{{Short description|American singer-songwriter (born 1962)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians --> | name = Marcos Witt | background = solo_singer | image = Marcos Witt 2019.jpg | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|5|19}} | birth_place = San Antonio, Texas, United States | origin = | death_date = | occupation = Singer, pastor | instrument = Vocals, piano, percussion | years_active = 1984–present | label = CanZion Group LP | website = {{URL|marcoswitt.net}} }}
'''Jonathan Mark Witt Holder''' (born May 19, 1962), better known as simply '''Marcos Witt''', is an American Christian singer and pastor. Witt is considered one of the most influential and famous Spanish speaking figures of Christian music.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.noticiacristiana.com/musica-cristiana/2010/11/marcos-witt-se-presento-en-aniversario-de-mayor-iglesia-de-asuncion.html|title=Marcos with the most representative and important figure of Christian music.}}</ref>
==Biography== Witt was the second of three children born to Jerry and Nola Witt, a young American missionary couple. The Witt family moved to Durango, Mexico, in 1960 and started a missionary outreach. Jerry was killed when his small aircraft was shot down in 1964 while he was dropping gospels of St. John over small villages in Mexico.<ref name="Weeks2021">{{cite web |last1=Weeks |first1=Lee |title=Latin Grammy Winner Gifted for God's Glory |url=https://decisionmagazine.com/gifted-for-gods-glory/ |website=Decision Magazine |date=1 December 2021}}</ref> Nola Witt continued the mission work after his death. Some years later, she married Frank Warren. Together, they began to build new churches in Durango, Mexico. The couple had two children.
Witt's education began with basic studies at the American School of Durango. He then studied classical music at the University of Juarez (Durango, Mexico) and eventually started his theological studies at the International Bible College in San Antonio, Texas, where he earned a degree. Witt also received an M.A. from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kanellos |first1=Nicolás |title=Latino Almanac: From Early Explorers to Corporate Leaders |date=20 September 2022 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |isbn=978-1-57859-753-6 |page=997 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8slxEAAAQBAJ&dq=oral+roberts&pg=PT997 |language=en}}</ref>
==Career== In 1986, Witt founded CanZion Producciones when he recorded his first album, ''Canción a Dios''. He has recorded 30 albums that are available on cassette, CD, and DVD. Witt has sold over 27,000,000 copies of his records in Mexico, the United States and Latin America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/marcos-witt-on-the-change-in-music-and-lyrics-of-worship-among-hispanics/|title=Marcos Witt on the change in music and lyrics of worship among Hispanics|work=calvin.edu}}</ref>
In 1994, Witt founded CanZion Institute, a school dedicated to the preparation of worship leaders and music ministers. Twenty years later there are over 3,000 students attending the 28 campuses of the Institute in 10 different countries throughout the United States, Latin America, and Europe.<ref name="Joy2006">''Joy to the World, Inspirational Christmas Messages from America's Preachers'', 2006, Olivia Cloud (ed), {{ISBN|9781416540007}}</ref>
Witt has written ten books, including ''Adoremos'', which has been translated to English, Portuguese, and French, and ''Qué hacemos con estos músicos'', which has been translated into Portuguese. Between 2009 and 2012, more than 3,000,000 people attended Witt's concerts in some of the main venues of Latin America.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nathan |first1=Giese |title=Marcos Witt to perform at South Plains Church in Levelland |url=https://www.myplainview.com/lifestyles/religion/article/Marcos-Witt-to-perform-at-South-Plains-Church-in-16242131.php |website=www.myplainview.com |date=June 11, 2021 |publisher=Plainview Herald}}</ref> Concerts have been held in such places as José Amalfitani Stadium in Argentina, Figali Convention Center in Panama, Estadio Cuscatlán in El Salvador, Estadio Monumental in Ecuador, Estadio El Campín in Colombia, Palacio de los Deportes and Estadio Azteca in México City.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Palacios |first1=Felipe Vázquez |title=La fe y la ciudadanía en la práctica evangélica veracruzana |date=2007 |publisher=CIESAS |isbn=978-968-496-632-1 |page=50 |language=es}}</ref>
In 2001, Witt received the Ritmo Latino Award by the People for his "outstanding musical career".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Inc |first1=Nielsen Business Media |title=Billboard |date=9 November 2002 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |page=34 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OQ0EAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22ritmo%22+%22+award%22+marcos+witt&pg=PA34 |language=en}}</ref>
Starting in 2002, for ten years he served as pastor of the Spanish Christian congregation at the megachurch Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas.<ref>[http://www.canzion.com/marcoswitt/index_eng.html Marcos Witt web site], press release, Sep 2012</ref> Witt has visited the White House for events as a representative of the evangelical Hispanic Community.<ref name="Joy2006" /> As of 2023, Witt's music and outreach efforts have been credited as a factor behind the surging growth of Latino evangelicalism across the United States and Latin America.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Valdes |first1=Marcela |title=The Christian Pop Star Bringing Latino Evangelicals to the Pews |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/28/magazine/marcos-witts.html |website=The New York Times |date=28 June 2023}}</ref>
Witt works with William Vanderbloemen as a strategic partner to his firm.<ref name=VSG_Witt>{{cite web|last1=Vanderbloemen|first1=William|title=Marcos Witt|url=http://www.vanderbloemen.com/team/marcos-witt}}</ref>
===Latin Grammys=== In total, Witt has received 6 Latin Grammy awards.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ingalls |first1=Monique M. |last2=Yong |first2=Amos |title=The Spirit of Praise: Music and Worship in Global Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity |date=18 June 2015 |publisher=Penn State Press |isbn=978-0-271-07068-1 |page=204 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hJuYEAAAQBAJ&dq=award+marcos+witt&pg=PA204 |language=en}}</ref>
In September 2003, Witt received a Latin Grammy Award for Best Christian Album, for ''Sana Nuestra Tierra'' (Heal Our Land). In November of that same year, he recorded ''Recordando Otra Vez'' (Remembering Once Again) at the LA Sports Arena. This recording brought CanZion into the secular market because of its distribution agreement with Sony.In 2004, Marcos received his second Latin Grammy for Best Christian Album for ''Recordando Otra Vez''. On November 2, 2006, Witt received his third Latin Grammy for Best Christian Album for his album ''Dios es Bueno'' (God is Good). On October 31, 2006, he released the album ''Alegría'' (Joy), which was recorded live in Chile. On April 26, 2007, ''Alegría'' won a Latin Billboard Award for Best Christian/Gospel Album of the Year. Witt's daughter, Elena Witt, sang "Cristo, Amante de mi Alma" on the album ''Alegria.'' On November 8, 2007, Witt received his fourth Latin Grammy for Best Christian Album for ''Alegría''.On October 2, 2007, Witt released ''Sinfonía del Alma'' (Symphony from the Soul), which he recorded and dedicated to his stepfather who had died a year earlier. On November 15, 2012, Witt received his fifth Latin Grammy for Best Christian Album for his album ''25 Concierto Conmemorativo'' (25 Memorial Concert). On 2021 Witt released ''Viviré'' for which he was awarded his sixth Latin Grammy for Best Christian Album.
==Personal life== In 1986, Marcos married Miriam Lee; they have four children. The couple's oldest child, Elena, is married to singer Harold Guerra, who is signed to CanZion Records, the recording company founded by Witt.<ref>{{cite journal| last=Aliaga| first=Esly Felipe | title =Conexion Musical|journal=Fuerza Latina|language=es| date=August 2009}}</ref>
==Discography== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |- !Year of Release !Title !Label |- |1986 |''Canción a Dios'' | rowspan="2" |CanZion |- |1987 |''Instrumento De Adoración'' |- |1988 |''Adoremos!'' |CanZion<br/>Sony Music |- |1988 |''Instrumento De Adoración II'' |CanZion |- |1990 | ''Proyecto alabanza y adoración'' |CanZion<br/>Word |- |1991 |''Tú y yo (En vivo)'' |CanZion<br/>Word |- |1991 |Marco Barrientos: ''En Tí'' (En vivo) |CanZion<br/>Word |- |1991 |''Instrumento De Adoración III'' |CanZion |- |1991 |''A una voz'' (Con Torre Fuerte) |Vida |- |1992 | ''Te Anhelo'' |CanZion<br/>Word |- |1992 | ''Te Exaltamos (En vivo)'' |Hosanna! Music |- |1992 |José Luis Torres: ''Cantemos A Jesús'' (En vivo) |CanZion<br/>Word |- |1992 |Edgar Rocha: ''Escrito Está'' (En vivo) |CanZion<br/>Word |- |1993 |''Grandes son tus maravillas'' (En vivo desde Miami con Jaime Murrell) |Vida |- |1993 |Jorge Lozano: ''Celebra Victorioso'' (En vivo) |CanZion<br/>Word |- |1993 |Juan Carlos Alvarado: ''Tu Palabra'' (En vivo) |CanZion<br/>Word |- |1993 | ''Poderoso (En vivo)'' |rowspan="2"|CanZion |- |1993 | ''Alcanzando a las naciones'' |- |1994 |Jaime Murrell: ''Cristo Reina'' (En vivo) |CanZion |- |1994 |''Celebracion de alabanza'' (En vivo) |rowspan="9"|CanZion |- |1994 |''Lo Mejor de Marcos'' |- |1994 |''¡Alabadle! (En vivo)'' |- |1995 |''Recordando... Una misma senda'' |- |1995 |''Vicente Montaño: Tiempo de Cambiar'' |- |1995 |Rudy Rodríguez: ''Aliento de adoración'' |- |1996 |''Venció (En vivo)'' |- |1996 |''Es Navidad'' |- |1997 |''Israel (Con Miguel Cassina, Marcos Vidal, Marly McCall, Susana Allen, Héctor David, Steve Green, Yuri, Rodrigo Espinoza y Heriberto Hermosillo)'' |- |1997 |''Canticos de adoración y alabanza para cumplidores de promesas (Con Jaime Murrell, Willie García, Frank Giraldo, Coalo Zamorano y Gadiel Espinoza)'' |Matanatha Music |- |1998 |''Preparad el camino (En vivo desde Jerusalén)'' |rowspan="8"|CanZion |- |1998 |''Lo Mejor de Instrumentales'' |- |1998 |''Lo Mejor de Marcos II'' |- |1999 |''Colección En Vivo'' |- |1999 |''Enciende una luz (En vivo)'' |- |2000 |''Homenaje a Jesús (En vivo con Marco Barrientos, Danilo Montero y Jorge Lozano)'' |- |2000 |''Todos deben de saber (En vivo)'' |- |2000 |''Venceu (En vivo) (En portugués)'' |- |2000 |''El volverá (En vivo desde Jerusalén con Danilo Montero y Luis Enrique Espinosa)'' |CanZion |- |2001 |''Clamemos a Jesús (En vivo desde Zócalo de la Ciudad de México con Marco Barrientos, Jesús Adrián Romero, Roberto Torres, Alejandro Del Bosque, Carlos Arzola y Misael Jiménez)'' |Aliento Producciones |- |2001 |''Vivencias'' |rowspan="9"|CanZion |- |2001 |''Sana Nuestra Tierra (En vivo)'' |- |2001 | ''Dios al mundo amó (Con Rojo, Danilo Montero, Luis Enrique Espinosa, Jaime Murrell, VCV y Gamaliel Morán)'' |- |2001 |''A viva voz'' |- |2001 |''Juan Romero: Vol.1'' |- |2002 | Ahora es el tiempo |- |2002 |''El encuentro (En vivo)'' |- |2003 |''Lo mejor de Marcos Witt III'' |- |2003 |''Vicente Montaño: Abrázame'' |- |2003 |''Dios de Pactos (En vivo desde Miami)'' |CanZion<br/>Sony Discos |- |2003 |''Música para una vida con proposito'' |Vida Music |- |2003 |''Songs 4 Worship en Español'' |Integrity Music |- |2003 |''Amazing God (En vivo) (En inglés)'' | rowspan="4" |CanZion |- |2004 |''Israel 3 (Con Susana Allen, María Del Sol, Annette Moreno, Samuel Hernández, Jaime Murrell, Julissa, Michael Rodríguez, Al'x y Jonathan Settel)'' |- |2004 |''Recordando Otra Vez (En vivo desde Los Ángeles, California)'' |- |2004 |''Tiempo de Navidad'' |- |2004 |''Antología'' |CanZion<br/>Sony Discos |- |2005 |''Dios es Bueno (En vivo desde Puerto Rico)'' |rowspan="7"|CanZion |- |2005 |''Alex Campos: Como un niño'' |- |2005 |''Solo adoración'' |- |2005 |''Solo adoración 2'' |- |2005 |''Christmas Time (En inglés)'' |- |2006 |''Alegría (En vivo desde Santiago de Chile)'' |- |2006 |''Unción Tropical: Seguimos unidos'' |- |2006 |''Alex Campos: Acústico: El sonido del silencio (En vivo)'' |CanZion |- |2006 |''Hay una respuesta'' |CanZion |- |2007 |''Sinfonía del alma'' |CanZion<br/>Vene Music |- |2008 |''Sobrenatural (En vivo desde Bogotá, Colombia)'' |CanZion<br/>Vene Music |- |2008 |''Songs 4 Worship en español: El poder de Tu Amor'' |Integrity Music |- |2008 |''Mario Rodríguez: Derrama de Tu Gloria'' |CanZion |- |2009<ref>{{cite web|title=Marcos Witt en Adoracion|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/marcos-witt-en-adoracion-cd-dvd-mw0001785887|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=February 22, 2013}}</ref> |''En adoración'' |CanZion<br/>Vene Music |- |2010 |''Sólo para bebés'' |CanZion<br/> Kids |- |2011 |''25 Concierto Conmemorativo (En vivo)'' |CanZion |- |2012 |''Sesión Acústica'' |CanZion |- |2012 |''Global Project Español (Con Alex Campos, Marco Barrientos y Marcela Gándara)'' |CanZion<br/>Hillsong Music |- |2013 |''Josué del Cid: Mis mejores días'' |rowspan="2"|CanZion |- |2014 |''Sigues Siendo Dios'' |- |2015 |''Sigues siendo Dios (En vivo desde Argentina)'' | CanZion |- |2016 |''Montreal: Más color'' |CanZion |- |2016 |''Canción a Dios (Versión remasterizada)'' |CanZion |- |2016 |''Tú y yo (En vivo) (Versión remasterizada)'' |CanZion |- |2017 |''Jesús salva (En vivo desde Congreso Adoradores con Coalo Zamorano, Evan Craft, Harold y Elena, Josué Del Cid, Kelly Spyker y Un Corazón)'' |CanZion |- |2021 |''Viviré'' |CanZion |- |2023 |''Tu Iglesia'' |CanZion |- |2025 |''Legado'' |CanZion |}
==Bibliography== * ''Adoremos''. Editorial Caribe: Distributed by Editorial Betania, 1993, {{ISBN|0-88113-195-4}} * ''Qué hacemos con estos músicos?''. Editorial Caribe, 1995, {{ISBN|0-88113-160-1}} * ''A Worship-Filled Life''. Creation House, 1998, {{ISBN|0-88419-543-0}} * ''Enciende Una Luz''. Casa Creacion, 2000, {{ISBN|0-88419-559-7}} * ''Cómo Ejercer la Verdadera Autoridad''. Casa Creacion, 2002, {{ISBN|0-88419-816-2}} * ''Decida Bien''. Casa Creacion, 2003, {{ISBN|0-88419-869-3}} * ''Dile adiós a tus temores ''. Atria Books, 2007, {{ISBN|978-0-7432-9087-6}} * ''Los 8 habitos de los mejores líderes''. Vida, 2014, {{ISBN|9780829765878}}
==Awards==
===Latin Grammy Awards=== *2003: ''Sana Nuestra Tierra'' – Best Christian Album *2004: ''Recordando Otra Vez'' – Best Christian Album (Spanish Language) *2006: ''Dios es Bueno'' – Best Christian Album (Spanish Language) *2007: ''Alegría'' – Best Christian Album (Spanish Language) *2012: ''25 Concierto Conmemorativo'' – Best Christian Album (Spanish Language) *2022: ''Viviré'' – Best Christian Album (Spanish Language) *2025: ''Legado'' – Best Christian Album (Spanish Language)
===GMA Dove Awards=== {| class="wikitable" ! width="60px"| Year ! Award ! Result |- !rowspan="2"| 2005 | Spanish Album of the Year (''Recordando Otra Vez'') |{{nom}} |- | Spanish Album of the Year (''Tiempo de Navidad'') |{{nom}} |- ! 2006 | Spanish Album of the Year (''Dios es Bueno'') |{{nom}} |- ! 2007 | Spanish Album of the Year (''Alegría'') |{{nom}} |- ! 2009 | Spanish Album of the Year (''Sobrenatural'') |{{nom}} |- !2022 |Spanish Album of the Year (''Viviré'') |{{won}} |}
===AMCL Awards=== * 1987: Vocalista Masculino del Año * 1988: Artista del Año * 1989: Artista del Año * 1991: ''Tu y yo'' – Álbum Tradicional o popular del Año * 1992: ''Cuan Hermoso'' – Canción del Año * 1992: ''Te Anhelo'' – Álbum del Año * 1992: Productor del Año * 1995: Compositor del Año * 1995: Productor del Año * 1995: ''Temprano yo te buscare (en vivo)'' – Videoclip del Año * 1992: ''Venció'' – Álbum en Vivo del Año * 1996: ''Poderoso (en vivo)'' – Videoclip del Año * 1997: ''Amo a Cristo (en vivo Argentina 1995)'' – Videoclip del Año * 1998: ''Entrare a Jerusalem'' – Álbum Tradicional o Popular del Año * 1999: ''Enciende una Luz'' – Álbum del Año * 1999: Productor del Año * 1999: ''Enciende una Luz'' – Videoclip del Año * 2000: ''Homenaje a Jesus'' – Álbum en Vivo del Año * 2001: ''El Volvera'' – Álbum en Vivo del Año * 2004: ''Recordando Otra Vez'' – Álbum Tradicional o Popular del Año * 2004: ''Autor de la poesía'' Intervención Musical del Año – dueto con Maria del Sol- * 2006: ''Dios es Bueno'' – Álbum en Vivo del Año * 2006: ''Lluvias de Ayer y Hoy'' – Álbum Tradicional o Popular del Año * 2006: ''Dios es Bueno DVD'' – DVD del Año * 2006: ''No es un Misterio'' Intervención Musical del Año – trio con Alex Campos y Coalo Zamorano- * 2007: ''Sinfonía del Alma'' – Álbum Instrumental/Clásico/Coral del Año * 2009: ''Sobrenatural DVD'' – DVD del Año * 2009: ''Sobrenatural DVD'' – Tour del Año * 2011: ''25 Concierto Conmemorativo'' – Álbum en Vivo del Año * 2011: ''25 Concierto Conmemorativo'' – DVD del Año * 2011: ''25 Concierto Conmemorativo'' – Evento Musical del Año
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Marcos Witt}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Witt, Marcos}} Category:American performers of Christian music Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:American Christian religious leaders Category:Christian writers Category:American emigrants to Mexico Category:Latin Grammy Award winners Category:Oral Roberts University alumni Category:Singers from San Antonio Category:Singers from Durango Category:Writers from Durango Category:Promise Keepers Category:Living people Category:Performers of contemporary Christian music Category:Spanish-language American singers Category:Singer-songwriters from Texas Category:20th-century American pianists Category:21st-century American pianists Category:1962 births Category:20th-century American male pianists Category:21st-century American male pianists