Juan Gabriel before he was famous

The nobody years

1. 

   childhood Eight years, boarding school

   Eight years at the El Tribunal boarding school in Ciudad Juárez.

   Spent eight years at the El Tribunal boarding school in Ciudad Juarez. Source

2. 

   1970 Juárez bars, 1970

   By 1970 he sang in Juárez bars, having left an underpaid job.

   Performed in Juarez bars after leaving a singing job where he felt underpaid. Source

3. 

   1971 Sleeping in stations

   In 1971 he reached Mexico City broke, sleeping in bus stations.

   Returned to Mexico City without money and often slept in bus or train stations. Source

4. 

   early 1970s Songs inside Lecumberri

   Wrongly jailed in Lecumberri, his songs caught prison officials' attention.

   Was wrongly jailed in Palacio de Lecumberri, where songs he wrote attracted the attention of prison officials and supporters. Source

5. 1950

   Was born Alberto Aguilera Valadez in Paracuaro, Michoacan, Mexico. Source

6. 1950s

   Was the youngest of ten children. Source

7. childhood-early teens

   Met teacher Juan Contreras at El Tribunal, who became one of his most important early music mentors. Source

8. 1963

   Composed his first song at age 13. Source

9. 1964

   Returned to live with his mother at age 14 and became involved with a local Methodist church. Source

Reconstructions of documented moments, generated with AI. Not archive photographs, and not depictions of real people. © The Nobody Years