Jason Castro: unique and talented

By: Stephanie Rancier

Posted: 3/19/08

We're taught not to judge a book by its cover, but what about people? Some may want to turn the other way or hold their wallet tighter when they see someone with tattoos or piercings, however some of the most talented and genuine people can look very different than the average joe. Jason Castro, an Aggie known for his long dreadlocks and unique voice, is a finalist on "American Idol."

"He is more than just a guy with dreads," said junior Bryan Walker, a friend of Castro's. "A lot of people could just judge him by that and stereotype him, but he's a really smart guy. He's more than just a unique person, he's a really good guy."

Castro's friend, Laura Allen from College Station, said Castro is a very laid back individual with a rich Colombian heritage. Walker said that Castro's family and his faith are extremely important to him and help him through his time on "American Idol."

"Really, I'd say he's a man of God," Walker said. "He's always talking about his family and his faith and how much of an impact his family's had on him."

Allen said that Castro comes from a very musically inclined family and has always loved music. At the beginning of his college career, Castro played drums for Keeping Lions, a rock band based out of Dallas. Then he learned how to play guitar and started writing his own music.

"One day, he was passing around the guitar with his family and they heard him sing," Allen said. "They were like, 'Jason, you're really good. You need to try out for American Idol.'"

Castro hadn't been singing long before he tried out for "American Idol." He played drums in his heavy rock band and was on the MTV reality show, "Cheyenne," but he's only been singing for a short time. Though Castro didn't perform much by himself in public, he did perform for his friends.

"He'd come over to mine and my roommate's house and put on a little concert for about six of us," Walker said. "We would sit out on our back porch, smoke cigars and just listen to him serenade us."

Walker said Castro would play just about any kind of music, but that his friends really enjoyed listening to him play his own songs. Castro's favorite song is "Someday," which he wrote for a girl. He draws inspiration from a lot of various

musicians, but is primarily drawn to the lyrics.

"He's really into song writing and the lyrics in songs," said Allen. "He's not just into good beats. He really likes good songwriters and meaningful songs."

Castro has gained a lot of support from Aggies and has built a fan base in Oklahoma as well. Allen said that she and her friends at Oklahoma University get everybody to watch and vote for him and even her grandmother votes as much as she can. In Aggieland, Castro's friends from the Aggie Men's Club had a huge watching party when he made the top 24 and used Facebook to encourage people to support him.

"When he made the top 24, we had a ton of people and put a projector up in the back yard and we all voted until we couldn't anymore," Walker said. "Unfortunately we can't have a party every week, but we'll watch him every week and vote, sometimes we TiVo it and vote before we see the show."

Castro's friends keep in touch with him and said his schedule has been hectic with the show. Allen said the contestants have photo shoots, interviews, rehearsals and other events all the time. Though he's extremely busy, He is enjoying being on the show and getting to meet influential musicians.

"He said it's very crazy, but he's very excited," Allen said. "He's gotten to meet some really cool people like Jim Carrey, Blake Lewis, who was on American Idol last season, and Garth Brooks."

Castro was initially overwhelmed by the attention and especially the interviews but he's become more comfortable talking in front of a lot of people. Allen said Castro is genuinely thankful for all the support he's been getting from his Aggie family.

"My mom went around A&M and filmed a bunch of people saying things like 'Go Jason!' and we're going to give it to him this week," Allen said. "He's got a lot of Aggie support and we need a lot of people to vote for him to make the top 10."

If Castro stays in the competition through this week and makes the top 10, he will automatically be apart of the "American Idol Summer Tour." Performing in the A.I. Tour is a great way for the contestants to make connections in the music industry and possibly a record deal. Castro's Aggie friends said that even though his

success could take him away from Aggieland, they fully support him and pray for him daily.

"I honestly don't know if he'll come back to A&M," Walker said. "If he makes it pretty far he's going to pursue that career, and maybe one day he'll come back to get his education, but he loves A&M and he loves everything about it."

Many of Castro's friends, such as class of 2007 former student Andrew Milner, said they weren't surprised when he tried out for the show. Milner see's Castro as a warm, welcoming person who is a joy to spend time with. Castro's friends said he is just like he seems during the interviews - a little shy, but an exceptionally talented and friendly person.

"What people see on television is pretty much how Jason is," said Milner. "He loves to sing, and he's basically nervous up there all the time. But when he's in his element, which is music,?he?shines."