As we reported a few months ago, Kings Go Forth has been talking to Luaka Bop Records, the label found two decades ago by David Byrne.
Just before the band took the stage at Turner Hall Ballroom this week, it finally inked a deal with the label for up to three records. The first one is guaranteed and the label has an option on the next two.
"We finally signed with Luaka Bop," singer Dan Fernandez told me, "and the president, Yale Evelev, was in attendance at our show."
Evelev and label publicist Heather West, who works out of Chicago, came up to Milwaukee Friday for the meeting -- contracts in hand -- and to see the show.
"We are super excited to sign Kings Go Forth," said Evelev via e-mail today. "This band has a knowing approach and a fantastic and emotional musical style that does what all good music should do when you listen, they make you happy."
Now, says Fernandez, the real work begins.
"It has been a long process, but now we can focus on the final recording and finishing of the album, and on the million-and-one other things that come with this new commitment! But we are very excited about it.
"First we have to get this album done, then who knows what the future will bring? Wish us luck! Thanks for the support and interest in what we're doing -- we'll get that album out as soon as we can!"
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.
