By Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer Published Jun 30, 2006 at 11:19 AM
Since last night was Elvis Costello's first Summerfest appearance, the Big Gig Web site has no history of his appearances in the area. So, we've done the work for the local trainspotters instead.

Dec. 1, 1977 -- Elvis debuts in Milwaukee with The Attractions at the Electric Ballroom.

March 9, 1979 -- It's all about "Armed Forces" as E.C. and The Attractions storm the Uptown Theatre, which a few years earlier had been the scene of the famed Springsteen bomb scare show.

Aug. 14, 1982 -- Elvis' tour with The Attractions for the heralded "Imperial Bedroom" -- or ibmepderoioaml, for the real geeks -- tour lands at Alpine Valley.

Aug. 26, 1983 -- A year later E.C., Pete Thomas, Bruce Thomas and Steve Nieve -- and some horn players -- "Punch the Clock" at the Auditorium and Scotland's fabulous Aztec Camera opens.

June 7, 1991 -- Elvis grows a beard, stuns fans by admitting to liking Jerry Garcia, and plays with The Rude 5 at Alpine Valley. Fitting. Tour for the under-appreciated "Mighty Like A Rose."

June 11, 1999 -- The longest-ever Elvis drought here is doused with an intimate show (see photo above) featuring just E.C. and pianist Nieve at The Riverside as part of a tour that was chronicled on a limited-edition five EP CD set.

April 16, 2005 -- Elvis brings his Imposters to The Riverside.

June 29, 2006 -- Elvis and New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint -- and said Imposters -- focus on their recent disc, "The River in Reverse."
Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer

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.