Lably
Skip to content

Music of Wisconsin

  • 7 min read
  • 2 chapters

Related on Lably

Through Blues

LabThe Colour AtelierLabBhindi Print WallLabRainbow Colors

Genres

Indigenous music

German- and Norwegian-American music

The 1830s and 1840s brought European dances like the schottische, waltz, galop and, most importantly, the polka. The 1840s also saw massive immigration from Germany to Milwaukee, which became known as Deutsche Athen (German Athens). Groups formed, such as the Milwaukee Musical Society, to celebrate ethnic German music. Some important figures from this era include Christopher Bach, Hans Balatka, Eugene Luening and Hugo Kaun.

While Germans moved to Milwaukee and eastern Wisconsin, Norwegians moved en masse to southern and western Wisconsin, and surrounding areas. Norwegian musicians, such as the violinist Ole Bull, were popular in Madison.

New Glarus and Monroe saw a host of Swiss immigrants settle in the mid-1800s. Much like their German counterparts, these Swiss people established polka societies, many of which are still active today.

Blues and jazz

Musical output came from Grafton, Ozaukee County during the 1920s when Paramount Records released a series of blues and jazz recordings by artists from the South.

Waukesha's Les Paul, enjoyed a long career as a blues, country, and jazz guitarist and musical innovator. known as the "Wizard of Waukesha" for his technological tinkering, was one of the pioneers of the solid-body electric guitar, helping to create the Gibson Les Paul and later the Gibson SG. Among the musicians he partnered with were his wife Mary Ford, with whom he recorded a version of How High the Moon in 1951. He also played with Jim Atkins, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters.

Drummer Viola Smith, from Mount Calvary, is best known for her work in swing bands and orchestras in the 1930-1940s. She appeared on Broadway, film, and television; including The Ed Sullivan Show on multiple occasions.

Jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader Woody Herman was born in Milwaukee.

Karen Borca, born in Green Bay, is an avant-garde jazz and free jazz bassoonist who studied music at the University of Wisconsin.

Pianist, composer, and bandleader Lynne Arriale was born in Milwaukee.

Punk rock, Emo, and Pop Pock

A cult favorite from the 1980s was the Violent Femmes from Milwaukee. Boris the Sprinkler was from Green Bay. New wave bands from Milwaukee included Couch Flambeau and The Stellas, later better known as hardcore punk band Die Kreuzen, who started in Rockford, Illinois, before relocating to Milwaukee. Madison, Wisconsin spawned the Tar Babies. Later, the noise rock band Killdozer became an indie rock group. Other notable punk rock bands from Wisconsin are Tenement, The Smerves, Arms Aloft, Avenues, Direct Hit, Mindlisp, and Masked Intruder.

Heavy metal

Since the late 1990s, Wisconsin has had an upsurge in heavy and extreme metal bands that have played across the state, often extending into the surrounding Midwest. Luna Mortis from Madison was signed by Century Media Records, Lazarus A.D. from Kenosha, Wisconsin was signed by Metal Blade, Jungle Rot from Kenosha, Wisconsin is currently signed to Napalm Records, and Product of Hate from Kenosha, Wisconsin signed to Napalm Records.

One-man death metal project Putrid Pile (Shawn LaCanne) resides in Racine, Wisconsin.

Madison has a vibrant Stoner Rock culture, producing bands such as Bongzilla.

Indie

Bon Iver from Eau Claire and Cory Chisel are from Appleton.

Hip hop

Well-known hip hop artists from Wisconsin include Coo Coo Cal, IshDARR, Brew City Ballas, Kinto Sol, and Streetz-n-Young Deuces.

Electronic Music

Haywyre resides in Milwaukee, WI.

Folk Music

Lou and Peter Berryman reside in Madison.

Pop Music

Singer and songwriter Ava Max is from Milwaukee. Her Albanian-born parents immigrated to the state after being given passports by a Wisconsin resident. She has performed at Milwaukee's Summerfest several times.


Sign in to keep reading

One more chapter is free with a Lably account.

More in History

Church of EnglandAnglican church in EnglandWhite HouseResidence and workplace of the US presidentFrench Third RepublicGovernment of France from 1870 to 1940Western cultureWestern culture, also known as Western civilization, European civilization, Occidental culEarly ChristianityHistorical era of the Christian religionOld NorseNorth Germanic language