You probably couldn't tell, but for months I've been working hard to bring you the third installment of OnMilwaukee.com series of Milwaukee music CDs.
A few years ago, we dipped our toes in the water and released a CD with 17 local bands and artists on it, from Paul Cebar to Cincere to TemperTemper to Black Elephant and others. We launched it with a party at Hi-Hat Garage.
In no time at all, the supply of free discs was exhausted and we started working on the second disc, which arrived as a nice little holiday present in 2006. That one had New Sense, The Good Luck Joes, Testa Rosa and Ice Mone, alongside 13 other talented Brew City bands.
Again, we couldn't keep up with demand.
Lately, I've been working with Julie Lawrence to amass tunes by 16 more bands for the third installment, due in autumn. On the new one, you'll hear the likes of Decibully, Pezzettino and David Tomaloff, to name a few.
And this time we've upped our quantities so that more people can have their very own copy. Stay tuned for details on how you can get yours.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
