If you've ever stopped in for a coffee or pastry at Jitterz in Mission then you might know Gabriel de la Garza. He may have even prepared that coffee himself. Then perhaps you noticed a small rack of CDs off to the side with Gabriel's image on it, slightly out of focus and somewhat obstructed by a graphic of wings.

The unassuming coffeehouse owner not only has his own album, recorded and produced in Los Angeles, he's also an award-winning musician. In March this year, Gabriel was named as Male Artist of the Year from indieheaven.com and the Christian Independent Alliance, top organizations for Christian independent artists, and received his first Momentum Award. He was also nominated for Album of the Year and Worship Artist of the Year.

"I didn't expect that - Artist of the Year - to be honest," said Gabriel. "Not from among all those people."

Gabriel's debut I Need You (read our review of the CD) is the number one all-time album on indieheaven.com and is currently translating those songs into Spanish for an upcoming project.

He's conquered the indie side of Christian music; could he be holding a Dove Award next year?

"Who knows what could happen in the next year?" said Gabriel. "My goal is not to get signed. But if a label is able to sign me and able to do all the publicity and marketing for what we do, that'd be great, I wouldn't turn it down."

Amy Nichol Smith covers local music for Festiva and The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4420.

>>> Click here to read about a Valley Christian artist who has a gold record to her name