Forgotten Music Masters

If you’ve never heard of folk singer Seedy Jeffries or Country Music stars Joe John Buck, Jr., or Wilma Tilly, this book 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 book is also for you. Forgotten Music Masters is an encyclopedia of overlooked and underappreciated music legends. Painstakingly researched by Chris Auman and Deron Grams with illustrations by Chris Auman.

Specs.

5.5 x 8.5 inches, 40 pages, B&W with color cover.

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).