Mingering Mike

"One cold December morning, Dori Hadar - DJ by night, criminal investigator by day - was digging through crates of records at a Washington, D.C., flea market. There he unknowingly stumbled into the elaborate world of Mingering Mike - a soul superstar of the 1960s and 1970s who released an astonishing fifty albums and at least as many singles in just ten years. But Hadar had never heard of him, and he realized why on closer inspection: every album in the crate - as well as the records themselves - were 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 real record stores." "Hadar put his detective skills to work and soon found himself at the door of Mingering Mike. Their friendship blossomed and Mike revealed the story of his life and the mythology of his many albums, hit singles, and movie soundtracks. A solitary boy raised by his brothers, sisters, and cousins, Mike lost himself in a world of his own imaginary superstardom, basing songs and albums on his and his family's experiences. Early teenage songs obsessed with love and heartache soon gave way to social themes surrounding the turbulent era of civil rights protests and political upheaval - brought even closer to home when Mike himself went underground, dodging the government for years after going AWOL from basic training." "In Mingering Mike, Hadar recounts the heartfelt story of Mike's life and collects the best of his albums and 45s, presented in full color, finally bringing to the star the adoring audience he always imagined he had."--Jacket.

Year

2007

Language

English

Publisher

Princeton Architectural Press

Editions

2

Pages

192

ISBN

9781568985695

Data source: Wikidata