Genres

Cajun/ Zydeco

J.J. Usher knew from a very young age what his calling could be. As young as 3 years old he was wowing friends and family with his abilility to sing exactly what he heard on the radio. J.J. joined the world reknowned Houston Children's Chorus at the age of 7. He sang his first solo at the age of 8 in front of over two thousand people at Wortham Hall. In his 5 year stint with the choir, J.J. soloed for thousands of people including former President George Herbert Bush. Then puberty came and his high voice was gone,only to return later in life. But his passion formusic was not.

He picked up guitar at the age of 15and began to teach himself how to play. As a teenager, J.J. had his run-ins from time to time, but all in all he was the typical football, baseball, and choir kid. He jokes that he used to have to sing the national anthem in his football uniform then go outand try to knock someone's head off in the game.

J.J. attended Belmont University in Nashville, TN majoring in Music Business. This degree allowed him to learn the ins and outs of the recording industry from a behind the scenes point of view.

He interned at Epic Records, Mercury Records, Hamstein Cumberl and Publishing, and Web IV Music. J.J. wrote musicsecretly for a good 3 years in college.

Finally in his senior year he played his first show of original music to rave reviews from friends and family...they of course were biased but it gave J.J. confidence to continue.

J.J. won first prize in The Gibson Guitar Songwriting Contest 1999 with a song called "Bury Me."

Eventually J.J. started a band called LOWER LEVEL. Lower Level toured in over 25 states and played for thousands of people in their 4 years of existence, including being featured in ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE. In 2003 Lower Level broke up. J.J. was at a crossroads with music. He could have either started a different career or continue doing the same old stuff. He decided to compromise and just take a break. Something happened during this break however.He met Bryan Anderton, by pure chance, and was asked to join The Argyles as the lead singer. J.J. was in!!!

For the last two and a half years J.J. has fronted The Argyles while at the same time pursuing his original music. J.J. has played over 1200 shows in the past 8 years. He has shared the stage with Nappy Roots, Coolio, Cotton Mouth Kings, and will be playing with Bubba Sparx in Colorado this January for the LIFESTYLES SKI TRIP

.J.J. truly puts his "everything" in to his performances, creating a fan base across the country.

Currently J.J. has some of Austin's best musicians backing him on stage in The Argyles and he couldn't be happier to have them.

In his 20+ years of professional performance, Johnny Big has played virtually every style of popular music. From rock to country, funk to jazz, blues to tejano, Johnny has performed with a variety of musicians on stages all over the world.

With acts ranging from local (DysFunkshun Junkshun, Daniel Link, London Calling, and the Argyles) tonational (Ted Nugent, Billy Idol, Bo Diddley), Johnny has applied his proficiency on 6-string bass, lead and backing vocals,nd a variety of other instruments including guitar, drums and percussion, keyboards, and saxophone, a to create exciting and complimentary parts to the songs and a dynamic stage presence.

Piano Player extraordinaire... Alex Felen began studying classical piano at the age of 4. 

He continued all through his school years culminating with his acceptance to the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan for the summer between his junior and senior years in high school. 


 

Unfortunately, Alex started playing professionally  at the age of 14 with a touring Tejano act and this lead to his desire to be a world famous touring musician.  Little did he realize that it is hard to make rent and pay bills and support a millionaire life style on about $75 a night…stay in school kids. Alex now lives in Austin and throws it down with the Argyles as well as performing with his own group Clusterfunk. 

He is an accomplished, soulful singer, frontman and songwriter as evidenced by Clusterfunk's acclaimed CD "Songs From The Satchel,"that Bryan Anderton helped produce and master at his Lava Studios. His rich musical background has become a great asset to The Argyles' performances.

Alex also loves sitting in and jamming with anyone who will invite him on stage.  Again kids…stay in school.

At age 11, Brad Bradburn began his first instrument as a percussionist in the Edgar Martin Elementary Brass Band in the city Lafayette Louisiana.  

As his love for music progressed, other studies included guitar, piano, choir and finally bass guitar in 1993 after moving to Houston Texas.  

It was the following year (1994)  Bradburn made his first debut on bass with the ARGYLES.  In 1996 Brad went on to study Bass Performance at The Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, CA. 

Returning to Texas in 1997, Brad rejoined the ARGYLES in 1998not only as a bass player but also lending a hand with vocals and rhythm guitar. 

 "The ARGYLES is an institution of performance that has graced Texas and the surronding areas with over

You can also find Brad playing bass with his original jazz funk quartet GNAPPY.