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 pop () is a pop music subgenre that is a fusion of US–style music production with Latin music genres from anywhere in Latin America and Spain. It originates with List of countries where Spanish is an official language, Spanish-speaking ...

, 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 The ''Billboard'' Hot Latin Songs (formerly Hot Latin Tracks and Hot Latin 50) is a record chart in the United States for Latin music, Latin songs, published weekly by Billboard (magazine), ''Billboard'' magazine. Since October 2012, chart ranki ...

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 The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

nomination, four Latin Grammy Award nominations, five ''Billboard'' Latin Music Awards, thirteen

Lo Nuestro Awards The Lo Nuestro Awards or Premios Lo Nuestro (Spanish language, Spanish for "Ours") is a Spanish-language awards show honoring the best of Latin music (genre), Latin music, presented by TelevisaUnivision, and is carried by its Univision network in ...

(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 Tijuana is the most populous city of the Mexican state of Baja California, located on the northwestern Pacific Coast of Mexico. Tijuana is the municipal seat of the Tijuana Municipality, the hub of the Tijuana metropolitan area and the most popu ...

, 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 Lisbon ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 567,131, as of 2023, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainlan ...

, 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 third album, ''Pecado Original'', followed by ''Tierra de Nadie'' 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 Vicente Fernández Gómez (17 February 1940 – 12 December 2021) was a Mexican mariachi singer, actor and film producer. Nicknamed "Chente" (short for Vicente), "El Charro de Huentitán" (The Charro from Huentitán), "El Ídolo de México" (Th ...

, 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." Ana Gabriel logo

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 ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...

'' 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 National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc. (NARAS), doing business as The Recording Academy, is an American Learned society, learned academy of musicians, producers, recording engineers, and other musical professionals. It is widely kno ...

in the United States. Ana Gabriel has received one nomination. , - , rowspan="1" scope="row", 1991 , scope="row", '' Quién como tú'' , scope="row", Best Latin Pop Performance , , -

Latin Grammy Awards

The

Latin Grammy Awards The Latin Grammy Awards (stylized as Latin GRAMMYs) are awards presented by the Latin Recording Academy to recognize outstanding achievement in the Latin music, Latin music industry. The Latin Grammy honors works recorded in Spanish language, S ...

are awarded annually by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences in the United States. Gabriel has received four nominations. , - , rowspan="1" scope="row",

2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...

, scope="row", '' Tradicional'' , scope="row", Best Ranchero Album , , - , rowspan="2" scope="row", 2006 , scope="row", '' Dos amores un amante'' , scope="row", Best Ranchero Album , , - , scope="row", "Sin Tu Amor" , scope="row", Best Regional/Mexican Song , , - , rowspan="1" scope="row", 2008 , scope="row", '' Arpegios de amor: Requiem por tres almas'' , scope="row", Best Female Pop Vocal Album , , -

Lo Nuestro Awards

The

are awarded annually by television network Univision in the United States. Ana Gabriel has received thirteen awards from twenty-nine nominations.Lo Nuestro Awards: *1989 Awards: *1990 Awards: *1990 Nominees: *1991 Awards: *1991 Awards: *1992 Awards: *1992 Nominees: *1993 Awards: *1996 Awards: *1998 Awards: *1999 Awards: *2000 Awards: *2006 Awards: , - , rowspan="1" scope="row", 1989 , scope="row", Herself , scope="row", Best Pop Female Artist , , - , rowspan="3" scope="row", 1990 , scope="row", '' Tierra de Nadie'' , scope="row", Pop Album of the Year , , - , scope="row", " Simplemente Amigos" , scope="row", Pop Song of the Year , , - , scope="row", Herself , scope="row", Best Pop Female Artist , , - , rowspan="4" scope="row", 1991 , scope="row", '' Quién como tú'' , scope="row", Pop Album of the Year , , - , scope="row", Herself , scope="row", Best Pop Female Artist , , - , scope="row", " Es Demasiado Tarde" , scope="row", Pop Song of the Year , , - , scope="row", " Quién Como Tú" , scope="row", Pop Song of the Year , , - , rowspan="5" scope="row",

1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...

, scope="row", '' En Vivo'' , scope="row", Pop Album of the Year , , - , scope="row", " Cosas del Amor" (with Vikki Carr) , scope="row", Pop Song of the Year , , - , scope="row", '' Mi México'' , scope="row", Regional/Mexican Album of the Year , , - , scope="row", Herself , scope="row", Best Pop Female Artist , , - , scope="row", Herself , scope="row", Best Regional/Mexican Female Artist , , - , rowspan="3" scope="row", 1993 , scope="row", Herself , scope="row", Best Pop Female Artist , , - , scope="row", " Evidencias" , scope="row", Pop Song of the Year , , - , scope="row", Herself , scope="row", Best Regional/Mexican Female Artist , , - , rowspan="2" scope="row",

1994 The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...

, scope="row", '' Luna'' , scope="row", Pop Album of the Year , , - , scope="row", Herself , scope="row", Best Pop Female Artist , , - , rowspan="4" scope="row", 1995 , scope="row", " Luna" , scope="row", Pop Song of the Year , , - , scope="row", Herself , scope="row", Best Pop Female Artist , , - , scope="row", '' Ayer y Hoy'' , scope="row", Regional/Mexican Album of the Year , , - , scope="row", Herself , scope="row", Best Regional/Mexican Female Artist , , - , rowspan="2" scope="row", 1996 , scope="row", Herself , scope="row", Best Regional/Mexican Female Artist , , - , scope="row", '' Joyas de dos siglos'' , scope="row", Regional/Mexican Album of the Year , , - , rowspan="2" scope="row", 1998 , scope="row", Herself , scope="row", Best Regional/Mexican Female Artist , , - , scope="row", '' Con un mismo corazón'' , scope="row", Regional/Mexican Album of the Year , , - , rowspan="1" scope="row",

1999 1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons. Events January * January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers. * January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...

, scope="row", Herself , scope="row", Best Regional/Mexican Female Artist , , - , rowspan="1" scope="row",

2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...

, scope="row", Herself , scope="row", Best Regional/Mexican Female Artist , , - , rowspan="1" scope="row", 2006 , scope="row", Herself , scope="row", Excellence Award , , -

References

Bibliography

* Lipsitz, George, ''Footsteps in the Dark: The Hidden Histories of Popular Music'', U of Minnesota Press, 2007,

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gabriel, Ana 1955 births Living people 20th-century Mexican songwriters 20th-century Mexican women singers 21st-century Mexican women singers Asexual women Columbia Records artists 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