Mexican superstar Juan Gabriel dies at 66 of heart attack

Fans have created a make-shift memorial for Juan Gabriel in Plaza Garibaldi in Mexico City

Legendary Mexican singer Juan Gabriel has died aged 66 of a heart attack in California, days after performing to 17,000 fans at the Los Angeles Forum.

Born into poverty, Alberto Aguilera Valadez (his real name) rose to sell more than 100m albums and had his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In his glittering mariachi outfits, he won hearts with hits like Amor Eterno.

The Mexican president called him one of the great musical icons of the country.

Latin American leaders rushed to pay tribute to a singer sometimes likened to Elvis Presley. "His music was his legacy for the world," Mexican President Pena Nieto said on Twitter. "He left us too soon."


Some of his fans gathered in Plaza Garibaldi in Mexico City, lighting candles and laying flowers for their hero.
"It truly is a sad loss for the Mexican people," one man said.

 "One of the musical icons that had great relevancy for our country, especially because his music and his songs identified greatly with the Mexican people." "I mourn Juan Gabriel because he was a great artist and he was my age," another fan said. "And that makes me even sadder because he was young."

He wrote his first song at the age of 13 and went on to compose more than 1,500, often love ballads.