Milwaukee has a long history of musical activity. The first organized musical society, called "Milwaukee Beethoven Society" formed in 1843, three years before the city was incorporated. This was later replaced with the Milwaukee Musical Society.

The large concentrations of German immigrants contributed to the musical character of the city. Saengerbund festivals were held regularly. Also notable is the founding of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in 1899.

Venues such as Pabst Theater

Pabst Theater

The Pabst Theater is an indoor concert venue and landmark of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. Colloquially known as "the Pabst", the theater hosts about 100 events per year...

, Marcus Amphitheater

Marcus Amphitheater

The Marcus Amphitheater is an amphitheater on the south end of the Henry Maier Festival Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The amphitheater was built after an extremely overcrowded concert in 1984 to carry crowds of 25,000 fans during concerts...

, Riverside Theater

Riverside Theater (Milwaukee)

Riverside Theater is a concert hall, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The venue, which has seats for 2,460 people and hosts many different musical artists and shows...

, The Northern Lights Theater, and The Rave

The Rave

The Rave / Eagles Club is a concert venue in the United States and landmark in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Rave hosts touring bands from across the globe.-Divisions:...

 frequently bring internationally-known and critically acclaimed acts to Milwaukee.

Milwaukee has enjoyed a vibrant history of rock, jazz, soul, blues, punk, ska, industrial music, goth, hip hop, electronica and pop music bands. Some musicians who have risen out of the Milwaukee scene to regional and national prominence are Coo Coo Cal, Rico Love

Rico Love

Richard Preston Butler, Jr. , better known by his stage name Rico Love, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. Love wrote and produced hit records such as Usher’s "There Goes My Baby" and "Hey Daddy ”, Nelly's "Just a Dream" and "Gone", Beyoncé Knowles' "Sweet Dreams"...

, Jerry Harrison

Jerry Harrison

Jerry Harrison is an American songwriter, musician and producer...

, Woody Herman

Woody Herman

Woodrow Charles Herman , known as Woody Herman, was an American jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading various groups called "The Herd," Herman was one of the most popular of the 1930s and '40s bandleaders...

, Liberace

Liberace

Wladziu Valentino Liberace , best known simply as Liberace, was a famous American pianist and vocalist.In a career that spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, motion pictures, television and endorsements, Liberace became world-renowned...

, saxophonist Warren Wiegratz

Warren Wiegratz

Warren Wiegratz is a saxophonist who has been named Reed/Brass Instrumentalist of the Year by the Wisconsin Area Music Industry Awards eleven times. Wiegratz is proficient on eight instruments and has been featured in the Saxophone Journal, The Leblanc Bell, and the Roland Users Group...

, blues giant Hubert Sumlin

Hubert Sumlin

Hubert Sumlin is an American Chicago blues and electric blues guitarist and singer, best known for his celebrated work, from 1955, as guitarist in Howlin' Wolf's band. His singular playing is characterized by "wrenched, shattering bursts of notes, sudden cliff-hanger silences and daring rhythmic...

, the BoDeans

BoDeans

The BoDeans are a rock band formed in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1983 by Kurt Neumann and Sam Llanas . In 1985, after adding a drummer and a bassist, the band signed a contract with Slash Records and recorded their first album...

, Maritime, Violent Femmes

Violent Femmes

Violent Femmes were an American alternative rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, initially active between 1980 and 1987 and again from 1988 to 2009...

, Citizen King

Citizen King

Citizen King was an American music group from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, whose style was a mix of hip-hop, soul and punk. They are best known for their top 40 hit "Better Days ", which peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1999....

, The Gufs

The Gufs

The Gufs are an American pop and rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The band's latest album A Different Sea was released on October 17, 2006...

, Eyes To The Sky, Fever Marlene

Fever Marlene

Fever Marlene is a rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Fever Marlene released their much buzzed about album titled, Civil War on Rev Pop Records. The band has toured with the bands such as The Flaming Lips, Social Distortion, The Redwalls, Donita Sparks, Gavin Rossdale, and Tapes N Tapes...

, Streetz & Young Deuces, The Promise Ring

The Promise Ring

The Promise Ring is an American emo band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In their early years, their music was usually classified as emo, but their later albums could be described more accurately as indie pop. They split up in 2002 and temporarily reunited in 2005...

, Little Blue Crunchy Things

Little Blue Crunchy Things

Little Blue Crunchy Things was an American rock/jazz group from the Milwaukee, WI area. During their decade-long performance career , LBCT were a hit among audiences and the local press due to their unique mix of jazz, rock, blues, funk, and hip hop music.LBCT formed in the late 1980s, but began...

, Eric Benét

Eric Benét

Eric Benét, is an American singer. His duet with Tamia, "Spend My Life With You" was a number one song for three weeks on the US Billboard R&B chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2000....

, Al Jarreau

Al Jarreau

Alwin "Al" Lopez Jarreau is a seven-time Grammy Award winning jazz singer.- Background :Jarreau was born in Milwaukee, the fifth of six children. His web site refers to Reservoir, Inc., the name of the street where he lived. His father was a Seventh-Day Adventist Church minister and singer, and...

, Oil Tasters and Koala Taxi. The city is also home to Beer City Records, a local punk rock label.

Rock

Milwaukee's rock scene has been nationally recognized as one of the most dynamic and growing in the America. Acts like Violent Femmes

Violent Femmes

Violent Femmes were an American alternative rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, initially active between 1980 and 1987 and again from 1988 to 2009...

, Jaill

Jaill

Jaill is an indie rock band formed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2002. The band consists of Vincent Kircher, Austin Dutmer, and Andrew Harris. Their music is described as psych-pop, with up-beat guitar and punk music matched with dark lyrics...

, BoDeans

BoDeans

The BoDeans are a rock band formed in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1983 by Kurt Neumann and Sam Llanas . In 1985, after adding a drummer and a bassist, the band signed a contract with Slash Records and recorded their first album...

, Citizen King

Citizen King

Citizen King was an American music group from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, whose style was a mix of hip-hop, soul and punk. They are best known for their top 40 hit "Better Days ", which peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1999....

, Die Kreuzen

Die Kreuzen

Die Kreuzen was a rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin which was formed in 1981. The name is broken German for "the crosses", and was picked up by the band from a German Bible...

, The Gufs

The Gufs

The Gufs are an American pop and rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The band's latest album A Different Sea was released on October 17, 2006...

, Fever Marlene

Fever Marlene

Fever Marlene is a rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Fever Marlene released their much buzzed about album titled, Civil War on Rev Pop Records. The band has toured with the bands such as The Flaming Lips, Social Distortion, The Redwalls, Donita Sparks, Gavin Rossdale, and Tapes N Tapes...

, The Promise Ring

The Promise Ring

The Promise Ring is an American emo band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In their early years, their music was usually classified as emo, but their later albums could be described more accurately as indie pop. They split up in 2002 and temporarily reunited in 2005...

, Little Blue Crunchy Things

Little Blue Crunchy Things

Little Blue Crunchy Things was an American rock/jazz group from the Milwaukee, WI area. During their decade-long performance career , LBCT were a hit among audiences and the local press due to their unique mix of jazz, rock, blues, funk, and hip hop music.LBCT formed in the late 1980s, but began...

 , Woolton Parrish,and Test Pilot have all been based out of Wisconsin's brew city.Indie/Punk record label Snapdragon Records

Snapdragon Records

Snapdragon Records is a LLC business founded by New Berlin West Alumni Kristan Harris in the U.S. State of Wisconsin in 2002. The concept originated in 1999 and put in action 2002. The label is focused on indie talent, primarily punk, emo, ska, hardcore, and experimental music. Most fall into the...

,Founded by Kristan Harris

Kristan Harris

Kristan Harris is the founder, President & CEO of Snapdragon records He founded the label in 2002 in Wisconsin, USA. The label has since grown to include Success stories of I Voted For Kodos & A Farewell Rescue. Harris has contributed to dozens of releases the label has put out.- Personal life...

 in 2002 ex member of Member of Subdue a Pop/Punk/Ska band from milwaukee featured on Van's Warped Tour 2003 has been a staple and helped legitimize milwaukee's presence in the 00's in the nation music spotlight..

Record Labels

Snapdragon Records

Snapdragon Records

Snapdragon Records is a LLC business founded by New Berlin West Alumni Kristan Harris in the U.S. State of Wisconsin in 2002. The concept originated in 1999 and put in action 2002. The label is focused on indie talent, primarily punk, emo, ska, hardcore, and experimental music. Most fall into the...

Milwaukee is also where Snapdragon Records

Snapdragon Records

Snapdragon Records is a LLC business founded by New Berlin West Alumni Kristan Harris in the U.S. State of Wisconsin in 2002. The concept originated in 1999 and put in action 2002. The label is focused on indie talent, primarily punk, emo, ska, hardcore, and experimental music. Most fall into the...

 is located which has gained substantial recognition nation wide with national distribution through SONY/RED/MRI.Their artists have been featured on Van's Warped Tour, MTV,Fuel,Fuse summerfest.Origonally a pop punk label that has adapted through out the years with the genre. They have historically supported several notable wisconsin artists including Madisons skacore artist I Voted For Kodos

I Voted for Kodos

I Voted for Kodos was a ska punk and pop punk band, signed to Snapdragon Records.- History :They were founded in Madison, Wisconsin in 1999, after singer-trombonist Rick Bisenius met guitarist Chris Holoyda at a Reel Big Fish concert. They began playing together when the members were in high...

, Pop Rock artist The Starrs,MIlwaukee's The Response and have featured Milwaukee artists on nationally distributed compilations such as Since By Man,Bosio,Subdue,The Response,Red Letter DiariesTemper Temper

Temper Temper

Temper Temper is an Album by Eric Gooden & Melanie Williams released in 1991.-Track listing:#Talk Much#First Impressions#Like We Used To#Temperance#Don't Wanna Have to Ask You#Happy Days#It's All Outta Lovin' You#Stop on By#Sweet as Can Be...

.SDR also supports the community with their sponsorship locally of the rock for life blood drives usually hosting the event driving kids with their live concerts.

Punk/Ska/Emo

Milwaukee is noted for many Pop Punk/ska artists such as The Promise Ring,Eighty-D,5 o'Clock Charlie,Pavlov's Dogs, SECW(Straight Edge Crack Whores),The Oakwoods,The Response,Bosio,Subdue,Molitor,Idle 13, and many other artists.

Hip Hop

Milwaukee's hip hop

Hip hop

Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...

 scene has received national recognition, most recently when Black Elephant was featured in the "Unsigned Hype" section of "The Source

The Source (magazine)

The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...

" magazine. Streetz & Young Deuces, also featured in "The Source

The Source (magazine)

The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...

" Magazine in the "off The Radar" section has brought much in the way of international and national attention to Milwaukee. They are currently sponsored by Crunk Energy Drink

Crunk Energy Drink

CRUNK!!! Energy Drink is a non-alcoholic energy drink that was co-created and launched in 2004 by Sidney Frank, creator of Grey Goose vodka and founder of Sidney Frank Importing Company , along with Lil’ Jon, the Grammy award winning artist and producer who is still onboard with Crunk as its Chief...

.

Other notable Milwaukee hip hop acts include, Tank (American singer)

Tank (American singer)

Tank is an American R&B singer, songwriter and producer.-Career:Tank was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and moved with his family as a child to the Washington, D.C. suburb of Clinton, Maryland. He was a multi-sport athlete at Crossland High School and was offered the opportunity to play college...

, Rico Love

Rico Love

Richard Preston Butler, Jr. , better known by his stage name Rico Love, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. Love wrote and produced hit records such as Usher’s "There Goes My Baby" and "Hey Daddy ”, Nelly's "Just a Dream" and "Gone", Beyoncé Knowles' "Sweet Dreams"...

, Coo Coo Cal, Gerald Walker, the Rusty Ps

Rusty Ps

The Rusty Ps is a hip hop/rap group based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Initially known as the Rusty Pelicans after forming in 1995, its membership currently consists of Phantom Channel , Count Classic , S Watson , and Madhatter ....

, Kid Cut Up, Brew City Ballas and Haz Solo. In 2001, Coo Coo Cal's "My Projects" became the first commercially successful single by a Milwaukee hip hop act since Arrested Development

Arrested Development (hip hop group)

Arrested Development is an American alternative hip hop group, founded by Speech and Headliner as a positive, Afrocentric alternative to the gangsta rap popular in the early 1990s.-History:...

 strung together a set of hits in the early 1990s.

Rico Love

Rico Love

Richard Preston Butler, Jr. , better known by his stage name Rico Love, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. Love wrote and produced hit records such as Usher’s "There Goes My Baby" and "Hey Daddy ”, Nelly's "Just a Dream" and "Gone", Beyoncé Knowles' "Sweet Dreams"...

, who spent most of his childhood in Milwaukee and claims the city as his hometown, gave it even more recognition in the hip-hop circle, with his signing to Usher

Usher (entertainer)

Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...

's Us Records and releasing his hit single "Settle Down" from the soundtrack to In the Mix

In the Mix (film)

In the Mix is a 2005 American crime-comedy film starring R&B/pop singer Usher. It was released in the United States on November 23, 2005, the film being targeted at the traditionally large Thanksgiving weekend audience....

.

Milwaukee is also where the Core DJ's began. Milwaukee native, The CEO of the Core DJ's & radio DJ, Tony Neal started Core in Oct of 2004. Since then, The Core DJ's has become the largest coalition of urban DJ's in the world with over 500 DJ's worldwide.

Jazz

Milwaukee's jazz

Jazz

Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...

 scene has produced many nationally recognized artists including Al Jarreau

Al Jarreau

Alwin "Al" Lopez Jarreau is a seven-time Grammy Award winning jazz singer.- Background :Jarreau was born in Milwaukee, the fifth of six children. His web site refers to Reservoir, Inc., the name of the street where he lived. His father was a Seventh-Day Adventist Church minister and singer, and...

, Brian Lynch

Brian Lynch (musician)

Brian Lynch is a Grammy Award-winning New York based Jazz trumpeter, currently touring and recording as a member of the Phil Woods Quintet and Eddie Palmieri's Afro-Caribbean Jazz group, as well as leading his own groups and appearing with various other bands including the "Latin Side Of Miles"...

, Jon Weber

Jon Weber

Jon Weber is a New York City and Chicago-based jazz pianist and composer whose compositions and performances have met critical and popular acclaim in many countries around the world...

, Carl Allen

Carl Allen (drummer)

Carl Allen is an American jazz drummer.He has worked with a wide variety of musicians, including Freddie Hubbard, Jackie McLean, George Coleman and Phil Woods. and the Benny Green Trio....

, Eddie Allen

Eddie Allen

Eddie Allen is a jazz trumpeter and flugelhornist from Milwaukee. He has worked with Muhal Richard Abrams, Lester Bowie, Art Blakey, Benny Carter, Chico Freeman, and Dizzy Gillespie. He has used several variants of his name on CDs including: E.J. Allen, Eddie E.J. Allen, and E.J. "Eddie" Allen.He...

, Lynne Arriale

Lynne Arriale

Lynne Arriale is an American jazz pianist. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She received her Master's Degree from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and in her initial training was classical. However her interest in the works of Keith Jarrett and Herbie Hancock led her to jazz. She gained...

, Billy and Mark Johnson, Russ Johnson

Russ Johnson

William Russell Johnson is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He went to Louisiana State University and was drafted in the first round of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft by the Houston Astros. In , he was called up to the majors by the Astros, where he remained until...

, John Sullivan

John Sullivan

John Sullivan was the third son of Irish immigrants, a United States general in the Revolutionary War, a delegate in the Continental Congress and a United States federal judge....

, and Juli Wood

Juli Wood

Juli Wood is an accomplished saxophone player who appears regularly in Chicago and Milwaukee area jazz clubs, and sometimes on tours through the Midwest with the Juli Wood Quartet. Wood makes frequent appearances at Scandinavian jazz and blues festivals. She occasionally sets her saxophone aside...

. Several other jazz masters have held Milwaukee ties through the years, including Melvin Rhyne

Melvin Rhyne

Melvin Rhyne , is a jazz organist best known for his work with Wes Montgomery.-Early Years:Melvin Rhyne was born in Indianapolis in 1936 and started playing the piano shortly thereafter...

, Bunky Green

Bunky Green

Bunky Green is an American jazz alto saxophonist and educator.-Biography:Vernice "Bunky" Green was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he played the alto saxophone, mainly at a local club called "The Brass Rail."...

, George Braith

George Braith

George Braith is a soul-jazz saxophonist from New York.Braith is known for playing multiple horns at once, a technique pioneered by Roland Kirk...

, Woody Herman

Woody Herman

Woodrow Charles Herman , known as Woody Herman, was an American jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading various groups called "The Herd," Herman was one of the most popular of the 1930s and '40s bandleaders...

, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk

Rahsaan Roland Kirk

Rahsaan Roland Kirk was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist who played tenor saxophone, flute and many other instruments...

. Many Chicago musicians make the trek to Milwaukee to play at the city's many jazz clubs, such as Jazz Estate, Caroline's, Blu, and ARJ's. Many restaurants also feature live jazz. Milwaukee hosts the Third Ward Summer Sizzle (recent headliners have included John Faddis, David Sanchez

David Sánchez

David Sánchez may refer to:*David Sánchez , saxophonist*David Sánchez Amezcua, Mexican football player*David Sánchez Rodríguez, Spanish football player*David Sánchez , Spanish tennis player...

, Herbie Mann

Herbie Mann

Herbert Jay Solomon , better known as Herbie Mann, was a Jewish American jazz flutist and important early practitioner of world music...

, Delfayo Marsalis, Kevin Eubanks

Kevin Eubanks

Kevin Tyrone Eubanks is an American jazz guitarist and composer who was the leader of the Tonight Show Band with host Jay Leno from 1995 to 2010. He also led The Primetime Band on the short-lived The Jay Leno Show.- Personal background :Eubanks was born into a musical family...

, Jack McDuff

Jack McDuff

"Brother" Jack McDuff was an American jazz organist and organ trio bandleader who was most prominent during the hard bop and soul jazz era of the 1960s, often performing with an organ trio.-Career:...

, Chris Botti

Chris Botti

Christopher Stephen "Chris" Botti , is an American trumpeter and composer. In 2007, Botti was nominated for two Grammy Awards including Best Pop Instrumental Album. On December 4, 2009, he was nominated for three more Grammy Awards including Best Pop Instrumental Album and Best Long Form Music Video...

, Ernie Watts

Ernie Watts

Ernest James "Ernie" Watts is an American jazz and rhythm and blues musician. He plays saxophone and flute. He might be best known for his work with Charlie Haden's Quartet West and his Grammy Awards as an instrumentalist...

), The Hal Leonard Jazz Series at the Pabst Theater, and the popular Thursday night jazz series "Jazz in the Park" which goes from Labor Day to Memorial. Additionally the Jazz Estate on Milwaukee's east side is a current place which has housed many famous jazz acts throughout Milwaukee's history and continues to do so today.

Classical

Milwaukee is host to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its primary performing venue is the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts...

, conducted by Edo de Waart

Edo de Waart

Edo de Waart is a Dutch conductor, and the Music Director of both the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra....

. Other notable ensembles in the Milwaukee include: the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus

Milwaukee Symphony Chorus

The Milwaukee Symphony Chorus is the choral ensemble of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Founded in 1976 by Margaret Hawkins at the request of then-MSO music director Kenneth Schermerhorn, it was originally called the Wisconsin Conservatory Symphony Chorus and filled a need for the MSO to have a...

, the Florentine Opera

Florentine Opera

The Florentine Opera Company is Wisconsin's oldest fully professional performing arts organization and the sixth-oldest opera company in the United States. The company presents on three staged productions per season largely from the standard operatic repertoire...

, the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra

Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra

The Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra is a youth orchestra in Milwaukee. This is MYSO's 54th year of offering highest level of training in ensemble musicianship to motivated young people from diverse backgrounds across southeastern Wisconsin....

, and the Fine Arts Quartet

Fine Arts Quartet

The Fine Arts Quartet, a distinguished chamber music ensemble founded in Chicago, USA in 1946 by Leonard Sorkin and George Sopkin, has an illustrious history of performing success and an extensive recording legacy. It is one of the few to have recorded and toured internationally for over half a...

.

Blues

Bars like The Up and Under are notorious for great blues music. This bar is considered the best venue for live music in all of Milwaukee according to onmilwaukee.com.

Club

Milwaukee is also home to a thriving club scene booking regular international DJs such as Richie Hawtin, LTJ Bukem, Mark Farina, Derrick Carter and The Founder of The CORE Dj's, Tony Neal. In the early 1990s, the city was home to a vibrant rave scene, especially fostering hardcore techno, thanks to Drop Bass; but the scene dwindled after reactions by local authorities. Milwaukee is also a center of the breakcore scene with labels such as Addict Records and Zod Records.

Metal

Milwaukee has a rich history in metal from the now infamous "Milwaukee Metal Fest" (one of the first festivals in the United States to bring international and nationwide metal legends to play for thousands of eager fans) to the current small but thriving local metal community. Often overlooked, the metal community is strong and continues to grow.