It’s been a brutal summer for the Milwaukee music scene.
We’ve lost the likes of Cecilio Negron Jr., Blackwolf and Matt Norberg – who during their long careers here were also bandmates in Kings Go Forth – percussionist Jahmes Finlayson and Velvet Whip founding member Dan Ball.
Now, we’ve also lost Michael De Boer, who was active in the music scene here for 30 years, playing in Longacre and Panalure, among others.
De Boer’s family and friends will host a musical celebration of his life on Friday, Aug. 11 from 6 until 10 p.m. at Riverwest Pizza, 932 E. Wright St.
As noted on the Facebook event page, “Michael had a wide net of friends, new and old, spanning many parts of his life. And everyone he knew touched his kind heart in their own special way.
“If anyone has photos they would like to share of Michael over the years, please share them on this page.”
Condolences to friends, families, bandmates and everyone who knew Michael, Dan, Jahmes, Cee-Lo, Matt and Blackwolf.
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.
