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Musician Steve Miller. Photo By Tim Brown –

Top 10 Famous Singers from Milwaukee   

Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is perhaps best known for its famous breweries and the Major League Brewers baseball team. The city is rich in historical and cultural attractions, but it has not made a major impact on the music industry.

It is hidden in the shadow of larger markets, like Detroit and neighboring Chicago, but musicians from Milwaukee just need the right opportunity to showcase their talent in the city. 

Here are the top 10 famous singers from Milwaukee. 

1. Yolanda Brown 

Yolanda Rose “LaLa” Brown was an American R&B singer best known for being featured on the track “S.E.X.” with Lyfe Jennings, which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and peaked at No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 2006. 

She started singing professionally, using the stage name “Pre-mere”, when she was only 11 years old. often sang at weddings and, later, various bars. She was a teen mum. 

Brown and her record producer JeTannue “Kool Aid” Clayborn, who was also her boyfriend, were murdered on 16th October 2007 at a recording studio in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The case remains unsolved. 

2. Steve Miller 

Musician Steve Miller. Photo By Tim Brown –

Steven Haworth Miller is an American guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. He is also the leader of the Steve Miller Band. He was exposed to music by his parents, learning to play the guitar when he was just 4 years old. He was born on 5th October 1943 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

He began his career in blues and blues rock and evolved to a more pop-oriented arena rock sound during the mid-1970s through the early 1980s, releasing popular singles and albums. Miller was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. 

3. Greg Koch 

Greg Koch is an American guitarist who was born in 1966 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He grew up in that city and began playing the guitar when he was 12 years old. He was named one of the top 10 unsung guitarists by Fender Musical Instruments Corporation in 2012. 

He has his signature amplifier ‘The Greg’, manufactured by the Koch Amplifier company, and a signature guitar which was released in 2019 by Reverend Guitars, named the ‘Greg Koch Signature Gristlemaster’. His ability on the guitar has been admired by other guitarists.   

He has developed his style of chicken picking on the guitar and has taught his method, referred to as hybrid picking. Koch has termed his style of playing “gristle” and has been called the “Gristle King”. Gristle is usually instrumental, guitar-driven music that leads to a crescendo of trading solos. 

Check out where to Buy Your Wedding Dresses in Milwaukee here.

4. Lakeyah 

Lakeyah Danaee Robinson is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and model. Lakeyah was born on 28th February 2001 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she grew up and began rapping when she was 15 years old. 

It all started when she was in high school, on the slam poetry team when her friends persuaded her to accept the #SoGoneChallenge where people were doing rap verses to the instrumental of the song “So Gone” by Monica. 

Lakeyah currently has three albums and was named a brand ambassador for Rihanna’s lingerie line in 2021. 

5. Jacob Latimore 

Jacob Latimore. Photo By Charm Brasil –

Jacob O’Neal Latimore is an American actor, singer, and dancer. He was born on 10th August 1996 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He started music at an early age with his first single in 2005 when he was 9 years old.  

Latimore released his debut album, Connection, in 2016. As an actor, he is best known for his roles in Black Nativity, The Maze Runner, Collateral Beauty, Detroit, and The Chi. He also starred in the Netflix Original movie Candy Jar alongside Sami Gayle. 

6. Al Jarreau  

Alwin Lopez Jarreau was an American singer and musician. He was born on 12th March 1940 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He started singing in church and school from a young age. He later started singing in clubs and Jazz was his primary occupation, even though he had a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. 

Al Jarreau was among the performers on the 1985 charity song “We Are the World.” He has 17 albums, has won seven Grammy Awards, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.   

Al Jarreau rested on 12th February 2017, a month before his 77th birthday. He died of respiratory failure. 

7. Trixie Mattel 

Drag Queen Performer Trixie Mattel. Photo By dvsross –

Brian Michael Firkus was born on 23rd August 1989 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is best known for his performance as Trixie Mattel. Trixie is an American drag queen who sings and writes songs and is also a television star. She is known for her exaggerated, high-camp style and blends of comedy and acoustic pop. 

The comedic drag persona who sings country folk won the third season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars in 2018. 

Firkus is openly gay and he has been in a relationship with filmmaker David Silver. He is a vegetarian and an atheist. Read about another drag persona Verka Serduchka here. 

8. Danny Gokey 

Daniel Jay Gokey is an American singer and former church music director from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was born on 24th April 1980. He began singing with his family in the church from an early age.  

Later, he became the worship director at his church while working as a driver, driving a semi-truck the 18-wheeler. He rose to national fame with his participation in the eighth season of American Idol where he got the third-place finalist position.  

He has eight albums so far. 

9. Tank 

Durrell Artaze Babbs is an American R&B singer, songwriter, actor, and producer. He is commonly known as Tank. He was born on New Year’s Day in 1976 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His family later moved to Maryland.  

While in high school, he played several sports and was good at them. Because of his many talents, he got an offer to play college football, but he instead decided to focus on music and his talent eventually led him to an opportunity to sing background vocals for Ginuwine during one of his tours. 

Tank also became a backup singer for Aaliyah, whom he met through Ginuwine in 1997, before being signed as an artist at her record label Blackground Records. He has done 11 albums so far. 

10. Ava Max 

Pop Singer Ava Max. Photo By MasterMind5991 –

Amanda Ava Koci professionally known as Ava Max is an American singer and songwriter that does pop and dance-pop. She was born on 16th February 1994 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her parents were immigrants from Albania with musical backgrounds. Her mother was a classically trained opera singer while her father was a pianist. 

Ava prefers recording in the studio more than live performances and she often goes against the grain while making public appearances. She is outspoken about female empowerment, which is reflected in her music. 

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