João Castilho was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1970 and started playing when he was 9 years old. His first contact with string instruments happened with groups formed by farmhands in his grandfather's ranch, that played "cavaquinho" (ukulele) using picks made of cow horn. At 13, encouraged by his father Alberto Castilho (trumpet player), he started to study music seriously.
         His debut as professional musician took place with a group, called Mr. Jazz, that he helped create in 1991 when he was graduating in Civil Engineering. With a jazz and MPB (Popular Brazilian Music) standards repertory, the group played for 2 years in many live music bars in Rio de Janeiro and was warmly received by audience and press. Later on he was invited by the keyboard player and music producer Fábio Fonseca to join his band, what opened to him the doors of Brazilian pop music. In 1993, called again by Fonseca, he had his first experience in studio recording with "Lôrabúrra", a very popular song, featuring the singer Gabriel Pensador. In the same year he also played in singer Nana Caymmi's CD "Bolero", his first work in MPB recording.
         In the beginning of ´94 the singer Ed Motta decided to put together a new band, inviting Castilho to be a part of it. He stayed with him for 2 years playing in shows all over Brazil and also in Europe.
         In 1995 João met the acoustic guitarist João Lyra who brought him to a closer contact with Brazilian acoustic guitar. After that, he was called by Lyra to form with him an acoustic guitar duo to work with singer Tânia Alves.
         Invited by the singer Sandra de Sá, Castilho had his first experience as a music director. It happened in 1997 in the show "A Lua Sabe Quem Eu Sou", with the general direction of Miguel Falabella. After presenting in Rio and São Paulo, with Castilho also playing the guitar, the show traveled all over Brazil.
         In the beginning of ´98 Castilho was called again by Ed Motta to be the music director and guitarist of his new show "Manual Prático para Bailes, Festas & Afins".
         In the end of this year Castilho had a great moment in his career when he was called to participate as a special guest in the singer Roberto Carlos´s show for the Rede Globo TV broadcast. With Robertinho do Recife and João Lyra he formed the acoustic guitar trio that played with the singer.
         In 1999, Castilho was invited by the arranger and trombonist Vittor Santos to be a part of his orchestra, the V.S.O.(Vittor Santos Orquestra), having, for the first time, the chance to play with a Big Band.
         Still in 1998 he was called by the singer and composer Djavan to join his band, doing shows all over Brazil and other in contries. With him, he played in his two albums "Bicho Solto, o XIII" and "Ao Vivo" (which selled more then 2 millions copies).
         In 1998 Castilho decided to record his own music on his first CD Equilibrium. An independent production with his compositions and arrangements.
         Castilho also released by Lumiar, with the bassist André Rodrigues and the drummer Renato Massa, the book Toque Junto .
         With Massa , Marcelo Martins (saxophone and flute) and Jefferson Lescowich (bass), Castilho is one of the members of the new group Foco, which released its first independent cd in August 2001, and the second one in February 2007 by record company Dubas .
         By the publisher company HMP, he also released the book called "Estudando Improvisação - a teoria explorada de forma musical". A new approach of how study improvisation.
         In 2006 Castilho was called by the swedish singer Lisa Nillson to join her on her cd called "Hotel Vermont 609". Recently, they record also the swedish percussionist Sebastian Notini a new trio project , whish will be released soon.
         Having also worked with  artists as Simone,  Sandy e Júnior, Zé Renato, Leny Andrade, Ivan Lins, Bárbara Mendes, Simone Guimarâes, among others, João Castilho is deeply involved with rhythm and melody. He is a guitarist who has fluency in many music styles, a musician who built a solid link between music and his instrument, always concerned in keeping this relationship free of any conflict. "I play as if singing, trying to use the same nuances of a human voice or a wind instrument" say Castilho. This thought shows a musician who has a commitment to music before he has to his instrument. Free of music prejudices, he is open to any kind of music that comes to him.

Castilho is endorsed  SG Strings strings and cables Santo Angelo.