J.R. Castillo

“Music has been a big part of my life, my entire life,” says Texas musician J. R. Castillo. While a lot of artists can say the same, the influence of music on Castillo’s life began years before he was born.

When Castillo’s father was a boy, he idolized his brother who was nine years older and in the Navy. Castillo’s uncle would come home on leave from the Navy and play guitar on the front porch, and Castillo’s father aspired to play just like his older brother. Tragically, his uncle lost his life serving in the Navy and his father—now the oldest son and responsible for his family—never learned to play like he wanted.

“As he got older [my father] said, ‘If I ever have a son, I want to put a guitar in his hands and make sure he learns to play,’” Castillo says, and to honor the brother he lost, Castillo’s father put a guitar into his son’s hands at a very early age.

His mother also loved music. She encouraged him to sing and find harmonies as she introduced him to all kinds of music, and both his father and mother—a “closet poet” and “grammar queen,” respectively—encouraged their son to write. It was no surprise then when their son was fronting bands and performing his own music by the time he was 13.

With the bands he was in during middle and high school, Castillo would work his own original music into sets of well-known covers at parties and festivals, and the reaction was always very positive. “It always seemed that every time I’d announce, ‘Here’s a song that I wrote,’ it immediately drew people in, which caught my attention,” Castillo recalls. “I saw that people all the sudden weren’t just out there dancing and having a good time, their attention was on the song that I’d written. The reaction of those first few folks—they don’t realize it, the influence they had—as they were out there listening and giving me those words of encouragement after they heard the songs, it really encouraged me to continue with the song writing. It really set me on the path that I’m on today.”

Despite his early success, he didn’t immediately run off to Nashville to pursue a record deal; his family assumed that first he would get a college education, though they encouraged him to continue with his music while doing so. However, avoiding the temptation to quit college wasn’t easy when record labels started showing interest during his sophomore year.

“It kind of scared my folks a little bit, because they thought that I was just going to stop everything and pack my bags and move to Nashville. It just seemed like the right thing at that point in time.”

It was the advice of friend Casey Monahan at the Texas Music Office that persuaded him he could do both, a decision he’s happy with in retrospect: “I often look back at that moment and I know that it didn’t have as huge an impact. If I had moved over there, it wouldn’t have made much of a difference. I was still able to do everything they wanted us to do, but at the same time we were still able to take care of things at home and I was able to continue my education.”

Over the last 15 years—through his formative years, his time at the University of Texas, and up to the present day—Castillo has written over a thousand songs for himself and other artists, 25 percent of which are in Spanish. His songwriting strays from that of many other artists, as his music is often more specific and personal than other artists’ music.

“A lot of the stuff is based on life experiences and stuff that I’ve gone through, personal stories,” Castillo says of his songwriting. “I try to take actual stories and actual experiences and lay them out in that three and a half minute length of a song.”

For Castillo, the joy of songwriting isn’t in mass appeal, but connecting on a deeper, more-personal level with his listeners. “I want to write about real things,” he says. “It’s not so much about writing the basic love songs where everybody can relate. I want to write about stuff that people out there listening can actually hold on to and say, “That’s my song. That guy wrote that song about my life and what I’m going through.”

His latest single, “The Flip Side of Sober,” was released on July 4, and is apart of a full CD release entitled The Hombre that Castillo expects to be released in late September. Other songs on the 16-track album include the classic Leo Sayer hit, “More Than I Can Say” (one of his mother’s favorites), and unofficial Texas High School football anthem, “Any Given Friday.”

“Some of my fellow artists and writers are like, ‘Man you’re nuts. You’re the only one who would serve up that many songs in one project,’” Castillo remarks. “But hey, it’s music. I’m cranking it out. I feel blessed to be able to write as much as I do. It gives me an opportunity to share some of myself with the fans.”

By Andrew Miller, Nashville Music Guide
- Nashville Music Guide

“J.R. Castillo and Unwound are one of the best kept secrets on the Country Music Scene.”
-Fort Worth Star-Telegram

“Only one question comes to mind- why aren’t these guys playing to sold out arenas?”
-Houston Chronicle

“J.R. Castillo is one of Texas Country Music’s Treasures. Music Row can only stand to make up for lost time by launching this legitimate country artist!”
-The Tennessean

“J.R. Castillo’s music provides a shot of pure adrenaline that the world of country music has long needed.”
-Billboard

“J.R. Castillo & Unwound are SOLIDLY the BEST country act the Coastal Bend has to offer. There is no comparison. Period.”
-Corpus Christ Caller-Times

“J.R. Castillo is one of the hottest country music artists to come from the Rio Grande Valley. We are Castillo Country Proud!”
-Mid Valley Town Crier

“The only difference between J.R. Castillo & Unwound and someone like Tim McGraw or Pat Green is the proverbial ‘being at the right place at the right time. His work on stage is powerful.”
-Victoria Advocate

“Judging from his SXSW appearance, J.R. Castillo has the right stuff for a successful run in the music business. Overall, J.R. Castillo and Unwound are a force to be reckoned with on the live country music scene.”
-Dallas Morning News

“…Flawless on the mic. You can sit there with your back turned to the stage and swear that you had George Strait, Gary Alan, Tim McGraw, Cody Canada, Pat Green, TG Shepard and Gary Stuart on stage together. Never mind the fact that you catch yourself humming his originals for the next week or so.”
-Austin American Statesman

“Without a doubt, J.R. Castillo and Unwound’s live performance is impressive. They are a welcomed treat to the live country music scene of the Rio Grande Valley.”
-Valley Morning Star

“…the Real deal. There’s no denying the talent J.R. Castillo and Unwound bring to stage and the effectiveness of their performances to create instant fans. Truly second to none.”
-The Monitor

“J.R. Castillo is one of the strongest and most versatile vocalists on the live country music scene.”
-Alice Echo News

“A one two punch of great vocals and great songwriting skills make J.R. Castillo and Unwound one of country music’s hottest emerging artists.”
-The Daily Texan

“…a pure artist in every respect…J.R. Castillo and Unwound’s sound is a welcomed refresher to the congested Texas Music Scene.”
-The Battalion

Bee County Picayune
- Various

Austin, Texas- As the sun set on the last Friday of winter in Austin, you could sense something new in the air and it wasn’t the advent of spring. The annual South-By- Southwest Music Conference was in full swing and I found myself at one of the modern-era’s Texas Landmarks- the Broken Spoke.

There were five bands on the bill that night, but one in particular set themselves apart from the rest of the pack. J.R. Castillo, a native of South Texas, and his band Unwound, took command of the stage for all of 40 minutes, but their performance left a lasting impression on all in attendance.

J.R.’s showcase was loaded with great music. From the endearing “Surviving Emily” to his female-pleasing “I Want The Fairytale”, J.R. had enough of the progressive punch to compare him with the likes of Tim McGraw and Keith Urban. On the other hand, J.R. catered to the traditional and honky-tonk contingency with songs like “In Case You Were Wondering” and “Dancehall Romance” that conjured visions of a young George Strait and Kevin Fowler. In showing off his softer side, J.R.’s “She’ll Be Back Tomorrow”, a song he dedicated to Monique Terrell, a friend who has passed on, was heartfelt and true. It was only to be outdone by J.R.’s two best songs of the night, the Spanish flavored bilingual, “Cantinero” and the hard-driving knock your boots off, “Goin’ To San Antone”. The latter add credence to J.R.’s overall impression as an artist and his ability to have defined his own musical style and persona.

J.R.’s rich and deep voice was captivating from start to finish. Along with a polished delivery, J.R. has the cowboy good looks and the stage charisma to compliment his superb vocal talent. Having written or co-written all of the songs he performed, J.R. also demonstrated writing skills that even the seasoned Nashville songwriter would envy. His energy on stage kept you locked in to his every move as he went from song to song, and when all was said and done, he left his audience wanting more.

As if that wasn’t enough, J.R. has surrounded himself with a great group of musicians. His drummer, Mike Collins, and his keyboard player, Richard Sanchez, are the foundation of his sound. Their musicianship would compliment any national touring act. Their musical savvy was more than evident on and off stage. His dual guitar section of Skip Hernandez and Luis Martinez, work well together. Their one, two punch gives the band the edge that drives J.R.’s music. Their talents compliment each other. J.R.’s fiddle player, Bonnie Riley, played well and showed signs of greatness throughout the showcase. Although the youngest in the band, Miss Riley held her own with the seasoned veterans. At last, his bass player, Jim Fox was consistent with his playing. Although he encountered a bit of memory loss at the intro to “I Want The Fairytale”, he locked in well with the rest of the rhythm section the rest of the night. Without a doubt, Unwound is one of the most solid and tight nit bands on the circuit.

Overall, J.R. Castillo’s SXSW showcase was undoubtedly one of the best performances at this year’s conference. It would be easy to get lost in the mix of the nearly 1,000 acts showcasing this year, but as a result of J.R.’s marketing genius, the conference was covered with orange t-shirts bearing his name. His booth at the trade show was voted “Best Artist Booth” and was the talk of the conference from session to session. It’s no wonder that he’s been able to push 160,000 CD sales in two years and receives over 5,000 hits a day on his website. Is it all marketing and hype? That would be easy to assume, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. Just come out to one of his shows. By the end of his performance, J.R. Castillo will make a believer out of anyone. There is definitely something in the air around here. Stay tuned!
- Best In Country Music News

COUNTRY MUSIC INVADES CORPUS CHRISTI
Griggs and Rogers Shine, but the “J.R. Castillo & Unwound Experience” Steals the Show
By Jill Terhune

On most Saturday nights in Corpus Christi, Texas, it isn’t hard to find a concert or two around town to satisfy the appetite of the live music seeker. This Saturday however, presented a potential train wreck for venues with four high profile country shows in town.
In Annaville, the VFW held a concert featuring country legends Johnny Bush and Darrell McCall. The folks at Concrete Street Amphitheater boasted the biggest bill with Texas Sweetheart Allie Danielle, South Texas own J.R. Castillo & Unwound and RCA’s Andy Griggs. Over at the Executive Surf Club, they played host to the Eli Young Band with the Randy Rogers Band headlining the show, while down the road Graham Central Station played host to Texas Country Crooner Wade Bowen and West 84.
In an attempt to cover as many shows as possible, we started our night early at the VFW and caught the first part of the Johnny Bush and Darrell McCall show. The crowd was thin when the show kicked off, but it began to build shortly after that. Comprised of a mostly senior crowd of 55 and older, the show provided a no frills-no nonsense approach to entertaining. The show was good and was a slice right out of the Louisiana Hayride days of old.
Our next stop took us to Concrete Street Amphitheater where the 2,200 in attendance were busting the seams of the patio. We caught the tail-end of Miss Allie Danielle’s show, as she played to an inattentive crowd who seemed to be waiting for the headlining Andy Griggs. Though the Austin-native has built a name for herself in the Central Texas area, Miss Danielle was a virtual unknown to the Corpus Christi crowd. As she ended strong with the title cut of her self-released CD “The Next Big Thing”, the crowd still remained unmoved by her performance and her stage exit just about went unnoticed.
As we waited for J.R. Castillo & Unwound, the sandwich act of the lineup, to take the stage, we began to walk around the venue to get a feel of the crowd. The more we walked the more we noticed that several people were donning J.R. Castillo & Unwound T- Shirts, caps and other memorabilia. What really caught us by surprise is when we asked the staff at Concrete Street where their merchandise was being sold. To our surprise, J.R. & Unwound didn’t have a merchandise booth set up at all.
When Unwound’s piano player hit the first rumbling E note on his B3 organ, the crowd immediately swarmed the stage in anticipation. Still believing that they had a case mistaken identity, we assumed the crowd would subside after they realized it wasn’t Andy Griggs up next. To our surprise, a literal roar came from the crowd as K99’s jocks introduced the band and J.R. took the stage.
For the next hour, the J.R. Castillo & Unwound Experience rocked the house. His requests of “Somebody Scream!” were answered by the pro-J.R. & Unwound crowd with deafening roars. Song after song Mr. Castillo remained energized, passionate and flawless on the microphone. From the performance of their first #1 single on the Texas Charts “Surviving Emily” to his Texican flavored “Cantinero, Cantinero”, J.R. Castillo & Unwound left the crowd hollering for more. They proved to be an act that Andy Griggs would soon find hard to follow.
Anytime you have a Nashville country act on the bill, they are usually the main attraction on any country concert lineup- especially when you’re talking about RCA’s Andy Griggs, who is in the midst of the success of his latest single “If Heaven”. Griggs has always fared well in Corpus Christi and one would assume the crowd was just using J.R. & Unwound’s show as a warm-up for Griggs. To our disbelief though, the crowd began to thin rapidly after J.R. & Unwound left the stage. Curious, we asked members of K99’s staff and Concrete Street’s staff why the people were leaving before Griggs started. The overwhelming reason seemed to be “the crowd was here to see J.R. Castillo & Unwound”. I’m sure that this isn’t the first time that an under card has upstaged the main attraction, but this was a first for us. The crowd of 2,200 had thinned to around 500 and you had J.R. Castillo and Unwound to thank. I’m sure George Strait,
Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney were in J.R.’s shoes at one time doing the same thing.
The Andy Griggs show was very good despite the decline in the number still in attendance. As always, the pureness of Griggs vocals lit up the stage and those of us who remained were treated to a great show. From his early hits like “You Will Never Be Lonely” and “I’ll Go Crazy”, to his show stopping “If Heaven”, Andy Griggs was true to form. His career looks as strong and as bright as ever.
Our next stop was at the infamous Executive Surf Club, the hub of live Texas Music where the Eli Young Band and the Randy Rogers Band, were on the bill. Unfortunately for the Eli Young Band, we missed their show. However, when we walked into the patio area of the Surf Club, we found a standing-room-only crowd singing along to the sounds of the Randy Rogers Band. A staple on the Texas Music scene, Rogers & Co. catered to their crowd with a slew of originals that included his latest hit “Tonight’s Not The Night”. With a rugged voice very reminiscent of Gary Allan, Rogers seemed to captivate the crowd until the final call at around 12:15 am. He shows definite signs of greatness that compare to fellow Texans Pat Green and Kevin Fowler.
Last but not least, we made our worn out way to Graham Central Station to catch the last set of the Wade Bowen and West 84 show. Although the parking lot was packed, we found its Country bar, Denim & Diamonds, to be sparsely occupied. Wade Bowen seemed to be winding down as we sat down, but we did get to hear him rattle off two very good tunes with “Get Away” and “Just For Fun”. Apparently Bowen and the boys had already played “Get Away” to kick off his show, but we were pleased to hear him play it again. With a sound that conjures up visions of the Allman Brothers and Molly Hatchet, these guys are pure Texas Adrenaline Hick Rock. It turned out to be a good end to a long night.
We had a blast going from show to show throughout the night. We covered a lot of ground and a lot of music, but wouldn’t you know it, that on our last two stops at the Surf Club and at Graham’s we encountered several folks with J.R. & Unwound T-Shirts. Corpus Christi is a big place with live music everywhere. That has to say something more than the J.R. Castillo & Unwound Experience stole the show on this Country packed Saturday night. It has to be said that he’s on the verge.
- AP-By Jill Terhune