Biography
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Ernesto Cortazar was a Mexican Pianist and great composer. He was born in 1940. He started his music career in Mexico at the age of 18 composing the background music for the motion picture "La Risa de la Ciudad". Since then, he has created the background music for more than 500 motion pictures. He has traveled to more than 25 countries to perform as he only knows. He gave concerts at very important places as The Kremlin (USSR), The Mexican Presidential House and others. He also has performed for very important people as Charlton Heston, Danny de Vito, Michael Bolton, Octavio Paz, The Rolling Stones, President Menem (Argentina), Nikita Krushev (USSR) and more.
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GOM: You are a great pianist, where did you studied piano and composition?
Ernesto Cortazar: Well, thank you very much for that kind remark! :) I studied piano in Mexico City, my grandmother teached me to love the piano and when I was 12 years old, I began playing it. Then, at the age of 18, I began my professional music studies by the hand of Maestro Carreon, one of Mexico's most important and recognized music industry performers and creatives. He teached me to love my instrument, to create with it and to evolve my imagination through its keys…
GOM: Did you begin your career as composer or performer?
Ernesto Cortazar: I began my career as a composer as well as a performer. I was a singer and a composer at the age of 18, I played the piano at bars, hotels, conventions and at the same time, Maestro Gustavo Cesar Carreon gave me my first opportunity to compose a song for a movie. The name of the movie was "La Risa de la Ciudad" and it became a smash hit in Latin America and Spain. I was honored by receiving an award at the Cartagena Music Festival and that was the beginning of my career as a composer. Performing has also been an activity all throughout my life and I have always enjoyed visiting different countries playing the piano and traveling with my family.
GOM: In last years you've composed an incredible number of beautiful songs… tell us how you compose a piece and where do you get inspiration.
Ernesto Cortazar: My wife, my family and the beauty of friendship have always been my muses, I compose whenever I feel the urge to express myself and that happens almost everyday of my life since 40 years ago. I really thank all the kind people who have enjoyed my piano pieces and have taken the time to write me their thoughts and feelings about them…
GOM: Tell us something about your last album.
Ernesto Cortazar: My last album included cover songs completely, it was a project my son Ernesto Jr. and I wanted to do since a long time ago. I have performed Andrew Lloyd Webber's, Vangelis, Francis Lai, Nino Rota, Michel Legrand, Marvin Hamlisch and other magnificent composers music throughout my tours all around the world so we thought this would be a great tribute to their talent and magnificence. The name of the CD is "Journey Around the World" and it includes songs like "The Godfather's Theme, "Chariots of Fire", "Andrew Lloyd Webber's Medley" and "Summer of '42".
GOM: What's the difference between your last album and the first ones?
Ernesto Cortazar: I think that each album has a magic of it's own. The essence we try to express on each and everyone of them begins from the cover itself. We always try to include a nice compilation of compositions and support it with an attractive title to the production. We have collaborated with incredible painters such as Guillermo del Castillo and Pene Beavan Horton to give each CD the perfect personality it deserves…
GOM: If you would have to make a Great Pianists of the Past Top Five Chart, which artists would you include?
Ernesto Cortazar: Definitely… Michel Legrand, Liberace, Eddie Duchin, Rachmaninoff and many others… I could not make a top five list because each one deserves a place of it's own, that is why I will only put my 4 personal favorites, it is my way of respecting their own self magnificence…
GOM: Ever think about your music inside a Pop production with some great vocals and lyrics?
Ernesto Cortazar: Well, Pop music has evolved tremendously in the past years. I am a fan of every person who creates music and shares it with the world, music is the international language and to see my music transformed to another genre such as Pop would be a great experience, I would feel very pleased to collaborate in such endeavor.
GOM: Your relationship with the Net?
Ernesto Cortazar: I would describe my relationship with the Net "the new love of my life…" I cannot stop learning each day more and more about it, Internet is the Encyclopedia of the future and I am very happy to be living this electronic interaction, in fact my daughter Mariana, who is 10 years old, is my personal teacher! :)
GOM: Any advice to young composers who would like to become as you?
Ernesto Cortazar: Just believe in yourselves and express your deepest feelings in your creations always remebering that a good melody is the root of your plantation.
GOM: …and the Future?
Ernesto Cortazar: The next step in my career is crossing the Online frontier and becoming an Offline recording artist. My son Ernesto Cortazar Jr. and his staff at Tazzar Studio are negotiating the distribution of my CD's to the stores. That is our main objective right now and hopefully it will become true this year. We are seeking worldwide distribution to my music due to the immense support and demand that my friends and fans have given me since we started this dream and I want to thank each and everyone of them for making this possible. Thank you for making today "The Best Day of My Life…"
Thank you, Ernesto, for the incredible treasure of sweet and dreamy melodies you're letting us to put our hands on! ;) Thank you very much! You deserve to be one of the top stars in the musical scene! ;) We wish you the best!
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