Jorge 'Doctor Music' Castro
- Music Department
- Composer
- Sound Department
Born and raised in San Jose, Costa Rica, Jorge is a well known experienced and respected professional in the music industry. Son of an architect and an English teacher, started in music at the age of 5 when his mother found him on his father's Yamaha organ playing what he called the TV song which was Costa Rica's National Anthem and that he had learned to play by himself.
Since then music has taken him in on an endless journey to four continents where he has become a multi talented singer, songwriter, composer, producer, recording engineer, arranger, film scorer and voice-over artist. He is part of THE Latin music crossover history becoming a founder, voter and Blue Ribbon Nominations Review Committees member for the Latin GRAMMY's. Awards show that he has attended to almost every edition.
EARLY LIFE AND CAREER
He was only eight when he won the 1st place at the Yamaha National Organ Festival in 1979 with an arrangement of "Star Wars". He won first place again in 1980.At his early 20's he auditioned and became a tenor singer for the Costa Rica National Symphony and Lyric Choirs and also became a member of the Angelus Choir.
With the Angelus Choir he participated in the World Peace Festival with Latin artist like Roberto Carlos and Flans and performed in the famous Mexican TV Show Siempre en Domingo with Raul Velazco and also the OTI contest in Acapulco, Mexico where Jorge was one of the composers and orchestra director for the song Todo es para ti which became one of the 10 best songs of the contest.
Castro has also been the composer of the song Por nuestros niños for the World Children Organ Transplant Foundation and the song Una Esperanza official song of the 1995 Costa Rica Telethon.
ADVERTISING WORLD
In the advertising world, he has composed and produced more than 1500 jingles and scores for major international brands from Central America, Mexico, The Caribbean and USA. Additionally Castro has won several awards for his productions among them a first place on the Marconi Awards 2000 presented by the Costa Rica National Radio Chamber. As a voice over artist he has been the voice for brands like Yamaha and American Express and recorded the Spanish version of Proyecto Hydros produced in Brazil.
YAMAHA
Jorge has a long-term relationship with Yamaha; from selling musical instruments, to being hired by Yamaha Latin America at the 2000 NAMM Show in Los Angeles as a new product demonstrator for countries like Dominican Republic, Colombia (Medellin and Bogota), Panama, Puerto Rico and Cuba (Habana and Varadero).
TELEVISION
In 2002 he gave his first steps in TV on the first Reality Show ever produced in Costa Rica for the most important TV channel of the country. Castro was a judge/coach and became part of the audition of 2134 female singers to form the next new girl band. He was also the composer of the show's main theme Quiero Llegar and the producer of 3 of their debut CD songs for Sony Music Central America at World Beat Productions in Calabasas, California, with the complicity of his friend and studio owner, the talented multi GRAMMY® Award winner KC Porter. For the show he interviewed famous Latin stars like Juanes, Laura Pausini, KC Porter, Alejandro Lerner and CNN presenter and correspondent Ana Maria Montero to name a few.
AND THE GRAMMY GOES TO...
Castro is a founder and a voting member of the Latin GRAMMY® Awards where he collaborated in developing the membership for Costa Rica and has attended almost every one of the 16 Latin GRAMMY® Awards editions. He also attended the GRAMMY in the Schools event, and MusiCares Person of the Year Dinners honoring Emilio Estefan Jr., Julio Iglesias, Gilberto Gil, Vicente Fernandez, Carlos Santana, Jose Jose and Joan Manuel Serrat to name a few.
He was a member of the first and second Latin GRAMMY Blue Ribbon Nominations Review Committee in Santa Monica, CA. at the Casa del Mar and Beverly Hilton Hotels with artist like Kike Santander and Alejandro Lerner.
As a member of the GRAMMY® Awards he has also attended the 41st, 45th and 56rd GRAMMY Awards ceremony and the Person of The Year Dinner Honoring BONO from U2. Other personalities that night included President Bill Clinton, Ashley Judd, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Robert DeNiro, Salman Rushdie, David Bowie among others. In 2005 he was the producer and presenter of the Latin Grammy Special a 40 minute TV show about the 6th Latin GRAMMY Awards.
In 2003 his first instrumental CD "Journey" was released and distributed by Universal Music Central America and presented by the NEOTROPICA Foundation one of Costa Rica's most respected and visionary NGO's that preserves the Natural Resources of the country or what Costa Ricans call "OUR GREEN GOLD".
A major break came in 2004 for this production when Costa Rica's President Abel Pacheco invited Jorge to perform the music of Journey for His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the presidential palace of Costa Rica.
In 2009 the album "Un Arco Iris De Sabor" was released written for Lula the Cow, one of the most beloved characters in Costa Rica. Jorge was the producer, singer, arranger, background vocalist, engineer and mastering engineer for this album. GRAMMY.com
In 2011 his song UN MAR DE AMOR (A sea of love) was featured as the main story in the article MUSIC FOR JAPAN written for the official web page of the GRAMMY Awards® (GRAMMY.com) that highlighted efforts made by musicians around the world like Lady Gaga, Linkin Park and Avril Lavigne in solidarity with Japan after the earthquake and tsunami suffered by that nation.
In 2011 he was invited by the Costa Rican Association of Authors and Composers to be a part of the jury for their ACAM music awards, the most prestigious in the country. Later that year his song Te Escribire was featured in the award winning Mexican motion picture CARTAS A ELENA, filmed in Chiuahua, Mexico and featured in theaters from Canada to Argentina and Spain.
In 2012 Oscar Award winner Gustavo Santaolalla and superstar Gloria Estefan responded a call from Jorge to help Fundamentes, an NGO that keeps children in phsycosocial risk away from the streets in dangerous neighborhoods in Costa Rica through music therapy and the arts. In 2013 one of the most admired TV anchors and journalists in Latin America, Ismael Cala from CNN en Español accepted an invitation from Jorge to visit Costa Rica. He was so impressed by the country's nature that he wrote a column about his beautiful journey.
In addition to his work, Jorge has been a key ambassador for his country and loves to show personalities why the country is a leader in the preservation of nature and an example of peace to the world for not having an army for almost 70 years.
2014 was a great year, the Costa Rican Association of Authors and Composers (ACAM) nominated Jorge in the Best Instrumental Album of the Year category, for the album Nana from his duo Origami. Nana also became the first record production in Costa Rica award the official brand of the country Essential Costa Rica and the first album certified Mastered For iTunes (MFiT) since Doctor Music Recording Studios became the first in Central America approved by Apple to implement their protocol in the albums mastered in the studio.
Jorge scored the music of one episode and the main theme for the TV Series MISTERIOS that aired that same year in CINELATINO in the United States and Latin American markets.
He also became a speaker for the UNICEF campaign MUSICA PARA LA NIÑEZ (MUSIC FOR OUR CHILDREN) and he performed as a DJ to honor Real Madrid's first goalkeeper Keylor Navas. That same year he was featured by the famous Hola Magazine for his experiences with music and attending the GRAMMY Awards and his duo Origami was the only artist invited to play at the VIP of Sir Paul McCartney's memorable concert in Costa Rica.
PERSONAL LIFE
In 2015 one of the most special moments of his life came true when he and his girlfriend Irene, became parents of a sweet baby girl they named Isabella.
RECENTLY
With Origami he was in TV Shows 7 Estrellas, Habitat and the morning show Giros. In February 2016 The Recording Academy presented Jorge with a certificate in appreciation and recognition of 15 years membership signed by President/CEO Neil Portnow.
Also in 2016 Castro plans to release a compilation album to celebrate 22 years of professional career and 40 years dedicated to music featuring very important musicians to celebrate and thank his family, friends and media who have supported him over these years of dreams, achievements and struggles.
"It's been an amazing journey, I have enjoyed every second and don't regret anything. If I was to be born again and God rewarded me with the gift of music, which is already an honor, I would choose to be a musician again. I will continue with more strength, chasing the magic that music creates, fulfilling dreams, delivering more feelings and paying back with good melodies the tireless support of my family, friends, and business partners to whom I will be forever grateful". Jorge Castro's music can be found online at CD Baby page and the Apple iTunes, Shazam,
Spotify, and many other online stores.
Since then music has taken him in on an endless journey to four continents where he has become a multi talented singer, songwriter, composer, producer, recording engineer, arranger, film scorer and voice-over artist. He is part of THE Latin music crossover history becoming a founder, voter and Blue Ribbon Nominations Review Committees member for the Latin GRAMMY's. Awards show that he has attended to almost every edition.
EARLY LIFE AND CAREER
He was only eight when he won the 1st place at the Yamaha National Organ Festival in 1979 with an arrangement of "Star Wars". He won first place again in 1980.At his early 20's he auditioned and became a tenor singer for the Costa Rica National Symphony and Lyric Choirs and also became a member of the Angelus Choir.
With the Angelus Choir he participated in the World Peace Festival with Latin artist like Roberto Carlos and Flans and performed in the famous Mexican TV Show Siempre en Domingo with Raul Velazco and also the OTI contest in Acapulco, Mexico where Jorge was one of the composers and orchestra director for the song Todo es para ti which became one of the 10 best songs of the contest.
Castro has also been the composer of the song Por nuestros niños for the World Children Organ Transplant Foundation and the song Una Esperanza official song of the 1995 Costa Rica Telethon.
ADVERTISING WORLD
In the advertising world, he has composed and produced more than 1500 jingles and scores for major international brands from Central America, Mexico, The Caribbean and USA. Additionally Castro has won several awards for his productions among them a first place on the Marconi Awards 2000 presented by the Costa Rica National Radio Chamber. As a voice over artist he has been the voice for brands like Yamaha and American Express and recorded the Spanish version of Proyecto Hydros produced in Brazil.
YAMAHA
Jorge has a long-term relationship with Yamaha; from selling musical instruments, to being hired by Yamaha Latin America at the 2000 NAMM Show in Los Angeles as a new product demonstrator for countries like Dominican Republic, Colombia (Medellin and Bogota), Panama, Puerto Rico and Cuba (Habana and Varadero).
TELEVISION
In 2002 he gave his first steps in TV on the first Reality Show ever produced in Costa Rica for the most important TV channel of the country. Castro was a judge/coach and became part of the audition of 2134 female singers to form the next new girl band. He was also the composer of the show's main theme Quiero Llegar and the producer of 3 of their debut CD songs for Sony Music Central America at World Beat Productions in Calabasas, California, with the complicity of his friend and studio owner, the talented multi GRAMMY® Award winner KC Porter. For the show he interviewed famous Latin stars like Juanes, Laura Pausini, KC Porter, Alejandro Lerner and CNN presenter and correspondent Ana Maria Montero to name a few.
AND THE GRAMMY GOES TO...
Castro is a founder and a voting member of the Latin GRAMMY® Awards where he collaborated in developing the membership for Costa Rica and has attended almost every one of the 16 Latin GRAMMY® Awards editions. He also attended the GRAMMY in the Schools event, and MusiCares Person of the Year Dinners honoring Emilio Estefan Jr., Julio Iglesias, Gilberto Gil, Vicente Fernandez, Carlos Santana, Jose Jose and Joan Manuel Serrat to name a few.
He was a member of the first and second Latin GRAMMY Blue Ribbon Nominations Review Committee in Santa Monica, CA. at the Casa del Mar and Beverly Hilton Hotels with artist like Kike Santander and Alejandro Lerner.
As a member of the GRAMMY® Awards he has also attended the 41st, 45th and 56rd GRAMMY Awards ceremony and the Person of The Year Dinner Honoring BONO from U2. Other personalities that night included President Bill Clinton, Ashley Judd, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Robert DeNiro, Salman Rushdie, David Bowie among others. In 2005 he was the producer and presenter of the Latin Grammy Special a 40 minute TV show about the 6th Latin GRAMMY Awards.
In 2003 his first instrumental CD "Journey" was released and distributed by Universal Music Central America and presented by the NEOTROPICA Foundation one of Costa Rica's most respected and visionary NGO's that preserves the Natural Resources of the country or what Costa Ricans call "OUR GREEN GOLD".
A major break came in 2004 for this production when Costa Rica's President Abel Pacheco invited Jorge to perform the music of Journey for His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the presidential palace of Costa Rica.
In 2009 the album "Un Arco Iris De Sabor" was released written for Lula the Cow, one of the most beloved characters in Costa Rica. Jorge was the producer, singer, arranger, background vocalist, engineer and mastering engineer for this album. GRAMMY.com
In 2011 his song UN MAR DE AMOR (A sea of love) was featured as the main story in the article MUSIC FOR JAPAN written for the official web page of the GRAMMY Awards® (GRAMMY.com) that highlighted efforts made by musicians around the world like Lady Gaga, Linkin Park and Avril Lavigne in solidarity with Japan after the earthquake and tsunami suffered by that nation.
In 2011 he was invited by the Costa Rican Association of Authors and Composers to be a part of the jury for their ACAM music awards, the most prestigious in the country. Later that year his song Te Escribire was featured in the award winning Mexican motion picture CARTAS A ELENA, filmed in Chiuahua, Mexico and featured in theaters from Canada to Argentina and Spain.
In 2012 Oscar Award winner Gustavo Santaolalla and superstar Gloria Estefan responded a call from Jorge to help Fundamentes, an NGO that keeps children in phsycosocial risk away from the streets in dangerous neighborhoods in Costa Rica through music therapy and the arts. In 2013 one of the most admired TV anchors and journalists in Latin America, Ismael Cala from CNN en Español accepted an invitation from Jorge to visit Costa Rica. He was so impressed by the country's nature that he wrote a column about his beautiful journey.
In addition to his work, Jorge has been a key ambassador for his country and loves to show personalities why the country is a leader in the preservation of nature and an example of peace to the world for not having an army for almost 70 years.
2014 was a great year, the Costa Rican Association of Authors and Composers (ACAM) nominated Jorge in the Best Instrumental Album of the Year category, for the album Nana from his duo Origami. Nana also became the first record production in Costa Rica award the official brand of the country Essential Costa Rica and the first album certified Mastered For iTunes (MFiT) since Doctor Music Recording Studios became the first in Central America approved by Apple to implement their protocol in the albums mastered in the studio.
Jorge scored the music of one episode and the main theme for the TV Series MISTERIOS that aired that same year in CINELATINO in the United States and Latin American markets.
He also became a speaker for the UNICEF campaign MUSICA PARA LA NIÑEZ (MUSIC FOR OUR CHILDREN) and he performed as a DJ to honor Real Madrid's first goalkeeper Keylor Navas. That same year he was featured by the famous Hola Magazine for his experiences with music and attending the GRAMMY Awards and his duo Origami was the only artist invited to play at the VIP of Sir Paul McCartney's memorable concert in Costa Rica.
PERSONAL LIFE
In 2015 one of the most special moments of his life came true when he and his girlfriend Irene, became parents of a sweet baby girl they named Isabella.
RECENTLY
With Origami he was in TV Shows 7 Estrellas, Habitat and the morning show Giros. In February 2016 The Recording Academy presented Jorge with a certificate in appreciation and recognition of 15 years membership signed by President/CEO Neil Portnow.
Also in 2016 Castro plans to release a compilation album to celebrate 22 years of professional career and 40 years dedicated to music featuring very important musicians to celebrate and thank his family, friends and media who have supported him over these years of dreams, achievements and struggles.
"It's been an amazing journey, I have enjoyed every second and don't regret anything. If I was to be born again and God rewarded me with the gift of music, which is already an honor, I would choose to be a musician again. I will continue with more strength, chasing the magic that music creates, fulfilling dreams, delivering more feelings and paying back with good melodies the tireless support of my family, friends, and business partners to whom I will be forever grateful". Jorge Castro's music can be found online at CD Baby page and the Apple iTunes, Shazam,
Spotify, and many other online stores.