This morning, respected national gay magazine The Advocate posted a glowing blurb and slideshow of images from "Images of America: LGBT Milwaukee," by OnMilwaukee contributor Michail Takach.
That's cool, of course, because Takach's book is a comprehensive illustrated look the city's LGBT history. The headline is bound to really garner some attention.
"What's the most underappreciated gay Mecca in the U.S.?" the headline queried, then answering its own question with the post, which called Takach's book, "beautifully researched and (with) very moving text.
"This book, consisting mostly of photos and detailed captions, takes us from the bad old days of the deep closet to drag queens most glorious, to mega-discos, and beyond."
Congratulations, Michail.
Stay tuned for an interview with Takach about the book around the time it hits shops on Monday, Aug. 22.
The author is donating all proceeds to Milwaukee Pride, Inc. to support the Wisconsin LGBT History Project and education programs.
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.
