The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom  371 pp.

This charming story of the life of musician Frankie Presto is enhanced by the addition of real life celebrities from the music industry. Frankie, a Spanish orphan is taken in by a blind guitarist who teaches him to play guitar. When his life is in danger he is sent to the U.S. in the bottom of a boat with his old guitar and six magical guitar strings. He eventually joins one band after another, including Elvis Presley's. Along the way he encounters Hank Williams, Carole King, KISS, and many others. He eventually becomes a pop star but finds his musical life is too much of a strain because his music has life altering effects on some people. After hiding away on an island he eventually returns to the public eye only to die onstage in a miraculous way. The novel is told in flashbacks and includes commentary by a plethora of celebrity musicians who gather for Frankie's funeral. I listened to the audiobook which is the best way to experience this book. Roger McGuinn, Ingrid Michaelson, Paul Stanley, John Pizzarelli, Wynton Marsalis, and others read their respective parts of the novel.