Alex Zurdo

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Alex Zurdo
Alex Zurdo in 2020
Alex Zurdo in 2020
Background information
Birth nameAlexis Vélez Alberio
Also known asAlex Zurdo
Born (1983-06-10) June 10, 1983 (age 40)
OriginPuerto Rico
Genres
Years active2004–present
LabelsAZ Music, Heaven Music
Websitewww.alexzurdomusic.com/site/

Alexis Vélez Alberio, also known as Alex Zurdo, is a Puerto Rican Christian music rapper and songwriter.[1]

He has almost a dozen musical productions,[2] and has been awarded the GMA Dove Award[3] and Arpa Awards,[4] having also been nominated for a Latin Grammy,[5][6] and a Tu Música Urbano award.[7]

He has been the main artist in various concerts and events around Latin America,[8][9] sharing stages with Funky,[10] Vico C,[11] Marcos Witt,[12] Christine D'Clario,[13] Tercer Cielo,[14] Danilo Montero,[15] Marcos Vidal,[16] and collaborated with artists such as Olga Tañón,[17] Gabriel Rodríguez EMC,[18] among others.[19]

Musical career[edit]

Alex Zurdo was born on June 10, 1983, in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico.[20] At the age of 11 he wrote his first rap songs. At 13, he had his first piano and learned to play it himself.[21] In the following years he participated in several non-Christian rap and reggaeton productions as "Zurdo",[22] in duet with Rey Blasto, Zurdo did also a duet with Blasto in 2003 in the album Rolexx: La Hora De La Venganza.[23] In the next year at the age of 21, he began his musical ministry, including ministrations, conferences and seminars and launched his first production of Christian music, entitled Nada es mío, distributed by Universal Music Latino.[24]

After his first album, Zurdo released from 2005 to 2009, one album per year. Albums such as Con propósito, Se trata de ti (with Jonny L), De Gloria en Gloria - La Trayectoria, Una y mil razones and Así son las cosas.[25][26]

His seventh production titled Mañana Es Hoy ("Tomorrow is today") took three years. The musical production was in charge of the producer duo Marcos Ramírez and Víctor Torres (Los Tranz4Merz), Effect-O, DJ Cróniko and Zurdo himself.[27] It was promoted with the single "¿Dónde estás?" ("Where are you?"), which talks about the importance of fatherhood.[28] Since 2012, their productions have been released every two years, and nominations and recognitions for various ceremonies such as the Arpa Awards and AMCL began.[29][30] This album is Zurdo's first to make it onto the Billboard charts,[31] debuting at number 9 on Latin Rhythm Albums,[32] remaining in the top 15 for over 20 weeks.[33] For this record production, Zurdo won three AMCL Awards in 2012, in the categories Urban album of the year, Urban song of the year for "Mañana es hoy" and Musical intervention of the year for "Si no hay amor" ("If there is no love") with Vanessa Vissepó.[34]

De la A a la Z ("From A to Z") was launched in 2014 and featured the participation of Redimi2, Christine D'Clario, Nancy Amancio and Samuel Hernández.[35] The album debuted at number 4 on Billboard's Latin Rhythm Albums chart.[36] This album won an AMCL Award in 2014 in the category Urban Album of the Year and Urban Song of the Year for "No soy yo" with Redimi2,[37] and was also nominated at the 2015 Arpa Awards for "Best Urban Album".[38]

On the "From A to Z" tour,[39] Zurdo's first live album was recorded, which was titled AZ Live and was released in 2016. The concert that was used for the recording of the album was that of its presentation in his native country, specifically at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot.[40] The album was nominated at the 2017 Arpa Awards in the categories "Best Live Album" and "Best Urban Album".[41]

In 2018, he released his album ¿Quién contra nosotros? (Who Against Us? in English), also, it obtained at the Dove Awards the recognition of "Song of the Year in Spanish" for the single "Sin ti",[42][43] while in 2019, being nominated as Best Christian Album in Spanish at the Latin Grammy Awards, Dove Awards and Arpa Awards, being the winner in these last two ceremonies as "Best Christian Album in Spanish",[44] and "Best Urban Album", respectively. Then he launched M.E.M.E. in 2020, (acronym for "Menos Ego, Más Enfoque", "Less Ego, More Focus" in English),[45] where the single "Toca la guitarra, Viejo" ("Play the guitar, dad") dedicated to his father, was approached by various media due to the theme touched, Alzheimer's.[46][47]

In February 2021, he released UNO, an album collaborating with Funky and Redimi2.[48] In March 2021, he participated in "Al Taller del Maestro", a benefit streaming concert performed by Alex Campos, where Evan Craft was also present.[49]

In 2022, he released his first EP titled DTOX. In the third edition of the Tu Música Urbano Awards, he was recognized as Top Christian Artist,[50] in addition to being nominated in the Urban Christian Song category again.

In 2023, he collaborated with Gocho on his return to music for the single "Hablaré".[51] He again received nominations at the Tu Música Urbano Awards. He participated in the remix of "Danzando (Versión Urbana)" with Travy Joe, Harold Velázquez and the Venezuelan band Montesanto.

Personal life[edit]

On April 8, 2008, he married Denisse Contreras, sister of singer Daliza Contreras,[52] wife of Dominican rapper Willy González, known as Redimi2.[53]

In 2011, his first child was born. In 2014, Zurdo became a father for the second time.[54]

Discography[edit]

  • 2004: Nada es mío
  • 2005: Con propósito
  • 2006: Se trata de ti (with Jonny L)
  • 2007: De Gloria en Gloria - La Trayectoria
  • 2008: Una y mil razones
  • 2009: Así son las cosas
  • 2012: Mañana es hoy
  • 2014: De la A a la Z
  • 2016: AZ Live
  • 2018: ¿Quién contra nosotros?
  • 2020: M.E.M.E.
  • 2021: UNO (with Funky and Redimi2)
  • 2022: DTOX
  • 2023: CONXION

Awards and nominations[edit]

Latin Grammy Awards[edit]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019 ¿Quién contra nosotros? Best Christian Album Nominated

Dove Awards[edit]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2018 Sin Ti Spanish Language Recorded Song of the Year Won
2019 ¿Quién contra nosotros? Spanish Language Album of the Year Won
Mi GPS Spanish Language Recorded Song of the Year Nominated
2021 UNO (with Funky & Redimi2) Spanish Language Album of the Year Nominated

Arpa Awards[edit]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015 De la A a la Z Best Urban Album Nominated
2017 AZ Live Best Urban Album Nominated
Best Live Album Nominated
2019 ¿Quién contra nosotros? Best Urban Album Won
2021 UNO (with Funky & Redimi2) Best Urban Album or Track Won
2023 "Guarda Tu Corazón" Best Urban Album or Track Nominated

Premios Tu Música Urbano[edit]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2020 Intentemos algo (Remix) ft. Gabriel EMC Best Christian Song Nominated
2022 Himself Top Christian Artist Won
2023 Himself Top Artist — Christian-Spiritual Nominated

Unción Awards[edit]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2012 Himself Best Male Psalmist Won

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Viva Friday Playlist: The Best Latin Songs of the Week by Fonseca, Alex Zurdo, Felipe Pelaez & More". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  2. ^ "Mañana Álex Zurdo se toma el Tabernáculo de la fe". Dia a Dia (in Spanish). Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  3. ^ "Complete List Of 2019 Dove Award Winners". Nashville.com. October 16, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  4. ^ "XV EDICIÓN PREMIOS ARPA – Premios ARPA" (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  5. ^ "Lista completa de los ganadores de los premios Latin Grammy 2019". Univision (in Spanish). Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  6. ^ "BMI Congratulates its 2019 Latin GRAMMY Nominees". BMI.com. September 24, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  7. ^ "Premios Tu Música Urbano 2020: Aquí están los nominados". TELEMUNDO.com. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  8. ^ "Llega a Nicaragua el cantante puertorriqueño Alex Zurdo". Viva Nicaragua Canal 13 (in Spanish). October 11, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  9. ^ "Alex Zurdo pone a bailar a la juventud de Tegucigalpa". Diario El Heraldo (in Spanish). Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  10. ^ "Concierto de Álex Zurdo y Funky en el sur de Guayaquil". El Universo (in Spanish). November 11, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  11. ^ Túa, Lynet Santiago. "Alex Zurdo festeja su primera década junto a Vico C y Funky". Metro (in Spanish). Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  12. ^ Garcia, Marco Antonio Ayala (May 22, 2019). "Heaven Music Fest | El Cielo en CMDX". Robotto.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  13. ^ "Christine D'Clario en Heaven Music Fest". Robotto.mx (in Spanish). July 15, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  14. ^ "Regresa el ICPR's Music Fest". El Vocero de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  15. ^ "¡Prográmese! Estas son las actividades al 'gratin' del Festival de Verano en Bogotá". RCN Radio (in Spanish). July 29, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  16. ^ "Christian Fest Live 2020 espera reunir a más de 35 mil personas". Noticias de El Salvador - La Prensa Gráfica | Informate con la verdad (in European Spanish). Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  17. ^ "Olga Tañon habla sobre su fe y el video 'Todo Pasará". CVCLAVOZ (in Spanish). June 26, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2021.[permanent dead link]
  18. ^ "Artista cristiano celebra nominación en Premios Tu Música Urbano". Primera Hora (in Spanish). Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  19. ^ "Alex Zurdo celebra en grande sus 10 años de carrera y 32 de vida". Helda Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  20. ^ "Alex Zurdo – HeavenMusic" (in Spanish). Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  21. ^ "Alex Zurdo, el cantante invitado a Color Fest 2018". El Universo (in Spanish). October 4, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  22. ^ El Imperio: Reggaeton - El Imperio | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved February 18, 2021
  23. ^ Reggaeton Dembow - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved February 18, 2021
  24. ^ Nada Es Mio - Alex Zurdo | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved February 18, 2021
  25. ^ "Testi Canzoni Alex Zurdo Discografia Discography Albums Album". www.angolotesti.it (in Italian). Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  26. ^ "Fotos: 10 datos que no conocías del cantante Alex Zurdo". Diario El Heraldo (in Spanish). Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  27. ^ "Concierto de Alex Zurdo en Tegucigalpa". Diario El Heraldo. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  28. ^ "La paternidad le cambió la vida a Álex Zurdo". Primera Hora (in Spanish). Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  29. ^ "ALEX ZURDO". G12 Radio (in Spanish). Archived from the original on August 4, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  30. ^ "NOMINADOS". Premios AMCL (in European Spanish). Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  31. ^ "El ministro Alex Zurdo por primera vez en la revista Billboard". CristoJuvenil.Com | Actualidad Cristiana (in Spanish). August 20, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  32. ^ "Latin". Billboard. January 7, 2012.
  33. ^ "Latin Rhythm Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  34. ^ "Premios AMCL 2012". Premios AMCL (in European Spanish). Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  35. ^ "El cantante de música urbana Alex Zurdo lanza su mas reciente producción musical "De la A a la Z"". Buenas Nuevas. August 1, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  36. ^ "Latin Rhythm Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  37. ^ "GANADORES". Premios AMCL (in European Spanish). Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  38. ^ "XI EDICIÓN PREMIOS ARPA". Premios ARPA (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  39. ^ "Alex Zurdo celebra 10 años de carrera con el concierto "De la A a la Z"". Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  40. ^ "Alex Zurdo lanza nuevo proyecto musical "AZ Live"". Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  41. ^ "XIII EDICIÓN PREMIOS ARPA". Premios ARPA (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  42. ^ "BMI Congratulates its 2018 Dove Award Winners". BMI.com. October 18, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  43. ^ "Alex Zurdo gana el Dove Award a la Canción del Año en Español por su canción "Sin Ti" | Contexto Media Group" (in Spanish). Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  44. ^ Leimkuehler, Matthew; Paulson, Dave. "Dove Awards 2019: A complete list of winners". The Tennessean. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  45. ^ "'M.E.M.E', lo nuevo del artista boricua Alex Zurdo". www.eluniversal.com.co (in European Spanish). August 2, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  46. ^ "Alex Zurdo honra vida de su papá con Alzheimer con canción". diariolasamericas.com (in European Spanish). Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  47. ^ ""Toca la guitarra viejo", la nueva canción de Alex Zurdo dedicada a su padre | Video". CNN (in Spanish). Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  48. ^ "Estrenan "UNO", producción de Alex Zurdo, Funky y Redimi2". Hacedores de Luz (in Spanish). February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  49. ^ "Alex Campos y sus amigos en concierto virtual "Al taller del maestro" [VIDEO]". diariodelsur.com.co (in Spanish). March 20, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.[permanent dead link]
  50. ^ "Alex Zurdo gana en la categoría Top Artista Cristiano en los Premios Tu Música Urbano 2022". TELEMUNDO.com (in Spanish). Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  51. ^ "Gocho lanza el tema "Hablaré" junto a Alex Zurdo". Metro Puerto Rico (in Spanish). March 31, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  52. ^ "Alex Zurdo estrena nuevo tema junto a su esposa". micparadio (in Spanish). June 12, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  53. ^ "Entrevista a Alex Zurdo". La Catapulta (in Spanish). October 14, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  54. ^ Neri, Anabella. "¿Sabes quién es Alex Zurdo?". aboutespanol. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
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