Friends and fans of one of the area's hottest bands, Northern Room, received a farewell e-mail from the band on Sunday night ...
"After four years of rehearsing, recording, and performing, Andrew Jonathan (AJ) has decided to resign from Northern Room. With great sadness, therefore, we would like to announce that the Nov. 8 show at Turner Hall Ballroom will be our farewell performance. After that show, Northern Room will be no more.
"We would like to thank all of you who have taken the time to buy a CD, see a live show, talk to us afterward, tell a friend about our music, vote for us in an internet contest, or call a radio station to request our songs. That list could go on for another page, as there are countless other ways that you have shown your support and love over the past four years. You have given us strength, encouraged us in the difficult times, and provided the motivation to continue the dream of making music together. We will remember you always.
"We would like to end the way a rock band should: on a stage, in a hall filled with screaming fans. So, we invite you to join us at Turner Hall Ballroom on Saturday Nov. 8 to share one last night together, as we celebrate four wonderful years of Northern Room. Tickets are available now. We hope to see you there."
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.
