Dreadmar I

Mariano Javier Castro, known professionally as Dread Mar I, was born on January 31, 1978, in Quequén, Argentina. His early life saw him leave school in the seventh grade, subsequently moving to Maipú, Buenos Aires, to contribute to his father’s bakery business. After a decade in Maipú, he relocated to Buenos Aires, where his musical career began to take shape. In 2004, he collaborated with musician DreadGon on the song “Mi amor” and performed with the group Messengers Reggae on their 2005 album, “Luz.”

In 2005, Castro launched his solo career under the moniker “Dread Mar I,” releasing his debut album, “Jah Guia.” Concurrently, he served as a backup singer for the group Los Cafres. His collaboration with Argentine artist Guillermo Bonetto resulted in the 2006 album “Hermanos.” His international presence expanded in 2008 with performances in Chile and Uruguay, making him the most active Argentine reggae artist that year, completing 60 shows within eight months. The same year, he released his album “Amor-es.” In 2011, he received the “Best Reggae Video” award for his single “Mas alla de tus ojos” at the Quiero Awards.

His career progression continued with the release of “Viví en do” in 2010 and “Transparente” in June 2012. In 2015, Dread Mar I commemorated a decade of performing with a concert at the Galileo Galilei Planetarium, documented in the live album “10 años (en vivo),” which was released at Estadio Luna Park. In 2018, he recorded “Caminarás caminos” in Jamaica, collaborating with notable reggae artists. By 2020, his single “Tú sin mí” became the most-viewed Argentine song on YouTube, accumulating 550 million views. In October 2020, he held the top three positions for popular songs on YouTube among Argentine artists. His most recent album, “Yo,” was released in 2021, and an upcoming album, “A tempo,” is slated for 2025.