Jesús Adrian Romero

Mexico's Jesus Adrian Romero is a singer, songwriter, and producer of Christian music, one of Latin America's most successful. With billions of streams across audio and video platforms, his career unfolded in two distinct stages. First, as a creator of popular worship music -- his 2000 smash Con Manas Vacios put him on the map. The second stage began with 2005's El Aire de Tu Casa, showcasing an acoustically based sound accenting his singing and guitar playing as he related first-person spiritual experiences. 2010's El Brillo de Mis Ojos added strings, 2012's Soplando Vida approached anthemic pop/rock with elegant production, and 2016's Besos En La Frente offered a deep dive into his own emotions after a difficult period. 2019's Origen y Esencia netted three hit singles on streaming charts, and 2023's El Cielo Aún Espera featured three duets, including the ranchera title track with traditional singer Adriel Favela.Born in Hermosillo Sonora, Mexico, Jesus Adrian Romero Ibarra knew from an early age that he would pursue a pastoral life dedicated to Christ and the church. After completing his collegiate biblical studies, Romero served as a pastor in Van Nuys, California, while completing seminary. Shortly thereafter, he felt God's call to plant a church in Aguaprieta Sonora, which would come to be called Amistad y Vida. He continued over the next several years to minister in Chihuahua, Mexico and the surrounding area. Throughout his years of ministry, he also wrote songs and led worship in the congregations that he served.For three years, Romero served as the praise leader for the men's ministry group "Hombre a Hombre" (Man to Man). In 1990, he began to record these songs in hopes of sharing his message of peace and hope. He recorded and released Renuevo Espiritual in duet with his spouse Pecos Romero, and established his own label, Vistago Producciones.By the time he released his sophomore outing, 1996's Unidos Por La Cruz, his sound had expanded to include choirs, a host of electric instruments, and the development of a songwriting style that crisscrossed pop, R&B, and rock. He followed it with the funky Cerce De Ti in 1998 and toured Latin America to sold-out houses. 2000's Con Manos Vacias tempered the funk with rock fueled by a full horn section, and in 2004 he gave Dare Lo Mejor the same treatment with equally successful results. Winning industry-wide positive critical notice and playing to full houses made Romero realize he'd done the right thing. He released the concert recording Unplugged the same year, which summarized his career to date.Romero shifted aesthetic and creative gears with 2005's El Aire de Tu Casa. Rather than continue writing worship songs for the masses, he stripped down his production approach and made his acoustic guitar the centerpiece of his musical signature. His lyric focus shifted from the collective to the first person, exploring the ups and downs of his spiritual journey. The directional change attracted many new fans, and the record was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award in the category of Best Christian Album in Spanish; it won the ARPA award for album of the year from Christian music industry professionals. He received a second Latin Grammy nomination for the following year's Ayer Te Vi... Fue Mas Claro Que La Luna (inspired by an orphaned street child he met on tour in Honduras). The single "Razones pa' Vivir" was sung in duet with the Colombian singer Álex Campos. The touring was relentless as the band played across North, Central, and South America, often in sports arenas. They worked so long and hard, Romero wrote on the road, penning more than two-dozen songs.In 2008 he moved to Surprise, Arizona to open a church named Vastago Epicentro. After another short tour to test out material for a recording, the band emerged from the studio with El Brillo de Mis Ojos. It contained 12 of the 30 songs Romero had written with his band on tour. The set's pop focus resonated with old fans and new ones. 2012's Soplando Vida was also pop-centric with rhythms drawn from rap and dance music; rapper Ray Alonso duetted with the singer on the single "Como Te Lo Puedo Decir?" The smash single "Brilla" followed. The album registered more than 200 million streams, peaking at number five on the Christian Albums chart and at two on the Latin Pop Albums list. 2013 saw the release of both Soplando Vida (Instrumental) and Soplando Vida Live, and Romero was featured on the multi-artist compilation EP Playlist: Canciones de Verano. In early 2014, Romero appeared in duet with Viraje on the single "Das Color" and issued Sencillos, Vol. 2, a split-EP with singer Damaris Fraire. He also published his autobiography, Besando Mis Rodillas. Given his pastoral and touring responsibilities, Besos en La Frente didn't appear until 2016; its songs detailed the emotional and spiritual travails the artist had experienced over the previous few years. 2019's Origen y Esencia is easily Romero's most intimate album. A recording that invites listeners to study the contradictions of a spiritual life and a journey of faith, as well as emotional issues changing life circumstances. It was nominated for a Latin Grammy as Best Christian Album (In Spanish).Following the pandemic, Romero and his band gingerly hit the road in 2022 supporting the promotional EP ¿Cómo Me Ves? that September, and he composed the theme song for 2023's Amazon Originals' Princesas Mágicas. 2023 saw the release of the full-length El Cielo Aún Espera, a collection signaling another musical shift for the songwriter. The title track single was sung in duet with Mexican Regional hitmaker Adriel Favela, and showcased Romero's creative step in that direction. "Fu Tu Amor" featured Coalo Zamorano as his duet partner, while the ballad "A Vivir" included Jesus Molina as guest partner. The seven-song set also included two versions of the single "Amo Todo De Ti," a folk version, and a pared-down indie pop version.
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