel said in his biography, according to ABC News. “I have many loves but the most important are: my mother, my children, my sister, my brothers, my nieces and nephews and my songs.” Juan Gabriel was known for being active in charity work, often performing benefit concerts to support children’s homes. In December 2015, after having to postpone a charity show, he made a $100,000 personal donation to charities in the Santa Fe, New Mexico, area. He founded a school, Semjase, for orphan and underserved children ages 6 to 12, in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, but it closed after the 2015 school year because of financial issues. He was working to have the school reopened. Gabriel found solace in music and wrote his first song when he was 13 years old. That was the same year that he left the school and began making his living as a carpenter. Soon after, he began singing in local Juarez clubs under the name of Adan Luna. Alberto Aguilera Valadez Became Juan Gabriel: Gabriel secured both a recording contract with RCA Records (now BMG) and a new name to coincide with his move to Mexico City. The new name ‘Juan Gabriel’ was a tribute to both his father and a schoolmaster that had served as inspiration over the years. It was that same year71that Gabriel wrote and recorded the first hit of his career, “No Tengo Dinero,” and started on the road to stardom. In the next 15 years, Juan Gabriel’s fame grew as he recorded 15 albums, sold some 20 million records and appeared in films such as Nobleza Ranchera and Lado de Puerte. Dispute With BMG: All that ended in 1985. In the midst of a bitter dispute with BMG about who owned the copyright to songs that Gabriel had composed, Juan Gabriel refused to record any new material for the ensuing eight years. An agreement was finally reached in 1994 and Gabriel released a new album of modern pop tunes name Gracias Por Esperar (Thanks For Waiting). Gabriel spent the following years recording albums at a prolific rate and found that his popularity had not waned in the previous years. In 1996, on the 25th anniversary of his recording career, BMG released a retrospective set of CDs titled 25 Anniversarios, Solos, Duetos, y Bersiones Especiales which contained 25 CDs reflecting the magnitude of his life’s work. Juan Gabriel - Hall of Fame Composer: While Gabriel has always been a popular performer, it is his work as a composer that truly stands out. His compositions have been recorded by many other singers and include hits such as “Yo No Se Que Me Paso,” “El Palo,” “Mi Pueblo,” “Te Sigo Amando,” “Asi Tu” and many, many more. In fact, Gabriel is credited with having penned more than 500 songs, quite a feat for a man untrained in music. In 1995, he was named ASCAP’s ‘Songwriter of the Year.’

He Has Overcome The World.

When the storms try to steal your attention, turn to Jesus, reach out your arms and let Him stabilize you. He will be your anchor in the storm, your peace in the midst of chaos, and your joy in the midst of trials.

Sometimes little things can go a long way to refresh a weary spirit.

A bath, a piece of chocolate, fragrance of flowers, music ... these things can be a soothing balm to the spirit.

The weight you carry on your shoulders is much too heavy for one human being.

Give some of that weight where it belongs, - to God, and have faith that what happens is for the best, whether you understand it or not.

There are countless ways to love God.

Love God through love for your parents. Love God through love for your spouse. Love God through love for your children. Love God through love for your friends. Love God through love for your country. For God is in all these and much, infinitely, more.

There are no small miracles.

A miracle is a miracle. Don't forget to notice them! As you begin to notice miracles, you will find that they are all around. Love and blessings abound!

There is POWER in the name of Jesus.

Don't get so caught up in the activity of your faith that you forget about the power that comes with a personal relationship with Jesus. Power to heal. Power to open doors. Power to move mountains, and overcome addictions. There is power in the name of Jesus...Don't miss out.

This is what the Lord says.

Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this that he understands and knows me that i am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these i delight.

Today is a big day for you.

Yes, today. Keep your eyes open for a message. It might come in a shape of a bird flying overhead, or a graffiti on a wall, or a phrase said by a passerby, or... Whatever shape it has, this message has been trying to reach you for years, and today is finally the day. Keep your senses open.

Today is going to be a great day.

Don't start your day with a negative attitude. It's hard to understand why so many people wake up each morning feeling defeated when each day holds so much potential. The possibilities that today offers are endless, so eagerly anticipate wonderful happenings. It's easy to let blessings go by unnoticed if you're not looking.

You are a child of God.

Remain strong in your faith, no matter how many mistakes God's children make along the way of growing up, they are still destined for Grace and eternal Joy.

You are exactly where you are meant to be.

Trust in God that everything is exactly the way it is supposed to be. Just as a child has to pass through a tiny channel on its way from the womb into life, so are you on your way to God.

You are to trust yourself.

If you do not, then you will forever be looking to others to prove your own merit to you, and you will never be satisfied. You will always be asking others what to do and at the same time resenting their help. Trust in yourself starts with being ok with the consequences of your decisions.

You have so many gifts! - use them.

God has given you so many gifts to sow love and to give hope, to shine light and to spread joy. Abundant gifts. Use them. Give to yourself and give to others. There is an endless spring where they come from.

You influence those around you.

Think well about the seeds you are planting as you influence the people around you every day. You can plant seeds of impatience, fear, and frustration, or of love, contentment, and faith. It's up to you!

Your past mistakes are meant

You learn from the past but do not forget for the same mistake will happen if not remembered. You make mistakes but your mistakes are not you. People always have a way of bringing up your past [to make themselves look better] or so they think. Put the past where it belongs IN THE PAST. Not one of us can change what we’ve done, gone through or endured. Utterly impossible so move on and put the past in the past.

YourWordsCount

Our words can cut or they can encourage. They can speak hope or steal it. Today, may we build and not tear down. May they bless and not curse. May we be intentional with those we love and those we meet and may we point people towards the love of the Father instead of anything shallow or meaningless.

Be happy with what you have

If people would be grateful, our world would be a better place to be. Many problems are the result of humanity and dissatisfaction. We don’t always get what we want in life, but we always get what we need. Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have. The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes their way.

Creativity is good for the soul.

Creativity is when your spirit gets a chance to play and express itself. So whether art, dance, cooking, making music, writing, or creating a garden, let yourself go! Create!

Divine messages come to you all the time.

They come through dreams, through snatches of songs, through things that you read which resonate with you, through synchronistic conversations, and most of all, in the quiet recesses of your heart. You may not have encounters with burning bushes, but that doesn’t mean God isn’t talking to you!

It doesn't matter what everyone else thinks.

People are always judging each other and, the truth is, they're not very good at it. Don't put a lot of concern into what people think of you. You weren't created to please and entertain everyone. You were created to be you, so feel good about yourself.

It's important to listen to your gut.

Reason has its place in this world, certainly. But your gut is that subconscious part of yourself that knows exactly what is right for you. And oftentimes God speaks to you through that subtle but true gut feeling.

It's time you stopped hiding from life, and said yes to the adventure of being alive.

Enough of the routine already. Go on, have an adventure, - do what you always wanted deep within your heart. Do what brings you alive, and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.

looking unto Jesus

Today, may we get our eyes off our our own desires and may we focus on Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is worthy of our praise and He gives us courage. Everything we need, we will find in Him and everything we want to become will be discovered there as well.

Never take someone's feelings for granted

Sometimes you tell someone how you feel without any expectation. It’s done to free you and whether they feel the same, or not, is irrelevant. I am a man! Sharing my feelings to some women and they will call me a little boy and to those women we are not friends anymore. Not only women have feelings. Some men are more sensitive than women. And this doesn’t make them less of a man. Having feelings is saying you are a human with compassion.

No matter how long you have traveled in the wrong direction

Every day gives a new opportunity to turn the other way, you just have to do it! I turned around and I am so much happier now than ever. Thank you God, for giving me the strength and the courage to move on. I love me the way I am because God made me this way. Some people choose to keep going in the wrong direction and laying the blame on everything else in their life except themselves. No one can change your direction for you.

Nothing is too big for Him.

God wants you to know that what lies before you is not impossible. Your circumstance might seem overwhelming, but God can carry this burden, change your situation, and bring peace into your season. He can and He will....may your faith increase and your trust improve.

Simple life brings happiness.

When you fill your life with noise from TVs, chores from to-do lists, arguments from newspapers, where will you find space for love, relationships, faith and God? Cherish the simple things in life. Put the rest back on the shelf.

Sometimes walking away has nothing to do with weakness

It takes a brave soul to walk away from something or someone that you love, but sometimes it is the only and best thing to do because deep down eventually you realise that no matter what anyone else thinks you deserve better, you deserve to be happy and most of all you deserve to be yourself. Keep smiling good things come to good people.

Stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.

Lighten up and play. Remember, you are God's child, so it's ok to be silly, be curious, be fun.

Stop thinking too much about life

Things will work out for you. We don’t know all the answers, etc or know why sometimes, but I do know if we just pray & have faith, God will work things out for us. This is just the beginning! The answers will come to you once you silence your mind and listen to your heart.

The world is an abundant place.

So far, everyday of your life you have had enough to survive. Whether it was water, food or shelter, one way or another, you had enough. Why would tomorrow be any different? God has created an abundant world, live in appreciation of that.

There will be times when you feel frightened or lonely or confused; this is part of the human condition.

When this happens, reach out to a friend. And remember that God is one of them.