If you’ve never heard of folk singer Seedy Jeffries or Country Music stars Joe John Buck, Jr., or Wilma Tilly, Forgotten Music Masters zine is for you. On the other hand, if you have heard of rock and blues stars like Mo Fidley and Bertha Mae Mantis, or were first in line in 1992 to buy Britpop band Mirage’s debut album I Don’t Know, Maybe, then this zine is also for you.
Forgotten Music Masters in an encyclopedia of overlooked and underappreciated music legends. Painstakingly researched by myself and my old Chicago Reader co-worker Deron Grams.
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Forgotten Music Masters Zine
I believe that fans of This is Spinal Tap, Ken Burns documentaries, and music of all styles will appreciate Forgotten Music Masters. This 40-page digest book, written in the Wikipedia style, lampoons music history.
Like any good satire, it relies heavily on stereotypes to draw connections to real-life music legends. For example, the zine highlights the repeatedly ripped-off African-American rock and blues pioneers Lil’ Mo Fiddle and Bertha Mae Mantis. The historical counterparts are many and include Little Richard, Luther Dixon, and Big Mama Thornton. The resemblance between country stars Joe John Buck and Johnny Cash and Seedy Jeffries and Woody Guthrie will also be apparent to obsessive music fans.
Also included are the emo rapper Lil Magneezy (Lil Peep), Mambo King Tio Rodriguez (Tito Puente), and the Ted Nugent-inspired hard rock band Freedom Pelt, as well as the genres of Skaffle (ska meets skiffle) and Law Rock (so many rules).
Here is a sample entry from the Forgotten Music Masters zine:
Lil Magneezy
Lil Magneezy was an American rapper who rose to fame as a part of a group of artists who released mixtapes on the popular SoundPuff streaming service. While many SoundPuff hip-hop artists rapped about codeine benzodiazepines, opiates, and “purple drank,” Lil Magneezy spit rhymes about magnesium, a mineral that helps keep blood pressure normal, bones strong, and the heart rhythm steady.
Early life and career
Born in rural western Pennsylvania in 1999, Lil Magneezy began his career as Lil Fenty before changing it to Lil Oxy. Lil Oxy made his rap debut at a junior high talent show then blew the fuck up thanks to a mixtape released on SoundPuff. After being diagnosed with a magnesium deficiency, Lil Oxy began taking vitamin and mineral supplements and changed his name to Lil Magneezy.
Dangers of magnesium deficiency
Experts say that a significant number of individuals in the US do not eat a diet of magnesium-rich foods thus putting themselves at a higher risk of inflammation. This inflammation, in subsequent stages, has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and specific types of cancers. Insufficient magnesium levels also seem to contribute as a risk factor for osteoporosis.
SupplementBoiClique
In 2015, Lil Magneezy joined with like-minded artists to form the rap clique SupplementBoiClique which included fellow SoundPuff rappers Vitamin Deezy, Multi Vee, Vita-K, Bee12, and Fish Oyl.
Success
While Lil Magneezy failed to blow the fuck up among his age demographic, he found a receptive audience in the retirement communities of Florida. In 2016, he moved to the Sawgrass Grove area of The Villages with other members of the SupplementBoiClique. The “bois” held weekly concerts and in their leisure time enjoyed playing mahjong and shuffleboard and doing 500-piece jigsaw puzzles with their fans.
Overdose and death
Before a show in Gainsville, FL in 2016, Lil Magneezy complained of nausea, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea — all side effects of taking too many magnesium supplements. The cramping was so intense he canceled the remaining tour dates. In 2017, to show that he was true to the supplement game, Lil Magneezy shunned most solid foods except seeds and nuts, which are themselves high in magnesium. His body eventually shut down and he passed away peacefully at his villa. According to the Marion County medical examiner, the cause of death was starvation.
More Zines from Chris Auman
Check out some of my other zine titles here.