Minger on over to your local record store this weekend! · Apr 18, 01:20 PM
On Saturday, April 19, 2008, hundreds of independently owned music stores across the country will celebrate record store day.
Sounds like a good time for an update on everyone’s favorite imaginary soul superstar “Mingering Mike!”
As you may recall, Mingering Mike’s fantasy world was “discovered” one Saturday morning at a flea market in Washington, D.C. by DJ / criminal investigator Dori Hadar. Hadar flipped through album after album of a soul superstar of the 1960s and ‘70s named Mingering Mike who it appeared had released an astonishing 50 albums and at least as many singles in just 10 years—all while eluding Hadar’s attention. Hadar realized why on closer inspection: every album in the crates was made of cardboard. Each package was intricately crafted, complete with gatefold interiors, extensive liner notes, and grooves drawn onto the “vinyl.” Some albums were even covered in shrinkwrap, as if purchased at actual record stores.
The crates contained nearly 200 LPs and 45s by Mingering Mike, as well as other artists like Joseph War, the Big “D,” and Rambling Ralph, on labels such as Sex Records, Decision, and Ming/War. There were also soundtracks to imaginary films, a benefit album for sickle cell anemia, and a tribute to Bruce Lee. Hadar put his detective skills to work and soon found himself at the door of the elusive man responsible for this alternate universe of funk. Their friendship blossomed and Mike revealed the story of his life and his many albums, hit singles, and movie soundtracks.
Dori Hadar’s book Mingering Mike: The Amazing Career of An Imaginary Soul Superstar was published in 2007 to great acclaim. Since then Mike has emerged (albeit in disguise) from his long self-imposed exile and recently down for his first video interview at the South By Southwest music conference in Austin, TX. Enjoy the interview with Mike and Dori Hadar below and don’t forget to support your local record store this weekend!
commenting closed for this article
Behind the Scenes of an Architectural Experiment at MoMA! Finnish Summer Houses exhibition at the Embassy of Finland in Washington D.C.!