2008 Woodie Awards
Former NGU students fly high with Dove nomination
By: Jon Harris
Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: Entertainment & Features
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Staff Writer
North Greenville alumni Charlee Buitrago and former student Seth Condrey have made it big in the gospel Latin music scene. Their album, De Corazon a Corazon, has been nominated for the Spanish Language Album of the Year at the Gospel Music Association's 39th annual Dove Awards.
"When we put the album together, you never think about this stuff. Now that we've seen all this, I listen to all this with the music, and I think we have a huge chance. I really do," Buitrago said.
Condrey and Buitrago are up against five other Latin albums: Bueno by Jacobo Ramos, El Ritmo De La Vida by Julissa, Invincible by Vertical, and Tu Amor by Danilo Montero.
"When I first moved in with Seth's family, I was only 17. He was like 13. He didn't know how to play guitar. So I did, and I kind of helped him out with the guitar skills," Buitrago said. "The cool thing is, we just did worship in the church, and they let us play in some places like coffee houses. We were just teenagers. He ended up coming to school with me here, and that is when we started going hard on music. I stayed, graduated and after that, we" started touring.
Buitrago writes and plays on stage with Condrey. Both are signed to the largest Latin Christian label, CanZion Records, out of Houston, Texas.
Buitrago began focusing on writing after an accident that took all of the feeling in his left hand. He could not play guitar for two years. So, he spent this time writing his own worship songs.
"It was fun just to see God through that," Buitrago said. "My part is real small. I'm not the guy in the front all the time. But I like that, being a part of it."
De Corazon a Corazon has 12 songs, eight of which Buitrago wrote with Condrey. The album is available worldwide and can be purchased at Christian stores.
Buitrago is a 2005 B.A. mass communication graduate from Venezuela. Buitrago plays music full time with his band Poiema and leads Wednesday worship for the youth at Mount Airy Baptist Church in Easley.
Condrey attended NGU and lives in Canton, Ga.
Buitrago and Condrey will be in attendance for the Dove Awards on April 23 at the Grand Old Opry House in Nashville, Tenn.
"If we win this whole Dove award thing, the Grammys will be the next thing," Buitrago said.
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