Fighting to Survive in the Music Industry

NUYORICAN JOHNNY CASTILLO, 32 (also known as Shy) vividly recalls the September 11 terrorist attack in New York City, a day that for him helped shape the rest of his life. “I wanted to do something for my country,” Castillo said. “The September 11 attacks hit me hard, so I joined the military.” After Castillo joined the army, he was sent to Afghanistan in 2004, where he became an infantry sniper fighting the Taliban for a year. He was later sent in Iraq for 15 months, but his tour was tragically cut short when a roadside bomb wounded him damaging the nerves to his arm and causing traumatic brain injury. He received the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat. Although he had to go through months of rehabilitation, he was fortunate to be alive. “I left my life in God’s hands,” Sergeant Castillo said. “I asked him to help me make it through and he answered my prayers.

Now, he hopes those same hands will also protect his father John, 53, who is fighting in Afghanistan. His father had been in the National Guard for more than 25 years, but rejoined after his sons enlisted in the military. Castillo’s younger brother, 25, who also fought in Iraq for 15 months, is now out of the military and has just become a NYPD officer.

Castillo not only went into battle for his country, but also has fought for his music career. At age 17, Castillo moved to Miami and started singing with Latin Rhythm Crew, a music group with Tito Puente, Jr., the son of the legendary Tito Puente, and his brother Jayquan Feliciano, now 40. Their debut album called “Guarachando,” released by EMI Latin in 1996, featured the classic song “Oye Como Va,” which won a Billboard award for best video. When the group parted ways, Castillo moved back to New York and started the group Mi Mayor, which lasted for a few years.