El Pasoans continue to put our city on the map and this time around it’s a Latin Grammy award winner who is adding to El Paso’s list of accomplishments!
Let’s rewind a little bit because just a few months into the year, the Sun City has been celebrating wins left and right! From Stephanie Han bringing home world titles in boxing, to Julian Kalel making it all the way to the Top 14 on American Idol, local talent is proving that El Paso is full of so much potential!
Oh, and let’s not forget the national spotlight we got as the backdrop for the Oscar-winning film One Battle After Another. Now, you can officially add a Latin Grammy to the growing list of El Paso accomplishments thanks to El Pasoan Gabriel Esparza.
Courtesy: Iris Lopez
Courtesy: Iris LopezEl Paso is No Stranger To Grammy Award Winners
El Paso has long been home to Grammy-level greatness. According to an El Paso Times article, artists like Vikki Carr, The Mars Volta, and acclaimed cellist Zuill Bailey have all earned American Grammy recognition over the years.
More recently, creatives like Roger Argenis and Sam Rodriguez took home a 2025 American Grammy for ¡Brillo, Brillo!, while Amanda Ekery earned a 2026 nomination for her work rooted in border history.
Read More: These El Paso Artists Just Won Big at the 67th Annual Grammys
El Paso Is Also No Stranger To Latin Grammy Wins
When it comes to the Latin Grammy awards, El Pasoans Diego Escalona and Steven Richards won A Latin Grammy for their work on the live album Kintsugi by Un Corazón which helped earn the group a Latin Grammy for Best Christian Album back in 2024.
Fast forward to 2026, El Paso recording engineer Gabriel Esparza has officially joined that elite club, winning his first Latin Grammy for his work on Legado by Marcos Witt.
Courtesy: Iris Lopez
Courtesy: Iris Lopez
Read More: Sonic Ranch Studios Might Be the Coolest Recording Studio in Texa
Hard Work Pays Off
With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, Gabriel has worked with many notable artists including Miguel, Midland, and Danna Paola.
In his early stages he worked as a full-time, in-house engineer at the largest residential recording studio in the world, Sonic Ranch Recording Studios, where he worked with world-class engineers and producers, like Geoff Emerick (The Beatles), Stephen Short (Chaka Khan), Matt Hyde (No Doubt, Deftones), Stefano Vieni (Kalimba, Danna Paola) to name a few.
And it was at Sonic Ranch where this award-winning project came to life.
Read More: Which Famous Artists Have Recorded at Sonic Ranch Near El Paso
Music Has A Way Of Healing Us
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Esparza shared his excitement for working as an engineer on Marcos Witt’s Christian Album, Legado. Marcos Witt won the Latin Grammy for Best Christian Album (Spanish Language) at the 26th Latin GRAMMY Awards in 2025.
It was Latin Grammy award winning producer, Steven Richards, who would invite Gabe to be part of this album that would earn Steven his second Latin Grammy as producer of the album, and it would earn Gabe his first-ever Latin Grammy.
“Steven Richards invited me to be on the project since we have worked on a few projects together,” said Gabriel, “It was an honor to work on this project because Marcos’ music meant so much to my dad, especially in his last days.”
The recording process happened during the anniversary of Gabriel’s father’s passing, making the achievement both emotional and meaningful. Gabe shared a post to his Instagram writing:
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. 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.
He described how the experience taught him that music can be healing, helping him navigate grief by focusing on love, memories, and gratitude.
“As a creative, we want to be recognized for a special piece of work that is bigger than us, bigger than the thought of “me” a work of art that will stand the test of time and this project represents that,” said Gabriel, “Giving our life to God is our main purpose in life and Marcos songs are often the soundtrack to many people’s lives during those profound moments. That includes my dad.”
One of the most powerful images he shared in his post was his Latin Grammy sitting next to his father’s old measuring tape.
“To some, the trophy may shine brighter,” he wrote, “but my dad’s hard work gave us the freedom to dream.”
Courtesy: Iris Lopez
Courtesy: Iris Lopez
While the award marks a major career milestone, for Esparza, it’s also a reminder of where he comes from and who helped build that foundation.
It’s a full-circle moment that may be bittersweet, but it’s a reminder that sacrifice, perseverance, and passion pay off.
CHECK OUT MORE OF GABRIEL’S WORK HERE
Courtesy: Iris Lopez
Courtesy: Iris LopezEl Paso Engineer Gabriel Esparza Wins First Latin Grammy Win
El Paso audio engineer Gabriel Esparza earns his first Latin Grammy in a powerful, emotional moment tied to family, grief, and healing.
Gallery Credit: Courtesy: Gabriel Esparza
El Paso, TX Musician at The 2022 Grammys
Gallery Credit: Courtesy: Roger Argenis