"American Idol" Singer Jason Castro Signs With Atlantic Records

As American Idol's eighth season hits its home stretch with only seven singers remaining, a former Idol is making some news of his own: While many former Idol contestants have lost their record deals due to slow sales, Season Seven's third runner-up Jason Castro has inked a contract with Atlantic Records. The label will release the dreadlocked crooner's debut album later this year. Castro made AI history last season, becoming the first singer to play an instrument on the show (AI changed its rules to permit instrumentalists to show off their skills). He later topped the iTunes chart with his cover of "Over the Rainbow."

For his new album, Castro is working with writers like current Idol judge Kara DioGuardi — whose credits include Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera and Ashlee Simpson — and producer Jon Fields. Castro has also re-recorded the song that helped put him on the AI map: Jeff Buckley's mournful take on Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Castro's new version will appear on the soundtrack of the upcoming film Amar A Morir, a Mexican drama currently screening in Mexico.

Castro will join Season Seven alums David Cook (RCA), David Archuleta (Jive), who both have major-label record deals, as does semifinalist Josiah Leming, who is signed to Warner Bros. Finalist Amanda Overmyer released Solidify in December on indie Chile Records. Idols who have lost their record deals include Blake Lewis, Ruben Studdard, Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee. Other Idols continue to burn up the charts, like Clarkson, who recently ousted U2 from the top of the charts.

Related Stories:

• Jason Castro Overthrown on "American Idol"
• Jason Castro: "It's Nice To Be Doing Something Different"
• "Idol" Poll Reveals Carrie Underwood "Most Popular," Jason Castro "Most Overrated"

• 
  MUSIC Exclusive Live Chat With Linkin Park and Incubus
• 
  MOVIES & TV Peter Travers: 'The Avengers' Has it All
• 
  POLITICS Matt Taibbi: Jon Corzine Is the Original Zimmerman
• 
  VIDEOS Exclusive Premiere: Tenacious D's 'Tinnitus'

Song Stories

“Baby Got Back”

Sir Mix-a-Lot | 1992

While watching a Budweiser commercial during the Super Bowl, Sir Mix-a-Lot thought the skinny female models in the ad didn’t represent reality. So he wrote this ode to ample bottoms, featuring its famous to-the-point lyric: “I like big butts and I cannot lie.” MTV banished the video, featuring shaking booties and sexually suggestive fruit, to 9 p.m. or later. “I thought my career was over,” he told Rolling Stone. “Then I called Rick Rubin, and I told him the video was banned, and he was like, 'Great!' We sold another 2 million records.”

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter