The Mexican singing icon Juan Gabriel has died at the age of 66.
According to a statement from the star's press office, he died Sunday ahead of a scheduled performance in El Paso, Texas. Representatives did not say where or how he died.
Juan Gabriel was Mexico's leading singer-songwriter and top-selling artist, with sales of more than 100 million albums.
His ballads about love and heartbreak and bouncy mariachi tunes became hymns throughout Latin America and Spain and with Spanish speakers in the United States. He brought many adoring fans to tears as they sang along when he crooned his songs about love and heartbreak.
A flamboyant performer, Juan Gabriel liked to wear jackets covered in sequins or dress in shiny silk outfits in hot pink, turquoise blue or canary yellow, and he was known for tossing his head before dancing or jumping around the stage.
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto tweeted: "We lament the death of Juan Gabriel, one of the biggest musical icons of our country. My condolences to his family and friends.
"A voice and a talent that represented Mexico. His music is a legacy to the world. He left us too soon. May he rest in peace."
