Edwin Arturo Castellanos Mendoza, born on February 25, 1966, in Cochabamba, Bolivia, is a prominent musician and politician. He began his musical journey at the age of four, studying piano and later teaching himself to play the guitar left-handed due to his natural left-handedness. In 1980, at the age of 14, Castellanos founded the group Proyección Kjarkas, recording two albums with them. In 1983, he joined the renowned Bolivian band Los Kjarkas, contributing to the recording of twelve albums over approximately 11 years. Some notable albums include "Sol de los Andes," "Pueblos perdidos," and "El amor y la libertad."

In a bid to globalize Bolivian music, Castellanos, along with Gastón Guardia, Fernando Torrico, and Elmer Hermosa, formed the group Pacha under the direction of Argentine musician Bebu Silvetti, releasing the album "Por un mundo nuevo." After the dissolution of Pacha, Castellanos and Torrico established the group Tupay, which produced several albums, including "Tupay folklore" and "Sin fronteras," and founded their record label, Efecto Records.

Aside from his musical career, Castellanos served as the mayor of Cochabamba from June 1, 2010, to December 24, 2014, representing the Movimiento al Socialismo political party. As a musician, he is recognized for his contributions to popular and folk music in Latin America, with over 100 compositions recorded and appreciated worldwide.