After scouting the U.S. to find the most promising unsigned bands, Billboard has found three of the West’s best. With the votes tallied up, AJ Rafael is the finalist from this region! He will compete at the May 18 Battle of the Bands concert against the finalists from the other five regions. The ultimate winner will score an appearance at the Billboard Music Awards on May 22.

AJ Rafael talks Billboard Battle of the Bands

More about AJ Rafael
Moreno Valley, Califorinia native Arthur Joseph “AJ” Rafael began his singing career in 2004 when he wrote his first song. By the end of 2005, he had recorded his first own album. In 2006, AJ founded the MoVal Concert Chorale (MVCC), a choir he still directs. Since 2008, AJ has performed throughout the U.S. and in countries such as Australia, Canada, Austria and the Philippines. AJ Rafael has also amassed a large fanbase online, earning 280,000 YouTube subscribers, 40 million views on YouTube, more than 150,000 Facebook fans, 11 million plays on MySpace and 58,000 followers on Twitter. Currently, he performs with the AJ Rafael Band, with Noah Bartfield (bass), Jesse Barrera (guitar), Danny Morledge (drums). The group plans to release an album this summer, the first single from which is “We Could Happen.”