AJ Castillo
Encyclopedia
Arturo Castillo, Jr. better known as AJ Castillo, is a Mexican-American Tejano
recording artist, accordionist, singer, performer, and producer. His debut album, “Who I Am”, was released in 2009, and his second album, “On My Way”, was released in 2010.
sound and style, and his visually customized accordions.Photo Photo In late 2008, he felt it was time to step to the front of the stage. He entered the Tejano scene as a solo artist in 2009 and has brought a “fresh new attitude to Tejano
Music”. With the release of his debut CD “Who I Am” and his 2nd and newest CD “On My Way”, he has introduced a fresh new urban/fusion sound (combining influences from Tejano
, Cumbia
s, Jazz
, Cajun
, and R&B
) that expands the boundaries of accordion music and has helped energize the Tejano scene.
. He was introduced to the accordion by his grandfather and started playing at around the age of 10 and began his professional music career at 13 with his family band. Today at the age of 24 and at the beginning of his solo career, the Tejano industry is recognizing the buzz surrounding this young musician. A "rising star" in the Tejano industry, he has accomplished many things in a short period of time. He has released two CDs “Who I Am” & “On My Way” and has won over many Tejano music fans Photo; within the first seven months of his solo career he was asked to perform at the 2009 Tejano Music Awards and in 2010 accepted his first Tejano Music Award; he is receiving airplay on Tejano stations across the nation (traditional and internet stations); he released an official video for his single “Todo Me Gusta De Ti”; he kicked-off the 2009 Tejano Music National Convention in Dallas, TX; and most recently, he became a three time award winner being named the Tejano Music Awards Best New Male Artist and the Tejano Academy's Best Accordion Player and Best Emerging Artist at the July 11, 2010 awards show in San Antonio, TX. Photo
Event held to raise schools supplies for kids who live in the more underprivileged areas in Austin, Texas.
Tejano music
Tejano music or Tex-Mex music is the name given to various forms of folk and popular music originating among the Mexican-American populations of Central and Southern Texas...
recording artist, accordionist, singer, performer, and producer. His debut album, “Who I Am”, was released in 2009, and his second album, “On My Way”, was released in 2010.
Life and career
Having spent several years as a studio musician and having recorded and performed with many of the Top Tejano artists in the industry, Castillo is known for his accordionAccordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
sound and style, and his visually customized accordions.Photo Photo In late 2008, he felt it was time to step to the front of the stage. He entered the Tejano scene as a solo artist in 2009 and has brought a “fresh new attitude to Tejano
Tejano music
Tejano music or Tex-Mex music is the name given to various forms of folk and popular music originating among the Mexican-American populations of Central and Southern Texas...
Music”. With the release of his debut CD “Who I Am” and his 2nd and newest CD “On My Way”, he has introduced a fresh new urban/fusion sound (combining influences from Tejano
Tejano music
Tejano music or Tex-Mex music is the name given to various forms of folk and popular music originating among the Mexican-American populations of Central and Southern Texas...
, Cumbia
Cumbia
Cumbia is a music genre popular across Latin America. The cumbia originated in the Caribbean coast of Colombia, where it is associated with an eponymous dance and has since spread as far as Mexico and Argentina...
s, Jazz
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
, Cajun
Cajun music
Cajun music, an emblematic music of Louisiana, is rooted in the ballads of the French-speaking Acadians of Canada. Cajun music is often mentioned in tandem with the Creole-based, Cajun-influenced zydeco form, both of Acadiana origin...
, and R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
) that expands the boundaries of accordion music and has helped energize the Tejano scene.
History / accomplishments
AJ Castillo is a native of Austin, Texas, and is a recent graduate of The University of Texas at San AntonioUniversity of Texas at San Antonio
The University of Texas at San Antonio, commonly referred to as UTSA, is a state university in San Antonio, Texas. With an enrollment of more than 30,000 students, it is the third-largest of nine universities and six health institutions in the University of Texas System and the eighth-largest in...
. He was introduced to the accordion by his grandfather and started playing at around the age of 10 and began his professional music career at 13 with his family band. Today at the age of 24 and at the beginning of his solo career, the Tejano industry is recognizing the buzz surrounding this young musician. A "rising star" in the Tejano industry, he has accomplished many things in a short period of time. He has released two CDs “Who I Am” & “On My Way” and has won over many Tejano music fans Photo; within the first seven months of his solo career he was asked to perform at the 2009 Tejano Music Awards and in 2010 accepted his first Tejano Music Award; he is receiving airplay on Tejano stations across the nation (traditional and internet stations); he released an official video for his single “Todo Me Gusta De Ti”; he kicked-off the 2009 Tejano Music National Convention in Dallas, TX; and most recently, he became a three time award winner being named the Tejano Music Awards Best New Male Artist and the Tejano Academy's Best Accordion Player and Best Emerging Artist at the July 11, 2010 awards show in San Antonio, TX. Photo
Discography
- Who I Am (2009)
- Features a special guest appearance by Tejano artist Ram Herrera.
- On My Way (2010)
- Introduces Castillo’s younger brother Sergio Castillo and features special guest appearances by Tejano artists David Lee Garza and Mark Ledesma.
Music videos
- 2009 "Todo Me Gusta De Ti" (Official Video)
- 2009 "Llorar Y Llorar" (Picture Video)
- 2010 "Es La Misma Mujer" (Picture Video)
Awards and recognition
- 2010 Tejano Music Awards Best New Male Artist Photo
- 2010 Tejano Academy’s Best Overall Accordion Player
- 2010 Tejano Academy’s Best Emerging Artist/Group
Philanthropic events
1st Annual AJ Castillo for Kids – September 16, 2010Event held to raise schools supplies for kids who live in the more underprivileged areas in Austin, Texas.