Mingering Mike

I only heard about Mingering Mike because of one of those magazines they used to put on airplanes that now seem to be on Amtrak trains. He is a is a fictitious funk and soul recording artist. He is also a non-fictional artist. But the real artist managed to have a nonexistent music career including a 50 album discography over 18 years.

He refuses to make public appearances, or permit his photo to be taken. So yes he's an odd duck. In 2007, Dori Hadar released a book of Mike's works. He's had a few exhibitions, but in a surprise move the Smithsonian acquired the Mingering Mike Collection in 2012.  It consists almost entirely of fictional album art. You can learn more here.