Fernando Ortega

{{short description|American singer}}

{{Infobox person
| image = Fernando Ortega Cropped.JPG
| name        = Fernando Ortega
| caption     = Ortega in 2008
| birth_name  = Juan Fernando Ortega
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1957|3|2|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Albuquerque]], [[New Mexico]], U.S.
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| nationality = [[United States|American]]
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| known_for   = Christian singer, songwriter
| education   = Music at the University of New Mexico<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dwightozard.com/lq-article.asp?id=69|title=Fernando Ortega: The PRISM Interview by Dwight Ozard|accessdate=2008-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419071954/http://www.dwightozard.com/lq-article.asp?id=69|archive-date=2019-04-19|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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| website     = [http://www.fernandoortega.com/ fernandoortega.com]
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}}

'''Juan Fernando Ortega'''<ref name="ASCAP">{{cite web|title=Children of the Living God Work ID No. 332498534 ISWC No. T0728214843 |url=https://www.ascap.com/Home/ace-title-search/index.aspx |publisher=[[American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers]] |author=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |accessdate=October 12, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306032310/https://www.ascap.com/Home/ace-title-search/index.aspx |archivedate=March 6, 2013 |author-link=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers }} Work ID No. 332498534 {{ISWC|T0728214843}}</ref> (born March 2, 1957)<ref name="Encyclopedia of CCM">{{cite book|title=Fernando Ortega|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_3jqjSKHKcwC&q=Fernando+Ortega+March+2%2C+1957&pg=PA318|first=Don|last=Cusic|work=Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music: Pop, Rock, and Worship|publisher=ABC-CLIO, LLC|accessdate=October 12, 2015|year=2010|pages=318–9|isbn = 9780313344268}}</ref> is a singer-songwriter in [[contemporary Christian music]]. He is noted both for his interpretations of many traditional hymns and songs, such as "[[Give Me Jesus]]",  "[[Be Thou My Vision]]" and "[[Praise to the Lord, the Almighty]]", and for writing clear and easily understood songs such as "This Good Day".

==Biography==
Ortega was born and raised in [[Albuquerque]], [[New Mexico]], near the banks of the [[Rio Grande]]. He started learning piano at eight years of age.<ref name=Zoba>[http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/1999/january11/9t1084.html Zoba, Wendy Murray. "The Hard Songs of Fernando Ortega", ''Christianity Today'', January 11, 1999]</ref> Through his father's work with the [[United States Department of State]], he also spent time in [[Ecuador]] and [[Barbados]]. His family lived in [[Chimayó, New Mexico]], for eight generations, a legacy cited as an influence on his music.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Schmitt|first=Jenny Lind|title=Singing and sojourning - WORLD|url=https://world.wng.org/2018/09/singing_and_sojourning|access-date=2020-08-24|website=world.wng.org|language=en|archive-date=2020-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201150518/https://world.wng.org/2018/09/singing_and_sojourning|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Ortega graduated from Valley High School and the [[University of New Mexico]], where he received his bachelor's degree in music education. He is a member and former worship leader at an [[Anglican Church in North America|Anglican]] church in Albuquerque.<ref name="ortega-anglican">{{cite web |last1=Gregor |first1=Ralinda |title=NOTED CHRISTIAN ARTIST PART OF NEW CHURCH IN NEW MEXICO |url=https://anglicanchurch.net/noted-christian-artist-part-of-new-church-in-new-mexico/ |publisher=American Anglican Council |date=May 14, 2010}}</ref>

It is from his heritage and classical training at the University of New Mexico that Ortega derives his sound, embracing [[country music|country]], [[classical music|classical]], [[Celtic music|Celtic]], [[Latin American music|Latin American]], [[world music|world]], [[contemporary folk music|modern folk]] and rustic hymnody.

==Discography==
* ''In a Welcome Field'' (1991/2000)
* ''Meditations of the Heart'' - piano solos (1993)
* ''Hymns and Meditations'' (1994)
* ''Night of Your Return'' (1996)
* ''This Bright Hour'' (1997)
* ''The Breaking of the Dawn'' (1998)
* ''Give Me Jesus'' – EP (1999)
* ''Home'' (2000)
* ''Camino Largo'' (2001)
* ''Storm'' (2002)
* ''Hymns of Worship'' (2003)
* ''Fernando Ortega'' (2004)
* ''Live In St. Paul'' – DVD (2004)
* ''Beginnings'' (2005)
* ''The Shadow of Your Wings: Hymns and Sacred Songs'' (2006)
* ''Christmas Songs'' (2008)
* ''Meditations of the Heart: Encore'' – piano solos (2011)
* ''Come Down O Love Divine''  (2011)
* ''Best Of – Live In St. Paul'' – CD (2015)
* ''The Crucifixion Of Jesus'' (2017)
* Other appearances include:
**''Calvary Chapel Music Praise, Vol. 1'' ("How I Love You Lord" and "Teach Me Your Ways")
**''Calvary Chapel Worship Alive, Vol. 1'' ("I Will Delight" and "Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying")
**''Next Door Savior'' ("How Deep the Father's Love For Us")
**''The Making of a Godly Man'' ("Jehová, Señor De Los Cielos" and "Jesus, You Are My Life") (1997)
**''The Odes Project'' ("Sing Allelu" and "I Stretched Out My Hands")
**Unknown Albums: "I Will Sing the Wondrous Story" and "[[O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing]]"

==Charts==
''Storm'' reached No. 197 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] in 2002.

''Christmas Songs'' reached No. 36 on the Billboard Christmas Album Chart in 2009.

==Awards==
[[Dove Awards]]

*1998
**Bluegrass Song: "Children of the Living God"
*2000
**Inspirational Album: ''Home''
*2002
**Special Event Album of the Year: ''City on a Hill'' (various artists)

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Fernando Ortega.JPG|Fernando Ortega performing at [[Taylor University|Taylor&nbsp;University]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.fernandoortega.com/ Official Site]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ortega, Fernando}}
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:American gospel singers]]
[[Category:Christian music songwriters]]
[[Category:American male singers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American Anglican Church in North America members]]