Arturo Castillo, Jr. (born October 16, 1994, 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 the 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. 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. Castillo entered the Tejano scene as a solo artist in 2009 and has brought a "fresh new attitude to Tejano Music". 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. Referred to as a "rising star" in the Tejano industry, Castillo has released five CDs: "Who I Am", "On My Way", "The New Movement", "Sin Límites", and his most recent release and self-entitled CD "AJ Castillo". Castillo performed at the 2009 Tejano Music Awards, and in 2010 accepted his first Tejano Music Award. In 2010 Castillo became a three time award winner, and was named the Tejano Music Awards Best New Male Artist, the Tejano Academy's Best Accordion Player, and Best Emerging Artist at the July 11, 2010, awards show in San Antonio, Texas. in 2016 the City of Austin proclaimed September 1 as AJ Castillo Day. On September 16, 2010, Castillo hosted the "1st Annual AJ Castillo for Kids" concert, an event held to raise school supplies for children who live in the more underprivileged areas in Austin, Texas. Castillo collaborated on the 2017 Latin Grammy Award winning Best Regional Song “Siempre Es Así”. Band members AJ Castillo - Accordion and Lead Vocals Sergio Castillo - Background Vocals Jon Everett - Guitar and Bajo Sexto Josh Woods - Bass