In the year 1999 Cesar Marquez made a promise to God, “Reveal your purpose for my life and I will devote my life to it”.

As one of the fastest rising real estate agents in the country and newly appointed director of luxury estate homes for the largest independent real estate company in California, Cesar was on the fast track of success, or so he thought.

Having been blessed with the gift of music, he had already worked with some of the biggest names in Latin music, but the lifestyle left him feeling empty so he put his music on the shelf. In 1999, after continually hearing a special calling Cesar picked up his music once again and hit the streets. He promised God that he would devote his life and music to his service if he would reveal His purpose for him. With the help of an artist manager Cesar began recording and performing - the last effort Cesar would make before hanging up his music for good and return to climb the corporate ladder. Months went by and Cesar had received no sign and had already been rejected by multiple record labels. Then finally, as the year 2000 approached he received a call--BMG and Sony record labels were interested! As he had promised he immediately packed up and closed down his office. He signed a recording contract with BMG/RCA with his cousin as “Cesar Y Juan” and spent the next several years recording, performing and promoting their album “Al borde de un ataque de amor”. Ironically, the song that clinched the “secular” deal was titled “Santa Maria”. He appeared and performed on television and radio as well as live on-stage before audiences in excess of 30,000. Prior to the September 11 tragedy he was asked to write a song for the Salvation Army, and “Share Your Light” was born. A simple song with a simple message - to share Christ's love. The song has been used in special Masses and in retreats throughout the Los Angeles Archdiocese and beyond. In 2003 he left BMG to pursue a more proactive role in service to our Lord.

He founded the Wings Music Ministry (WMM), whose primary purpose is to raise the volume of praise in this world through music. As a multi-layer ministry the WMM serves as a dispatch center sending music ministers to hospitals, jails, convalescent homes and to the home bound. Parish formation is another function of the WMM, where parish music ministries are guided through Cesar’s 40-Day Renewal process. Catholic and Ecumenical workshops and festivals are also conducted to educate, network, unite, motivate and inspire music ministers and the pastors who lead them to higher levels of ministry through music. In addition to leading worship at his parish of St. Monica, in Santa Monica California (one of the most vibrant parishes in the nation), Cesar personally drops in at liturgies/services at other parishes and churches on a weekly basis to sing and visit with fellow ministers. He says the only way to truly unite and help fellow music ministers is to foster and build “face to face” relationships.

He is a featured presenter and performer at parishes and retreats
throughout Southern California as well as the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the largest conference of its kind in the United States, and RENEW Theology on Tap, the hugely successful, nationwide young adult Catholic organization. Along with his parish community of St. Monica, Loyola Marymount University and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles he hosts the Annual 2-day “Leading With Passion!” Worship Music Conference + Festival in the Fall. He has had the honor of presenting his Christ-centered Christmas album “At the Heart of Christmas” to President George Bush while at Camp Pendleton Marine Base in Oceanside California. The president graciously thanked Cesar, saying, "One of the greatest things about America is that you can choose to be Christian".

In 2004, as one of only three American's on an Irish pilgrimage to Medjugorje Cesar was asked to sing for the pilgrims from around the world. He chose John Michael Talbot's “Only in God” for its message of strength and hope. He was later invited as the only non-clergy to attend the private visitation of our Blessed Mother in the home of the visionary Ivan. “An incredible, life changing experience I will never forget”, says Cesar. “With my eyes closed, as we nearly finished praying the rosary, out of a clear sky came a thunderous clap and immediately rain began to pour down, and with it my eyes were flooded with uncontrollable tears”.

He can be seen on EWTN, the largest religious media network in the world, transmitting programming 24 hours a day to more than 123 million homes in 140 countries.

Most recently Cesar was asked to sing before a huge gathering of 50,000+ Catholic pilgrims at the “Rosary Bowl”, the largest outdoor Rosary event in Southern California in over 50 years, held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

The youngest of nine children, Cesar strives to follow his mother's humble example of faithful and persistent service to Christ. When asked to describe himself, Cesar simply states, “My life is not my own, I live to glorify the Lord”. A humble but passionate servant, his music has moved and inspired individuals, audiences and congregations as divergent as a single elderly patient to participants at large youth gatherings.