Wilder Deitz as Artist
Taught to play by his singer-songwriter father and mentored by an NEA Jazz Master, Wilder is a lifelong musician, composer and bandleader. Accompanied by his hard-hitting crew of singers and instrumentalists, Wilder plays a formidable brand of original soul music at venues across the Midwest. Synesthesia’s Scott Collins calls Wilder’s music “nothing less than pure in intent and execution… Absolutely beautiful,” while Tone Madison calls Wilder’s raucous live band “show-stopping,” “fresh” and “joyous.”
Listen to “Sweatin’ the Joneses,” from Wilder’s 2020 record Y’all.
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Wilder Deitz as Educator
Wilder is co-founder and creative director of the Wilder Deitz School for Creative Music. He also is founder and director of Madison’s high school Black Music Ensemble programs. Wilder brings an unmatched energy to his teaching practice, determined to empower his students in their pursuit of musical creativity.
Find inspiration in Wilder’s Creative Music Concepts series and more at the Wilder Deitz School’s Youtube channel.
Wilder’s story
Born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, Wilder grew up accompanying his dad, singer-songwriter Ritt Deitz, on tours around the Midwest. It was performing in his dad’s band that Wilder first picked up piano, guitar, bass and percussion, playing any instrument necessary to serve the song. Wilder went on to lead his own bands in middle and high school, playing rock music in clubs around town and booking a “Live and Local” series for young musicians. In college Wilder discovered the splendor of jazz from a mentor who helped shape it- NEA Jazz Master Richard Davis, then a professor at the University of Wisconsin.
It was under Davis’ mentorship that Wilder formed a new group, featuring incredible musicians like Deja Mason, Alex Charland, Jacob Bicknase, Nikeya Bramlett, Bobbie Briggs and Chance Stine. Davis also encouraged Wilder to teach, supporting Wilder’s effort to start a new music program at his alma mater, Madison East High School. That program developed into the storied Black Music Ensemble which continues to run at East and LaFollette high schools in Madison. It was through working with exceptional young musicians in the schools that Wilder recruited players like Mandell Mathis, Isaiah Agnew, Ruben Arndt, Sam Galligan and Chakari Woods to record and perform with him. Wilder’s oldest bandmate, Joe Galligan, continues to fill the drum throne when not abroad, and Wilder’s brother Mitch Deitz is the band’s guitarist.
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In 2015, Wilder lost a talented young student, Matthew Court, to a tragic accident. Matthew’s parents generously asked their grieving friends and family to provide donations to the Black Music Ensemble programming in lieu of flowers, providing enough money to fuel an expansion in the program. These funds doubled the size of Wilder’s programming and sowed the idea of a school for creative musicianship, where all Wilder’s teaching could come together under one roof.
Also in 2015, Wilder made a good friend in recording engineer Bruce Kasprzyk, who from then on has helped produce nearly all of Wilder’s recorded output. Bruce is remarkable for his use of analog technology in recording (most notably an array of tape machines he himself restored by hand), which helps to give Wilder’s music its signature old-school sound.
In 2020, Wilder joined forces with his former student Ruben Arndt to found the Wilder Deitz School for Creative Music, creating a locus point for the incredible musical community he had spent the last seven years developing. Wilder now splits his time between touring with his band and passing on his craft to the next generation of creative musicians.
Contact
Booking and artist inquiries: wdeitz@gmail.com
Wilder Deitz School for Creative Music: wilderdeitzschool@gmail.com
