Armed 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 seventh season. Castro was the first artist to play an instrument on the show, and he utilized his guitar skills throughout the multi-month competition, accompanying himself during laid-back performances of "I Shot the Sheriff," "Daydream," and "Travelin' Thru." Although he ultimately finished behind rival competitors 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 prepared to issue his debut album later that year.