Music of Milwaukee
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Milwaukee has a long history of musical activity. The first organized musical society, called "Milwaukee Beethoven Society" formed in 1843, three years before the city was incorporated. This was later replaced with the Milwaukee Musical Society.
The large concentrations of German immigrants contributed to the musical character of the city. Saengerbund festivals were held regularly. Also notable is the founding of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in 1899.
Venues such as Pabst Theater, Marcus Amphitheater, Riverside Theater, The Northern Lights Theater, and The Rave frequently bring internationally-known and critically acclaimed acts to Milwaukee.
Milwaukee has enjoyed a vibrant history of rock, jazz, soul, blues, punk, ska, industrial music, goth, hip hop, electronica and pop music bands. Some musicians who have risen out of the Milwaukee scene to regional and national prominence are Coo Coo Cal, Rico Love, Jerry Harrison, Woody Herman, Liberace, saxophonist Warren Wiegratz, blues giant Hubert Sumlin, the BoDeans, Maritime, Violent Femmes, Citizen King, The Gufs, Fever Marlene, Streetz & Young Deuces, The Promise Ring, Little Blue Crunchy Things, Eric Benét, Al Jarreau, Oil Tasters and Koala Taxi. The city is also home to Beer City Records, a local punk rock label.
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[edit] Rock
Milwaukee's rock scene has been nationally recognized as one of the most dynamic and growing in the America. Acts like Violent Femmes, Citizen King, The Gufs, Fever Marlene, The Promise Ring, Little Blue Crunchy Things and Woolton Parrish have all been based out of Wisconsin's brew city.
[edit] Hip Hop
Milwaukee's hip hop scene has received national recognition, most recently when Black Elephant was featured in the "Unsigned Hype" section of "The Source" magazine. Streetz & Young Deuces, also featured in "The Source" Magazine in the "off The Radar" section has brought much in the way of international and national attention to Milwaukee.[1] Other notable Milwaukee hip hop acts include the Rusty Ps, Taste Emcees, Scottie Knoxx, Mayhem Entertainment, Def Harmonic, and Growing Nation. In 2001, Coo Coo Cal's "My Projects" became the first commercially successful single by a Milwaukee hip hop act since Arrested Development strung together a set of hits in the early 1990s. Rico Love, who spent most of his childhood in Milwaukee and claims the city as his hometown, gave it even more recognition in the hip-hop circle, with his signing to Usher's Us Records and releasing his hit single "Settle Down" from the soundtrack to In the Mix.
[edit] Jazz
Milwaukee's jazz scene has produced many nationally recognized artists including Al Jarreau, Brian Lynch, Jon Weber, Carl Allen, Eddie Allen, Lynne Arriale, Billy and Mark Johnson, Russ Johnson, John Sullivan, and Juli Wood. Several other jazz masters have held Milwaukee ties through the years, including Melvin Rhyne, Bunky Green, George Braith, Woody Herman, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Many Chicago musicians make the trek to Milwaukee to play at the city's many jazz clubs, such as Jazz Estate, Caroline's, Blu, and ARJ's. Many restaurants also feature live jazz. Milwaukee hosts the Third Ward Summer Sizzle (recent headliners have included John Faddis, David Sanchez, Herbie Mann, Delfayo Marsalis, Kevin Eubanks, Jack McDuff, Chris Botti, Ernie Watts), The Hal Leonard Jazz Series at the Pabst Theater, and the popular weekly summer jazz series "Jazz in the Park".
[edit] Club
Milwaukee is also home to a thriving club scene booking regular international DJs such as Richie Hawtin, LTJ Bukem, Mark Farina, Derrick Carter and The Founder of The CORE Dj's, Tony Neal. In the early 1990s, the city was home to a vibrant rave scene, especially fostering hardcore techno, thanks to Drop Bass; but the scene dwindled after reactions by local authorities. Milwaukee is also a center of the breakcore scene with labels such as Addict Records and Zod Records.
