Turner Hall of Monroe is pleased and excited to announce the start of its new Swiss Heritage Series with the appearance of Bart Plantenga, a widely published author from Amsterdam, whose book, Yodel-Ay-Ee-OOoo: The Secret History of Yodeling Around the World was released last year by Routledge in New York. Mr. Plantenga, through readings from his book and live yodel demonstrations by local Swiss musicians, will begin his presentation with a general introduction and definition of yodeling, and then explain how yodeling came to the New World, specifically including Green County in south-central Wisconsin, home of many Swiss and German immigrants.

Yodel-Ay-Ee-OOoo is drawing considerable attention because it is the first book to explore yodeling as a global phenomenon, from African Pygmies, country singers, and avant-garde tonsil twisters to pop stars like Jewel and Sly and the Family Stone. The book has received favorable comments from numerous sources, including the Washington Post, Rolling Stone, the Austin Chronicle, the American Book Review and many others.

In addition to being the author of several published fiction and non-fiction books, Mr. Plantenga has been a DJ for 18 years at radio stations in New York, Paris and now Amsterdam . He currently produces Wreck This Mess, a radio program that airs on two stations in Amsterdam. A 1977 graduate of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Mr. Plantenga has produced hundreds of special thematic radio shows and published many articles on yodeling, music, culture, history, travel and radio culture. He has been the recipient of a Hopwood Award from the University of Michigan for his writing, and in 2000 was the winner of the Lowell Thomas Travel Writing Award for the oustanding historical travel article written in the world in 1999.

Several Green County yodelers who are mentioned in the book -- Betty Kneubuehl Vetterli, Martha Bernet-Zumstein, Anna Gempler, and Kathleen (Katie) Zentner Elmer -- will be recognized during Mr. Plantenga's presentation for their contributions to yodeling in the United States. The Monroe Swiss Singers, the New Glarus Yodel Club, and native Swiss yodelers Ernie Jaggi and Tony Zgraggen will also perform as part of the event.

There is no charge for the event, but free-will donations will be accepted for the Turner Hall of Monroe's debt retirement. Mr. Plantenga will also be on hand to sign copies of his book, which will be for sale that evening.

Mr. Plantenga's appearance is made possible through the support of the University of Wisconsin-Madison; the Dutch Consulate; and Pro Helvetia, Arts Council of Switzerland.