CASH CORTES

Cash Cortes is a man on the brink of a new sound, a new country music career, a new family, and a new life. A South Florida native of Puerto Rican descent, Cash is fusing his Spanish-speaking Caribbean heritage with his contemporary country influence to create a wholly fresh yet familiar take on the Latin country genre that is on the cusp of a nationwide explosion.

Cash's debut solo single "Poor Man's Gold" is a feat of cinematic storytelling – his dusty voice set into a neoteric mix of island percussion, forlorn fiddle, pedal steel, mandolin trills, and western electric baritone guitars.

"It's got some edge to it," Cash said of "Poor Man's Gold." "It talks about life. It talks about family.”

Cash's "Poor Man's Gold" is poised to stretch beyond even today's broad boundaries of country music because of his sweeping life experiences and diverse influences. The singer/songwriter was born in Miami into a military family. Spanish was his first language, and he didn't learn English until the military relocated his family to Northwest Georgia and he started school. He made his first friends in Powder Springs, soaked up Southern culture, and soon developed a twang. There wasn't a thriving Hispanic community in the small town near Atlanta, but his mom listened to the radio, and he fell in love with all types of music. He loved Hootie & the Blowfish, Fleetwood Mac, The Backstreet Boys, disco music and '80s rock. At home, his family listened to Marc Anthony and stayed immersed in Latin culture.

"I just got this two-world blend," he said. "Cash Cortes is a blend of growing up in the South and being Puerto Rican. I'm bringing those elements into my music. I'm definitely digging in with a little bit more grit."

Cash remembers seeing Tim McGraw on Oprah as a child and being drawn to the acoustic guitars and twangy Telecaster sounds.

"They did a lot of chicken picking on records, and there was something about that sound," he said. "It just makes you feel good. It makes you feel happy, and you just want to dance, which is a lot like the music from the islands. I guess that's why it resonated with me."

Cash asked his mother for singing lessons, and after asking him to sing for her, she agreed. In high school, his principal heard his voice at a talent show and asked him to perform the National Anthem at an event. Then he belted Garth Brooks' "We Shall Be Free" at his high school graduation – the moment he knew he wanted to be a country singer.

He studied music in college and then joined the police department, where he suffered a head injury during training. The effects lasted for months and wreaked such havoc on his mental health that he considered suicide. Cash turned to God, and faith and a motorcycle started the healing process. Harley Davidson hired him for a social media campaign, gave him a free motorcycle and asked him to document his journey with his cell phone. Riding the bike helped Cash mend his body and heal his mental health. He met his wife, Lexzy, during that time. However, the couple only dated a few months before going their separate ways.

Cash moved to Nashville to chase his country music dream. The singer’s previous projects generated more than 20 million streams, and he opened for artists including Scotty McCreery, The War and Treaty, Jake Owen and Chris Young. While he enjoyed moderate success, he wanted more.

 In 2023, Cash scrapped everything he'd been building in Nashville, returned to Florida and reconnected with Lexzy. Now, the couple is married and has an infant son.

"Poor Man's Gold" is their story.

"Things are happening fast," Cash said.  "Everything was so chaotic and unknown, but even in all that, I felt peace and happiness (with Lexzy) that I never felt even when I had it all together. I had no joy. There was no peace."

He continued: "Even if everything else was taken away from me, all the material things and our family was left, I have everything that I ever could want or need."

As Cash readies to share his story and creative vision with the world, he's determined to stay true to himself as a person and a musician.

"This is just all the threads coming together to make the fabric of Cash Cortes."

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SHORT BIO:

Cash Cortes is a South Florida native of Puerto Rican descent who is fusing his Spanish-speaking Caribbean heritage with his contemporary country influence. The music is a wholly fresh yet familiar take on the Latin country genre that is on the cusp of a nationwide explosion.

Cash's debut solo single "Poor Man's Gold" is a feat of cinematic storytelling – his dusty voice set into a neoteric mix of island percussion, forlorn fiddle, pedal steel, and mandolin trills.

The singer’s previous projects generated more than 20 million streams, and he’s opened for artists including Scotty McCreery, The War and Treaty, Jake Owen and Chris Young.