El Paso native Gabriel Esparza is celebrating a career milestone after earning his first Latin Grammy, a win made even more meaningful by the grief he carried during the recording process.
Esparza won for his work as an engineer on Legado, the album by Marcos Witt that received Best Christian Album (Spanish Language) at the 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards.
With more than 20 years of experience in the music industry, Esparza has built his career through what he describes as passion and perseverance. He previously worked as an in-house engineer at Sonic Ranch, the largest residential recording studio in the world, where he collaborated with world-renowned producers and artists. The sessions for Legado took place at Sonic Ranch, leading to what became a defining moment in his career.
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The recording process also coincided with the anniversary of his father’s death, making the experience deeply personal.
In the middle of the week of tracking, my mom sent a text reminding me that it had marked 5 years since my dad passed away,” Esparza said. “Marcos’ music will always remind me of the best memories I have of my father. One memory that I hold close to my heart is of him dancing and praising God to Marcos music during his last days in his most fragile state before he passed.
Esparza later shared a tribute marking the moment: a photo of his Latin Grammy placed next to his father’s old measuring tape, two items he linked to work, sacrifice and legacy.
“To some, the trophy may shine brighter,” Esparza said, “but my dad’s hard work gave us the freedom to dream.”
Esparza said the award is motivating him to keep pushing forward while honoring his family and his journey, a reminder to him of music’s power to heal.
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