After 10 years local musician Jon Mueller is shutting down his avant garde, new music label Crouton Records, which has issued more than three dozen engaging musical projects, always packaged in great sleeves.
Last week, Mueller wrote on the Crouton site:
"All things must come to an end. After 10 years and over 40 releases, Crouton will be closing. There are many people who without their help, none of this would have been possible. Even those simply reading these messages took part in something that consumed a big part of my life, and for that, I thank you. Those that supported the label by buying releases, I can't thank you enough, and hope you've enjoyed them as much as I have."
But Mueller -- who was also a member of the band Pele here -- isn't quitting music. In an e-mail sent last night, he announced the release of a new disc, "Physical Changes," due to arrive in early 2009 on Radium/Table of the Elements.
"A three format release (LP/CD/DVD), it consists of versions of the piece I created for the Metals live set, and features James Plotkin, Marcus Schmickler, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Dan Burke, Jim Schoenecker, and filmmaker David Dinnell," writes Mueller.
And although the Crouton site and Mueller's own Web site will be shuttered soon. They will be replaced, he says.
"In their place will be something else that will focus on my findings and experiences with sound, and its effects on human and material interaction. I hope this new site becomes something more than what I could accomplish with both crouton and my own site. When both sites close down, they will point directly to the new site. Stay tuned. Once the new site is up, it will be your choice to opt in for any announcements. This is the final eNews you'll receive from me at this or the crouton address."
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.
