Singer Juan Gabriel performs on stage at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on September 18, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by JC Olivera/Getty Images)
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Almost 10 years after his death, intimate details of legendary singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel’s story come to the screen through his personal archives, revealing the man behind one of Mexico’s most prolific and beloved musical icons.
Netflix’s Juan Gabriel: I Must, I Can, I Will opens the vault on his life, drawing from videos, audio recordings, and images he captured himself over more than four decades. It reveals the most intimate side of the man offstage and how he transformed loneliness into inspiration and turned pain into a global musical legacy.
The four-part documentary follows Juanga’s (as he was affectionally known) personal and professional journey, charting his struggles, ambitions, determination to achieve his dreams, and unwavering will to triumph, culminating in his rise as one of music’s greatest stars.
The artist, whose real name was Alberto Aguilera Valadez, adopted his stage name as a tribute to two important figures in his life. Juan honored a teacher and mentor, while Gabriel paid respect to his deceased father, Gabriel Aguilera.
Photos from Juan Gabriel’s personal archives.
Netflix, Inc.
The series, which premieres October 30, is directed by María José Cuevas (Beauties of the Night, The Lady of Silence: The Mataviejitas Murders). Laura Woldenberg and Ivonne Gutiérrez serve as producers through production company Mezcla. The pair previously produced 1994, The Three Deaths of Marisela Escobedo and The Lady of Silence: The Mataviejitas Murders.
Juan Gabriel died of a heart attack on August 28, 2016 in Santa Monica, California. ”El Divo de Juárez” was 66. He may be gone, but his music continues to resonate with millions of adoring fans.
A Career That Influenced Latin Music
Juan Gabriel’s influence on Latin music remains unmatched. His career spanned five decades, beginning with his 1971 debut album El Alma Joven…, which featured “No Tengo Dinero,” his first hit single. He went on to compose and perform signature songs including “Hasta que te conocí,” “Querida,” “Amor eterno,” “El Noa Noa,” “Abrázame muy fuerte,” “Yo no nací para amar,” and “Pero qué necesidad.”
Beyond performing, Juan Gabriel worked as an arranger, producer and songwriter, establishing himself as Mexico’s leading commercial singer-songwriter, writing songs across multiple genres including rancheras with mariachis, ballads, pop, rock en español and disco. His compositions became hits for major Latin artists like Daniela Romo, Ana Gabriel, Luis Miguel, Rocío Dúrcal, Isabel Pantoja and José José.
He also collaborated both in concerts and in the studio with high-profile international singers including Juanes, Luis Fonsi, Alejandro Fernández, Franco de Vita, Marc Anthony, David Bisbal, Natalia Lafourcade, Vicente Fernández, Laura Pausini, Emmanuel and Paul Anka, to name a few. He wrote over 1,500 songs and sold more than 100 million records worldwide, according to Billboard estimates.
He received numerous music awards and recognitions for his body of work. His achievements include a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, awarded May 10, 2002.
Legendary Mexican singer Juan Gabriel receives the 2196th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2002. (Albert L. Ortega/WireImage)
WireImage
Shortly after his death, Telemundo aired Hasta Que Te Conocí, a 13-episode biographical series that became a ratings success for the network. The series, which included Juan Gabriel himself as one of the producers, chronicled how he overcame poverty and prejudices to become one of Latin America’s most popular performers.
Netflix’s Investment in Mexican Content
The documentary represents part of Netflix’s expanded commitment to Mexican content. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos spoke about the project in February during a press conference where he revealed a $1 billion investment to produce series and films in Mexico over four years.
“Over the years, we’ve worked with Mexican creators on hundreds of other series and films that have captured the hearts of Mexican audiences,” Sarandos said at the time. “And we can’t wait for you to see a new documentary on the life and art of Juan Gabriel.”
In 1990, Juan Gabriel became the first non-classical act to perform at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, a milestone that broke cultural barriers. That historic concert, in which he was accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra, was the first of three performances he held at the cultural center. Netflix and the Mexico City government will screen the concert at the Zócalo on Saturday, November 8 at 8 pm. The special free event, organized through the local Ministry of Culture, will include never-before-seen footage from the artist’s personal archive featured in the documentary series.
The screening and documentary honor an unforgettable artist who transformed Mexican popular culture, whose songs became anthems of love, loss and resilience for generations across Latin America and beyond.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/veronicavillafane/2025/10/27/juan-gabriels-personal-archives-showcase-genius-and-legacy-in-netflix-doc/
