Goran Kralj (the Gufs)

Goran Kralj – A graduate of Munster High School, Goran Kralj attended the University of Wisconsin and played on the soccer team there. Along with roommate and teammate Scott Schwebel, he formed the band the Gufs in 1988 with Goran on lead vocals and Schwebel on drums; another original member of the band was Goran’s brother Dejan, who became the band’s bass player while still in high school in Munster. After starting out as an Eastside Milwaukee band, the Gufs started recording a series of albums with Submarine Records in 1990 and signed with Atlantic Records in 1996. After the second album with Atlantic in 1999, the band took a seven-year break before reuniting for comeback album on Red Submarine Records in 2006. In recognition of the band’s twenty year anniversary, the Gufs played a series of four free concerts with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. A frequent guest at Milwaukee’s 11-day Summerfest, the Gufs became a well-known college band and gained further exposure by touring the Matchbox Twenty. In fact, Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty sang back-up on “Give up Yourself” from Holiday with You (Atlantic, 1999). Aside from his work with the Gufs, Goran has sung with the rock bands Guster and Pet Engine. He also released a solo album called Any Day Now on Red Submarine Records in 2004.