Issue date: 3/19/08 Section: Aggielife

Media Credit: Fred Lambuth [Click to enlarge]

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

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