Deen Castronovo

Drummer Deen Castronovo fulfilled a lifelong dream when he joined the band Journey in 1998. Born in the mid-1960s, Castronovo grew up listening to Journey and aspired to play with the band someday. Developing his natural musical talents at an early age, by the time he entered his teens, he was playing Journey songs in cover bands. Over the years, Castronovo has played with a variety of bands and individuals, including Bad English and Ozzy Osbourne, but, as he puts it, he didn't hesitate for a moment when offered a spot with Journey.

Outside of his musical career, Deen Castronovo pursues philanthropic work. He currently supports a number of music-focused programs as well as the Boys & Girls Clubs. A recent project involved outfitting a music room for a Boys & Girls Club teen center in Oregon near the neighborhood where Castronovo grew up. Other Journey members pitched in to donate musical instruments and a local company offered some equipment for a recording studio.

Castronovo himself was a member of a Boys & Girls Club growing up, and hopes to give something back to the community as well as encourage young people in their musical aspirations, something he did not receive as a young musician. In fact, he dropped out of high school after a music teacher discouraged him from pursuing drumming as a career. Instead, he immediately joined a band and has been touring ever since. He views organizations like Boys & Girls Clubs as important outlets for kids to express themselves, musically and otherwise.

Currently, Deen Castronovo is touring with the band and enjoying the resurgence in popularity that Journey has experienced in the last few years. At one point, "Don't Stop Believin'" was the No. 1 iTunes download of all time, and some of the band's most-well known hits continue to appear in TV shows and commercials, attracting a new demographic of young fans.