Joey Grihalva

The Milwaukeean is a new book by award-winning writer Joey Grihalva. It centers around the performance artist Kellen "Klassik" Abston.

It is more than the story of one musician, it is the song of an American city struggling to save its soul.

It is a close up encounter with gun violence, trauma, loss, addiction, anxiety, racism, creativity, therapy, recovery, spirituality, and possibility.

In this moment of national healing, The Milwaukeean is a call to confront our history, face our demons, and find our peace.

The Milwaukeean features a choir. It is made up of Adekola Adedapo, Jordan Lee, Dasha Kelly Hamilton, Dr. Sharon Coleman-Abston, David Ravel, Marielle Allschwang, Reggie Moore, Kamylle Kritzeck, Pardeep Kaleka, Ami Bedi, Sam "WebsterX" Ahmed, Jacqueline Bridge, Monique and Chauntee Ross (“SistaStrings”), Johanna Rose, Christopher DeAngelo Gilbert, Kennita Hickman, Karl Iglesias, Bassey Etim, Louis DeFino, and Janet Carr.

[Drone photography by Andrew Swant.]

Kellen "Klassik" Abston

At age 10, Kellen began studying saxophone with local jazz legend Berkeley Fudge. The next year, on the eve of Thanksgiving, tragedy struck. Kellen's father, Robin Lewis Abston, was murdered.

Soon after, Kellen started making music on his computer, setting him on a path to becoming the celebrated composer, producer, and performer known as Klassik.

Twenty years after his father's death, amid a global pandemic, Kellen and writer/former cross-country teammate Joey Grihalva explored his journey-in-progress.

The Milwaukeean is the result of those conversations, plus many more with Kellen's family, friends, and other prominent Milwaukeeans.

Photo by Kelly Michael Anderson