EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – El Paso native Gabriel Esparza turned grief into triumph and helped give El Paso a turn in the national spotlight.

Esparza, a local recording engineering, recently won his first Latin Grammy.

It is a story of grief and triumph.

Esparaza earned the award for his work as an engineer on “Legado,” the award-winning album by Marcos Witt. “Legado” won Best Christian Album (Spanish Language) at the 26th annual Latin Grammy Awards last November.

With more than 20 years of experience in the music industry, Esparza has built a career rooted in passion and perseverance, according to a news release to announce his award.

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.

It was there that the sessions for “Legado” took place, ultimately leading to this career-defining moment.

The recording process for “Legado” coincided with the anniversary of his father’s death, making the experience bittersweet.

“In the middle of the week of tracking, my mom sent a text reminding me that it had marked five 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.”

In a powerful tribute, Esparza posted a photo of his Latin Grammy placed next to his father’s old measuring tape. Two symbols of hard work, sacrifice, and legacy, together.

“To some, the trophy may shine brighter,” Esparza said, “but my dad’s hard work gave us the freedom to dream.”

While the moment is bittersweet, Esparza says the award now motivates him to keep pushing ahead while honoring his family and his journey which serves as a reminder of music’s power to heal.

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