Jason Castro

With an acoustic guitar, dreadlocks, and a flower child disposition, Jason Castro spun his singer/songwriter appeal into a fourth place finish during American Idol's 2008 season. Castro was the first artist to play an instrument on the show, and he used his guitar skills throughout the competition, accompanying himself during laid-back performances of "I Shot the Sheriff," "Daydream," and "Travelin' Thru." Although he ultimately finished behind rivals Sayesha Mercado, David Archuleta, and David Cook, Castro still displayed his commercial potential with a pair of iTunes hits, including a ukulele-helmed version of "Over the Rainbow" that topped the iTunes charts. He then parlayed that success into a major-label deal with Atlantic Records, who signed the artist in April 2009 and issued his debut album the following year. Five tracks from that album also appeared on Who I Am, Castro's first contemporary Christian album, which appeared in November 2010. ~ Andrew Leahey, Rovi