One of the most talked about voices in gospel music belongs to Grammy Nominated, 3x Stellar and BMI Award-Winning artist Zacardi Cortez. Born in Houston, TX, Cortez hails from a singing family rooted in faith.
At the age of five he began singing in church and working in the Texas gospel circuit with his family, The Cortez Singers. At age 8, Pastor John P. Kee, adopted him as a spiritual son and began mentoring him. For a while, Cortez sang with Kee’s V.I.P. Mass Choir even singing a solo on the album, 'Live at the Fellowship', in 2001. He later made guest appearances on recordings by Kurt Carr, Bishop Paul S. Morton and Pastor Gregg Patrick & the Bridge Project. During the early years of his career, Cortez’ big voice and spine-tingling vocal gymnastics distinguished James Fortune & FIYA’s radio smashes “Let Your Power Fall,” “I Believe” and “The Blood.”
Cortez’s recent wave in Gospel Music include the viral hit “Lord Do It Again” which has surpassed 35MIL streams. He’s had four #1 Billboard Gospel Airplay singles; most recently “You’ve Been Good to Me;” a song he penned. His 2019 #1 Billboard single “You Don’t Know,” is also written by Cortez joined by James Fortune; produced by Marcus Calyen and AyRon Lewis. Zacardi had a prior 12 week run at #1 on the same chart for the song “God Held Me (Together).” Other Top 10 radio hits include “YDIA,” “1-On-1,” and “One More Time,” featuring Pastor John P. Kee.
Zacardi Cortez has enjoyed appearances on major platforms including The Stellar Awards and Black Music Honors, along with releasing three Top 10 albums, The Introduction (2012), Reloaded (2014), Imprint: Live in Memphis (2022).
