Pete Orta
Encyclopedia
Pete OrtaPete Orta (born August 26, 1971 in Port Lavaca, Texas
is a Christian
rock
singer, guitarist, and songwriter and music producer. He was a member of Christian rock band Petra
from 1996 to 2000.
Born in Port Lavaca, Orta moved to Lubbock
at age six. Despite the roughly 540-mile initial relocation http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS258US259&q=from+lubbock,+tx+to+port+lavaca,+tx&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl from south to north Texas
, Orta's family kept moving within Lubbock city limits. Orta attended Haynes Elementary School, Mackenzie Junior High Schoolhttp://www.lubbockisd.org/Mackenzie/, Evans Middle Schoolhttp://www.lubbockisd.org/evans/, Matthews Junior High School and Lubbock High School
before graduating from Coronado High School.
Orta was given his first guitar
--a red, no-brand toy—by his aunt when he was four, which he taught himself to play.
At age 18, Orta left home, and although he had a job, he couldn't afford to pay both rent and for the black Steinberger
guitar he had financed from Jent's House of Music. Choosing his guitar over a home, he lived in his car, slept in open churches and showered at the YMCA
for a year. He eventually landed a job at Jent's, where he fell under the tutelage of co-worker and revered local guitarist, John Ellis
. Ellis was surprised by Orta's melodic lines and fast playing ability, which he says often don't go hand in hand. He was also surprised that Orta had never heard of music greats, like Jimi Hendrix
, Led Zeppelin
or Van Halen
, all of which he had been deprived of hearing as a child with no electronics made available to him.
In 1996, Orta joined Petra
; he contributed greatly to the band's success in the late 90s. His awards include a Gold Record, a Dove Award, three Grammy Nominations and for Gospel Rock Album of the year was presented a Grammy in the year 2000 for the award winning album, Double Take
.
Petra’s single Breathe In on Petra’s Double Take
. album, which attracted the attention of Word/Sony Records A&R staff and eventually led to the Recording of his first solo record Born Again. In 2000, Orta left Petra and embarked on a solo career and was inducted with Petra, into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and also the accomplishment of having his guitars inducted in Hard Rock Cafes around the world. In 2001, prior to the release of his album, friend and label mate singer Jaci Velasquez
invited Orta to tour as her guitar player on her Crystal Clear Tour where she featured him in a step out solo performance and he was presented another Gold Record, this time while touring with Velasquez. Soon after, Orta recorded a duet with Jaci on her 2001 Christmas release Season Of Love. In 2001, his solo album
, Born Again on Word Records
was finally released to rave reviews and rock radio success, which culminated in a 2002 Dove Award Nomination for Rock Recorded Song of the Year .
In late 2001, Orta performed as part of the all-star chorus of CCM
artists who recorded the 9/11
tribute song, "In God We Trust," penned by Mark Heimermann and Wayne Kirkpatrick
and
commissioned by the Gospel Music Association
.
Aside from Velasquez, Orta has performed on the albums of other CCM
artists, including Tammy Trent, Steven Delopoulos, and Rachel Lampa. He also rearranged and performed Jimmie Dale Gilmore
's "Braver Newer World" for use in the 2002 motion picture Joshuahttp://www.allmovieguide.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:262591.
In 2005, Orta produced the debut album from Jaci Velasquez's record label, Apostrophe, by Michael Cook called Imprinthttp://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/6810289/a/Imprint.htm Orta also contributed his production techniques to the soundtrack for the Left Behind: World at War
soundtrack.
Apart from Jaci Velasquez
, Orta has worked with other artist including: Jack Blades
, Desmond Child
, Tommy Sims
, Michael W. Smith
, Tony Rich, The Waiting
, Guardian
, Chris Rodriguez
, Trey Bruce
, Rosas Divinas Pete Kipley and David Rice.
In 2008 Pete Orta opened a Brand Development Company called Orta Universal.In 2009, Orta began a non-profit called In Triumph out of Hutto, Texas where he began to take “unchosen” teens off the streets and into his home. Out of his past, Pete says he is "able to relate to the young people in his program, young people who in their few short years have experienced prostitution, drug addiction, imprisonment and all manners of abuse and rejection". Now, when given the opportunity to address an audience about his journey, Pete loves helping people understand the blessing of taking on the suffering and burdens of those who could never return the favor. The young people he calls “unchosen” are a nameless and growing group in our country and Pete loves the opportunity to introduce his audience to the third world here in America.
Port Lavaca, Texas
Port Lavaca is a city in Calhoun County, Texas, United States. The population was 12,248 at the 2010 census. The County had a 3.6% growth which brought the county population to 21,381. The city itself is bringing in more business into the area. It is the county seat of Calhoun County...
is a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
singer, guitarist, and songwriter and music producer. He was a member of Christian rock band Petra
Petra (band)
Petra is a music group regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres. Formed in 1972, the band took its name from the Greek word for "rock"...
from 1996 to 2000.
Born in Port Lavaca, Orta moved to Lubbock
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
at age six. Despite the roughly 540-mile initial relocation http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS258US259&q=from+lubbock,+tx+to+port+lavaca,+tx&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl from south to north Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, Orta's family kept moving within Lubbock city limits. Orta attended Haynes Elementary School, Mackenzie Junior High Schoolhttp://www.lubbockisd.org/Mackenzie/, Evans Middle Schoolhttp://www.lubbockisd.org/evans/, Matthews Junior High School and Lubbock High School
Lubbock High School
Lubbock High School is a 5A high school serving grades nine to twelve in Lubbock, Texas . Part of the Lubbock Independent School District, the school is known for its academic program and for the fact that it has produced a number of talented musicians, vocalists, businessmen, and scientists over...
before graduating from Coronado High School.
Orta was given his first guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
--a red, no-brand toy—by his aunt when he was four, which he taught himself to play.
At age 18, Orta left home, and although he had a job, he couldn't afford to pay both rent and for the black Steinberger
Steinberger
Steinberger refers to a series of distinctive electric guitars and bass guitars, designed and originally manufactured by Ned Steinberger. The word Steinberger can be used to refer to either the instruments themselves or the company that produced them...
guitar he had financed from Jent's House of Music. Choosing his guitar over a home, he lived in his car, slept in open churches and showered at the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
for a year. He eventually landed a job at Jent's, where he fell under the tutelage of co-worker and revered local guitarist, John Ellis
John Ellis (guitarist)
John Ellis is an English guitarist and songwriter.-Career:He was a co-founder of the pub rock band Bazooka Joe in 1970 and a founding member of the punk rock band The Vibrators. Ellis formed The Vibrators in 1974 while still at art school studying illustration. The Vibrators released two albums...
. Ellis was surprised by Orta's melodic lines and fast playing ability, which he says often don't go hand in hand. He was also surprised that Orta had never heard of music greats, like Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
or Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
, all of which he had been deprived of hearing as a child with no electronics made available to him.
In 1996, Orta joined Petra
Petra (band)
Petra is a music group regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres. Formed in 1972, the band took its name from the Greek word for "rock"...
; he contributed greatly to the band's success in the late 90s. His awards include a Gold Record, a Dove Award, three Grammy Nominations and for Gospel Rock Album of the year was presented a Grammy in the year 2000 for the award winning album, Double Take
Double Take (Petra album)
Double Take is the Grammy Award winning, nineteenth release of the Christian rock band, Petra. It was released on February 29, 2000.The album features 10 new acoustic rearrangements of classic Petra songs. It also features two new songs . The song "Breathe In" is sung by guitarist Pete Orta...
.
Petra’s single Breathe In on Petra’s Double Take
Double Take (Petra album)
Double Take is the Grammy Award winning, nineteenth release of the Christian rock band, Petra. It was released on February 29, 2000.The album features 10 new acoustic rearrangements of classic Petra songs. It also features two new songs . The song "Breathe In" is sung by guitarist Pete Orta...
. album, which attracted the attention of Word/Sony Records A&R staff and eventually led to the Recording of his first solo record Born Again. In 2000, Orta left Petra and embarked on a solo career and was inducted with Petra, into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and also the accomplishment of having his guitars inducted in Hard Rock Cafes around the world. In 2001, prior to the release of his album, friend and label mate singer Jaci Velasquez
Jaci Velasquez
Jacquelyn Davette Velasquez is an American Contemporary Christian and Latin Pop singer—in both English and Spanish languages....
invited Orta to tour as her guitar player on her Crystal Clear Tour where she featured him in a step out solo performance and he was presented another Gold Record, this time while touring with Velasquez. Soon after, Orta recorded a duet with Jaci on her 2001 Christmas release Season Of Love. In 2001, his solo album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Born Again on Word Records
Word Records
Word Records is a Christian record label based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a division of Word Entertainment , which, itself is co-owned by Warner Music Group and Curb Records...
was finally released to rave reviews and rock radio success, which culminated in a 2002 Dove Award Nomination for Rock Recorded Song of the Year .
In late 2001, Orta performed as part of the all-star chorus of CCM
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
artists who recorded the 9/11
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
tribute song, "In God We Trust," penned by Mark Heimermann and Wayne Kirkpatrick
Wayne Kirkpatrick
Wayne Kirkpatrick is an American singer/songwriter and musician born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana but now lives in Nashville, Tennessee. He graduated from Baton Rouge Magnet High School in 1979....
and
commissioned by the Gospel Music Association
Gospel Music Association
The Gospel Music Association was founded in 1964 for the purpose of supporting and promoting the development of all forms of Gospel music. There are currently about 4,000 members worldwide...
.
Aside from Velasquez, Orta has performed on the albums of other CCM
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
artists, including Tammy Trent, Steven Delopoulos, and Rachel Lampa. He also rearranged and performed Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Jimmie Dale Gilmore is a country singer, songwriter, actor, recording artist and producer, currently living in Austin, Texas.-Biography:...
's "Braver Newer World" for use in the 2002 motion picture Joshuahttp://www.allmovieguide.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:262591.
In 2005, Orta produced the debut album from Jaci Velasquez's record label, Apostrophe, by Michael Cook called Imprinthttp://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/6810289/a/Imprint.htm Orta also contributed his production techniques to the soundtrack for the Left Behind: World at War
Left Behind: World at War
Left Behind: World at War is a Christian Bible-based apocalyptic/thriller film and the third in the series of films based on the Left Behind book series. It was produced by Cloud Ten Pictures. The film premiered in churches on October 21, 2005 before its release on DVD and VHS on October 25, 2005...
soundtrack.
Apart from Jaci Velasquez
Jaci Velasquez
Jacquelyn Davette Velasquez is an American Contemporary Christian and Latin Pop singer—in both English and Spanish languages....
, Orta has worked with other artist including: Jack Blades
Jack Blades
Jack Martin Blades is an American musician. He has worked in several bands: Rubicon, Night Ranger , and Damn Yankees . He also recorded with Tommy Shaw under the name Shaw/Blades, and has done work alongside TMG, the Tak Matsumoto Group...
, Desmond Child
Desmond Child
Desmond Child is an American musician, songwriter, and producer. He is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.-Career:...
, Tommy Sims
Tommy Sims
Tommy Sims is a renowned bassist, songwriter, record producer and bandleader.-Music career:From 1987 to 1989 he was the bassist of the popular Christian rock band White Heart which he left to become a studio musician and producer. During 1992-1993, he played bass on the Bruce Springsteen and the...
, Michael W. Smith
Michael W. Smith
Michael Whitaker Smith is a Billboard top ten Billboard Hot 100 recording artist and Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in Contemporary Christian music. Smith also has achieved a considerable amount of...
, Tony Rich, The Waiting
The Waiting (band)
The Waiting is a Christian alternative pop rock band, consisting of Brad Olsen , Todd Olsen , Clark Leake , and Brandon Thompson...
, Guardian
Guardian (band)
Guardian is an American Christian hard rock/metal band. The band released six studio albums, three additional albums in Spanish—and toured extensively worldwide...
, Chris Rodriguez
Chris Rodriguez
-Biography:Rodriguez was born on March 7, 1960, in Bronx New York, and moved to Nashville, becoming a veteran of the scene in the early 1990s. His debut album, Beggar's Paradise, was released by Sony in 1999, by which time he had collaborated on projects with country and CCM acts such as Amy Grant,...
, Trey Bruce
Trey Bruce
Trey Bruce is an American country music songwriter. Bruce has co-written three songs that became Number One singles on the Billboard country charts: "Look Heart, No Hands", "Spirit of a Boy, Wisdom of a Man" and "Whisper My Name" by Randy Travis, and "How Your Love Makes Me Feel" by Diamond Rio...
, Rosas Divinas Pete Kipley and David Rice.
In 2008 Pete Orta opened a Brand Development Company called Orta Universal.In 2009, Orta began a non-profit called In Triumph out of Hutto, Texas where he began to take “unchosen” teens off the streets and into his home. Out of his past, Pete says he is "able to relate to the young people in his program, young people who in their few short years have experienced prostitution, drug addiction, imprisonment and all manners of abuse and rejection". Now, when given the opportunity to address an audience about his journey, Pete loves helping people understand the blessing of taking on the suffering and burdens of those who could never return the favor. The young people he calls “unchosen” are a nameless and growing group in our country and Pete loves the opportunity to introduce his audience to the third world here in America.