Music Fantasy Turns Reality for 'Mingering Mike'

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THE MAN WHO CALLS himself "Mingering Mike" remains a mystery.

The accidental artist started making his expansive collection of handmade cardboard soul records growing up as a District teen almost 40 years ago, then became slightly famous after his collection was found and circulated on the Internet. He has a new book and an art exhibit opening on Saturday — an odd blast of publicity for a man who won't share his real name or allow his picture to be taken.

In his 10 years as an imaginary soul singer, Mingering Mike created dozens of records with names like "The Two Sides of Mingering Mike," "Channels of a Dream" and "Sittin at Home With the Lowdown Blues." He produced a holiday album called "Just in Time for Easter" and an album honoring Bruce Lee called "A Tribute to Bruce." But his records weren't vinyl — they were made of cardboard, with one-of-a-kind painted artwork. So were the sleeves, which mingled the aesthetics of 1960s soul albums with personal messages from Mike like "Peace and power to all man kind and me too."

The records were part of a fully-fledged imaginary music scene, complete with labels called Fake Records, Minger Records and Nations Capitol. Mingering Mike performed with artists called The Big "D" and Joseph War — the alter egos of his cousins — and imaginary backing bands like the Monitors and the Mailavar Dancers.

And then D.C.-area vinyl junkie and criminal investigator Dori Hadar discovered Mike's artwork while digging through piles of records at a local flea market. "It didn't make any sense at all, but it was just so cool that I had to buy them," Hadar told Express. "I wanted them to be real." Hadar bought as many as he could for $2 apiece. He posted scans of the album covers on the Internet, where Mike's work became a phenomenon.

Although Mike never meant for his albums to become public, his work has inspired a new book ("Mingering Mike: The Amazing Career of an Imaginary Soul Superstar"; Princeton Architectural Press) and a deal with Vanguard Squad records to record and release some of Mingering Mike's original songs.

And on Saturday, Mingering Mike will face his hometown fans for the first time.

Both Hadar and Mike will be on hand Saturday for a book signing and reception at Hemphill Fine Arts near Logan Circle, where Mingering Mike's original artwork will be on display for the next two months. Hadar said Mike might have to leave if the attention becomes too much for him to handle. "I'm sure he'll stick around for a large part of the reception, but it might be a little overwhelming," he said.

Mike came of age in the tumultuous 1960s, a devotee of the District's bustling soul scene. That scene centered on the now-defunct Howard Theatre, which stood at 7th and T streets NW and showcased musicians like Duke Ellington and Sam Cooke until it closed in 1970. After Mike saw Junior Walker and the All Stars there at age 14, he started attending concerts religiously and writing his own songs. Between 1968 and 1977, Mike made dozens — perhaps hundreds — of cardboard albums and singles. They sat in a storage locker until Mike forgot to pay the storage fee and they were sold.

And then Hadar found the records and posted Mike's artwork on Soulstrut, an online forum where vinyl collectors discuss their finds. The postings drew thousands of hits and brought Hadar media attention, at which point he decided to track down the man who went by the name Mingering Mike.

Express contributor Gabe Nelson spoke with Hadar about the appeal of Mingering Mike's artwork and the pair's collaboration.

» EXPRESS: What was your initial response to finding the first batch of records?
» HADAR: I was really shocked and confused. I'm pulling out these amazing looking records — soundtracks to Kung Fu films and funk albums — I pull the records out, and they're made out of cardboard. It didn't make any sense at all, but it was just so cool that I had to buy them. I wanted them to be real.

» EXPRESS: Did you ever feel uncomfortable analyzing and sharing Mike's personal creations?
» HADAR: Yeah, I did at one point. I had no idea who this person was, and I had no idea that it was going to get as much attention as it did. I just realized that these things were sort of like a diary.

In some cases, his name was on the artwork, and all of the sudden I was just sort of uncomfortable with all that information being on the Web like that. So that's why I decided to seek him out and get his blessing.

» EXPRESS: You're a criminal investigator. Did that help you find Mingering Mike?
» HADAR: I had his name, I had some old addresses to work with. It took a little work, but I finally did track him down.

» EXPRESS: What was it like to speak to Mike for the first time? How did he react to being found?
» HADAR: When we [Hadar and fellow vinyl collector Frank Beylotte] first knocked on his door, he sort of peeked out from behind the door. He was very suspicious of us, he thought we were bill collectors or police — we were these two strange white guys standing outside his door.

» EXPRESS: How did you convince him to work with you?
» HADAR: Finally, he agreed to meet with us at a Denny's restaurant a couple of days later. We sat down and I showed him the pictures and the messages from Soulstrut, and told him that people seemed to be in love with him. He's just so thrilled that people love what he did.

We're both equal partners in anything. Any proceeds that might be made, we split 50-50. I hear from a lot of people that are interested in doing various projects. I take to him the ones I think are the best, or the coolest.

» EXPRESS: Why do you think people find these records so intriguing?
» HADAR: It's so amazing that someone took the time to create such an intricate fantasy and make it sort of real, make it real for himself. To have done it over 30 years ago, and then for it be found so much later, it's just sort of a beautiful story.

I think people can relate a little bit. People, when they were young, had fantasies to be a movie star or a musician. Mike had that fantasy, but he just took it to a whole other level. When you look at these records, you really get a sense that you know Mingering Mike. He's got all these messages of love and unity. I think a lot of people just fall in love with him immediately.

» Hemphill Fine Arts, 1515 14th St. NW. 202-234-5601. Exhibit June 2 - July 28. Book signing Saturday 4:30-6:30 p.m.; Reception 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Images courtesy Princeton Architectural Press