[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 134 (Friday, November 19, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S11607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              JUAN GABRIEL

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Juan Gabriel as 
one of Mexico's leading vocalists and songwriters. He is well known 
internationally for his musical talent and as a leader of philanthropic 
causes.
  Born Alberto Aguilera Valadez, Juan Gabriel is a six-time Grammy 
nominee, twice inducted into the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame. He 
has entertained sold-out audiences throughout the world, and last 
Sunday--November 14, 2004--he played to an energetic and enthusiastic 
crowd at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
  Juan has sold more than 30 million copies of his own albums. He is 
also a successful producer who has worked with artists such as Rocio 
Durcal, Lucha Villa, Lola Beltran, and Paul Anka.
  Mr. Gabriel has reflected that ``My hope for a better world and my 
love for music are my inspiration.'' And he has lived by those words, 
using his fame and success to establish SEMJASE, an organization that 
provides living assistance and schooling for orphaned and underserved 
children in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in thanking Juan Gabriel for 
sharing his tremendous musical talents with the citizens of Las Vegas 
this past week, and for his passion and commitment to help the less 
fortunate through charitable programs such as SEMJASE.

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