{{Infobox musical artist | name = AJ Castillo | image = AJ Castillo Photo 2021.jpg | image_size = 200px | caption = AJ Castillo in 2021 | birth_name = Arturo Castillo, Jr. | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|10|16}} | birth_place = Austin, Texas, United States | genre = cumbia, Tejano | occupation = Musician, Singer, Producer | instrument = Accordion, Vocals | years_active = | label = Yungstar Records (independent) | associated_acts = | website = www.ajcastillo.com/ }}
'''Arturo Castillo, Jr.''' (born October 16, 1986, in Austin, Texas), better known as '''AJ Castillo''', is an American singer of Mexican descent. He is a cumbia, and Tejano music recording artist, accordionist, singer, performer, and producer. His debut album, "Who I Am", was released in 2009. His second album, ''On My Way'', was released in 2010. Castillo won Best New Artist – Male at the 2010 Tejano Music Awards.
==Personal life== Castillo is a native of Austin, Texas, and is a graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. 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.
==Career== Castillo spent several years as a studio musician. Once referred to as a "rising star" in the Tejano industry,<ref name="Austin360" /> he has recorded and performed with many of the top Tejano artists in the industry. Castillo is known for his accordion sound and style, and his visually customized accordions.<ref name="Jul">{{cite web| url=http://galleries.austin360.com/gallery/accordion-player-j-castillo/#103442| title=Accordion player AJ Castillo| last=Robinson| first=Julia| date=August 4, 2010| work=Austin360.com| publisher=Austin American-Statesman/Cox Enterprises| accessdate=November 20, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805113111/http://galleries.austin360.com/gallery/accordion-player-j-castillo/#103442| archive-date=August 5, 2010| url-status=dead}}</ref> Castillo entered the Tejano scene as a solo artist in 2009 and has brought a "fresh new attitude to Tejano Music".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.woai.com/entertainment/story/Tejano-Music-Awards-in-S-A/2HjRlhBhB0elImz6QEr0xw.cspx |title=Tejano Music Awards in S.A. |date=July 16, 2009 |work=WOAI.com |publisher=Newport Television LLC |accessdate=November 20, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613202111/http://www.woai.com/entertainment/story/Tejano-Music-Awards-in-S-A/2HjRlhBhB0elImz6QEr0xw.cspx |archivedate=June 13, 2011 }}</ref> Castillo introduced a fresh new urban/fusion sound (combining influences from Tejano, Cumbias, Jazz, Cajun, and R&B) that expands the boundaries of accordion music and has helped to energize the Tejano scene.<ref name="Austin360">{{cite web | url=http://www.austin360.com/music/a-j-castillo-crafts-a-new-austin-sound-841242.html| title=AJ Castillo crafts a new 'Austin sound'|last= Gettleman| first= Parry| date=August 4, 2010| work=Austin360.com|publisher=Austin American-Statesman/Cox Enterprises|accessdate=November 20, 2010}}</ref><ref name="SANews3">{{cite web | url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/music/Newcomer_brings_lively_first_act_to_Tejano_Conjunto_Festival_93741829.html| title=Accordionist delivers lively kickoff to Tejano Conjunto Festival| last= Beal Jr. |first= Jim | date=May 13, 2010| work=San Antonio Express-News |accessdate=November 20, 2010}}</ref><ref>Patoski, Joe Nick. "The Accordions of Texas", ''No Depression #77: Surveying the Past, Present, and future of American Music'', March 2009, P. 34</ref>
Castillo has released five albums.<ref name="SANews3"/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/slideshows/29th_Annual_Tejano_Conjunto_Festival_en_San_Antonio.html?c=n#10| title=29th Annual Tejano Conjunto Festival en San Antonio (AJ Castillo Austin performs)| last= Whitney |first= Jennifer | date=May 13, 2010|work=San Antonio Express-News |accessdate=November 20, 2010}}</ref> Castillo performed at the 2009 Tejano Music Awards, and in 2010 accepted his first Tejano Music Awards in 2010, winning Best New Male Artist, Best Accordion Player, and Best Emerging Artist.<ref name="Academy Awards">{{cite web | url= http://quepasa995.com/2010/07/12/30th-annual-tejano-music-awards-winners/|title=30th Annual Tejano Music Awards Winners| date=July 12, 2010| work=KKPS Que Pasa 99.5 FM| publisher=Entravision Communications|accessdate=November 20, 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20101128023544/http://quepasa995.com/2010/07/12/30th-annual-tejano-music-awards-winners/| archivedate= November 28, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> in 2016, the City of Austin proclaimed September 1 as AJ Castillo Day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Digital |first=Tejano Nation |date=2016-09-02 |title=AJ Castillo honored by 'Live Music Capital' with AJ Castillo Day |url=https://tejanonation.net/2016/09/02/aj-castillo-honored-by-live-music-capital-with-aj-castillo-day/ |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=Tejano Nation |language=en}}</ref>
Castillo was featured on Juan Treviño's “Siempre Es Así”, which won the 2017 Latin Grammy Award for Best Regional Song.<ref>{{Cite web |title=18.a Entrega Anual del Latin GRAMMY {{!}} LatinGRAMMY.com |url=https://www.latingrammy.com/premiacion/18a-entrega-anual-del-latin-grammy-2017 |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=www.latingrammy.com |language=es}}</ref>
== Band members == * AJ Castillo - Accordion and Lead Vocals * Sergio Castillo - Background Vocals * Jon Everett - Guitar and Bajo Sexto * Josh Woods - Bass * Daniel Sandoval Jr - Drums and Percussion * Arturo Castillo - Alto Sax * Alex Pulido - Trumpet and Keyboards
==Discography and videography== * ''Who I Am'' (2009) - features a special guest appearance by Tejano artist Ram Herrera. * ''On My Way'' (2010) introduced Castillo's younger brother, Sergio Castillo, and features special guest appearances by Tejano artists David Lee Garza and Mark Ledesma. * ''The MixTape'' (2011) * ''Up Close and Personal'' DVD (2012) * ''The New Movement'' (2012) * ''Sin Límites'' (2014) * ''AJ Castillo LIVE from Tucson, AZ'' DVD/Blu-Ray (2016) * ''AJ Castillo'' (2018) * ''Live From Lubbock Texas'' (2020) * ''An Accordion Christmas'' EP (2020) - features a special appearance by Grammy Award Winning Contemporary Jazz/R&B artist Norman Brown.
==Awards and recognition== * 2010 - Tejano Music Awards Best New Male Artist <ref name="TTMA">{{cite web |title=Tejano Music Award Past Award Winners |url=http://www.tejanomusicawards.com/awards-show/past-award-winners |accessdate=November 20, 2010 |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716204314/http://www.tejanomusicawards.com/awards-show/past-award-winners |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Academy Awards"/> * 2010 - Tejano Academy's Best Overall Accordion Player <ref name="Academy Awards"/> * 2010 - Tejano Academy's Best Emerging Artist/Group <ref name="Academy Awards"/> * 2017 - Latin Grammy Award winning Best Regional Song “Siempre Es Así” * 2021 Premios Tejano Mundial Entertainer of the Year * 2021 Tejano All Star Music Awards Male Entertainer of the Year
==References== {{reflist|35em}}
==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.ajcastillo.com}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Castillo, AJ}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:American accordionists Category:American musicians of Mexican descent Category:Singers from Texas Category:Spanish-language American singers Category:Tejano pop musicians Category:Tejano accordionists Category:21st-century American accordionists Category:21st-century American singers Category:21st-century American male musicians Category:Hispanic and Latino American musicians