Christian Music Online

Fernando Ortega contemporary Christian music

May 12, 2007 – 6:51 am

Though he’s been around more than 15 years, Fernando Ortega isn’t exactly a household name. Unless, of course, you’re an aficionado of contemporary Christian music.

Then you know that his sound embraces bits of folk and classical, Celtic and Latin American music, and his songs aim to express how the Gospel filters into everyday life.

Before the New Mexico native arrives at St. Giles Presbyterian Church tomorrow, here are five things you should know about Ortega:

1. He is classically trained as a pianist, but his current album, “The Shadow of Your Wings: Hymns and Sacred Songs,” contains the rich playing of the Turtle Island String Quartet, though a different string quartet out of Minneapolis is touring with him.

2. That album, recorded in San Francisco and Nashville, also features vocals from Marsha Skidmore (of the Maranatha! Singers), Alison Krauss, Dan Tyminski and Vince Gill.

3. The inspiration for “The Shadow of Your Wings” was the death of two beloved aunts and a friend. Ortega says his initial concept of the album was as a Mass written for those left behind to grieve.

4. Since 1991, Ortega has released 15 albums. His 2002 effort, “Storm,” garnered his largest commercial success, eking onto the Billboard 200 at No. 197.

5. He has won three Dove Awards (Christian music’s equivalent of the Grammys): in 1998, for Bluegrass Song (”Children of the Living God”); in 2000, for Inspirational Album (”Home”); and in 2002, for Special Event Album of the Year (”City on a Hill”).

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