music history

Bad Bunny wanted to share the history of Puerto Rico on his latest album. So his team made a call to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. That’s where a professor was ready to share the island’s history of colonization and radical politics.

Jazz drummer and vibes player Mitchell Shiner is leading a project called Latkes Con Salsa, a live concert series and album featuring traditional Hannukah tunes with Latin rhythms. (And a little Christmas music at the live concerts too!)

Through vocal harmonies, guitar, and drums, Sway Wild intersects rock, pop, funk and folk — all centered around exploring what they describe as our own inner wilderness.

Liberace is arguably one of Wisconsin's most famous sons. Yet there's no monument — or even a plaque — dedicated to his memory in his hometown of West Allis.

The month of June commemorates Black music's impact in this country and around the world, from musical genres to instruments and lyrics.

WUWM's Xcaret Nuñez, Nadya Kelly and Maayan Silver sat down to discuss the songs sung by women that make them feel like they could move mountains, and a lot of WUWM staff also chimed in.

David Fantle shares over 40 years of knowledge on Judy Garland's forgotten gem, Summer Stock, in new book entitled, C’mon, Get Happy: The Making of Summer Stock.

Milwaukee lays claim to the first known Black-American woman cantor or singer of Jewish prayer music. Gladys Mae Sellers grew up in Milwaukee in the late 1800s and moved to New York and became Goldye Steiner. Milwaukee advocates are bringing attention to her story.

In 1938, the heir of the Blatz Brewing Company wanted to bring his love of classical music to Milwaukee. Emil Blatz provided $100,000 for the construction of a bandshell that would soon become a temple of music.