Milwaukee DJ Paul Hildenbrand grew up on Milwaukee’s Northwest Side. He spent a lot of time as a teenager rollerskating at rinks including Skateland, the Palace and Skate University and was always inspired by the music.

"To this day, I like old school electro-funk rollerskating jams. It’s fun for me to play. It’s music that makes you feel good," says Hildenbrand. "And yes, I still have a pair of speed skates."

In the mid ‘80s, Hildenbrand began to experiment with DJing. At the time, he didn’t take it too seriously because, as a bass player, he was more interested in joining bands. He started out playing in a Guns ’n' Roses-esque glam rock outfit called Backstreet.

"This was long before the Backstreet Boys," he says.

Hildenbrand went on to play with a rap rock group "Stille Zoe" which he describes as "ill fated" and later, Pet Engine and Slo-Fi.

"And a few other bands that never got off the ground," he says.

In 2007, about 20 years after his interest in DJing was originally piqued, Hildenbrand sat in with local DJ James Fresh Luggage during a gig at Redroom, now Fink’s, 1875 N. Humboldt Ave.

"That experience really lit a fire under me," says Hildebrand. "I forgot how fun it was."

Today, Hildenbrand and Fresh Luggage – along with Greg Klein – DJ together a few times a year under the name The Enablers. In the past, they have gigged at The Nomad, 1401 E. Brady St., on holidays including New Year’s Day, Halloween and St. Patrick’s Day.

Hildenbrand has a regular Saturday night gig at Sabbatic, 700 S. 2nd St. Occasionally, he DJs at Tonic Tavern, 2335 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., and Impala Cocktail Lounge, 701 E. Center St.

He also mans the music every Monday night for the Milwaukee Boat Line’s Yacht Rock cruise. The cruise is $5 – features a cash bar – and draws a diverse crowd for two hours of drinking and dancing on Lake Michigan.

There are three more Yacht Rock events scheduled for this season – Monday, Sept. 8, 15, 22 and 29. The cruises run from 8 to 10 p.m.

Despite the name, Hildenbrand does not play only soft rock music from the ‘70s and ‘80s.

"Yacht rock is simply a jumping off point. I play a lot of Motown and upbeat, positive, fun stuff," he says. "I draw from music I grew up listening to and what I think people want to hear."

Like most DJs, Hildenbrand doesn’t haul around LPs to gigs anymore.

"I’m an MP3-J. I’m manipulating digital files now," he says. "Those crates of records got heavy."

Hildenbrand is enjoying his second season as the Yacht Rock DJ and at this point, depending on the weather, will draw up to a couple hundred people.

"It took a little time to build it to where it’s now. I worked really hard on the playlist, one that keeps the captain happy and gets people off their seats," he says.

Although Milwaukee is sometimes cited as a city of non-dancers, Hildenbrand sees it as a challenge, not a setback.

"Sometimes it’s hard to get people on the floor – especially guys – but if you play the right kind of music it will be hard for people to stand still," he says. "Every week (the people on board) amaze me. I look around at the crowd at it makes me smile. Maybe they cut each other off on their way in, but here they are, having beers together, having a great time. It might sound cheesy, but that is the power of music."