Later today, we'll talk about the case of Elkhorn's 8-year-old guitar prodigy Tallon Latz.
Tallon started playing blues guitar at the age of 5. Over the past three years, he has performed on stage with people like Les Paul and Jackson Browne. He has also played to sold out crowds in bars and clubs throughout the Midwest, including the House of Blues in Chicago.
A while ago, the State of Wisconsin Equal Rights Division received an anonymous letter complaining that Latz was too young to legally perform in clubs. This claim is based on an obscure section of Wisconsin law (Wisconsin Statute Section 103.78) which allows minors to performs as singers pretty much anywhere they choose except "in a roadhouse, cabaret, dance hall, night club, tavern or other similar place. ...". The general assumption is that this letter came from a disgruntled musician who had lost out on a gig to Tallon.
In any event, once the State ERD received the letter, it swung into action and threatened potential employers and Tallon's parents with hefty fines if they allowed him to continue to play in clubs (which is where most blues musicians perform).
Later today, we'll discuss whether this law makes any sense in 2008 - and whether the State should have perhaps looked the other way on this one?
If you'd like to watch Taylor perform, please click here.
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.