Milwaukee's greatest robotic karaoke singer

He's known as “Rockin’ Roy,” and he’s the biggest celebrity in Milwaukee’s world of karaoke bars. Five or six nights a week, he sings at various venues that include The Gig, Four Seasons Coffee, Amelia’s, Scooter’s Pub, and Gary J-S Sixteen Street Pub. Also known as Roy Stewart, he makes money as an emcee, but it’s his singing that has won him local fame. On his version of Styx’s “Mr. Roboto”—currently posted on YouTube—Stewart is so dedicated to becoming a musical robot that one can’t help but feel awestruck. Decider caught up with Rockin’ Roy before a performance at Scooter’s Bar. Sounding a little like Milton from the movie Office Space, he shared what makes his brand of karaoke magic possible.


Decider: Thanks for taking time to talk to us before your show.
RR: Oh, that’s okay, that’s okay. I love the publicity.
D: You do get a lot of publicity, but it’s mostly word of mouth in karaoke bars.
RR: Wherever I go people say, “That’s Rockin’ Roy!” University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette students, they love me for some reason. I’ve worked for seven years at Gary J-S on the south side. Gary wholeheartedly believes in me, and, to tell you the truth, I love the attention.
D: How long have you been singing karaoke?
RR: Since ’83. I’m a real old timer. A friend of mine in South Milwaukee had one of those singing machines. That’s where I got my start.
D: What do you sing best? “Mr. Roboto” seems like your signature number.
RR: Yeah, it is. They always want me to do that. Did you see it on YouTube? I love Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, The Beatles, of course. I do Pink Floyd and, well, Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy, he’s a hard one. Nobody can do Ozzy but Ozzy. Not even me.
D: Do you rehearse much or work on your moves ahead of time?
RR: Not at all. In fact, I try to sing one song a night that I never sang before, just to keep it interesting. Otherwise you can burn out. I have a vast musical knowledge, mostly of the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. If you’re singing five or six nights a week, you have to keep it fresh. One time they offered me a job, some agent or something like that came along, wanted me to work a cruise ship. No thanks. I’m a free spirit.
D: You think you’ll ever retire?
RR: I just want to be buried with the mic in my hand. Oops, I gotta start the show. They’re waiting.