Customer Reviews

Touched by Magic: The Tommy Bolin Story

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
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There is a reason why some artists develop a cult following that continues to grow exponentially some 33 years after they have left the mortal coil. In the case of Tommy Bolin, it is his musical artistry, in general, and his transformingly brilliant guitar playing majesty, specifically, that leaves more and more people year after year discovering what has been lost but should be found.

While I could not recommend this book more highly, if you are new to Tommy Bolin, you first need to listen to his 2 solo releases: "Private Eyes" (which can be had for a criminally low price, so what are you waiting for?) and "Teaser" (which costs a few extra shekels as it is only available as an import). However, just a gander at the guest artists that performed on "Teaser" lets you know that it is well worth the investment.

Greg Prato's "Touched by Magic: The Tommy Bolin Story" continues the discovery of an artist whose brilliance transcended his life. Bolin fans have been waiting for this book for literally longer than Tommy's life time. Because it is written from interviews with most of the important people in Tommy's personal and professional life, there is a "warts and all" feel to the book that is very much appreciated. And my takeaway from "Touched by Magic" is the realism that being fortunate enough to be brilliant at one thing (music) by no means bestows upon one competency at others (business management decisions, modifying addictions/lifestyle, etc.).

To his credit, Prato allows the interviews speak for themselves. The interviews reinforce to those who do not (or could not) remember how "matter of fact" casual recreational drug use was to many (if not most) of us who came of age in the 70's. There are some extremely interesting revelations surrounding Bolin's ultimate demise (an unintended poor play on words) that have not been known (at least publicly) until now.

So first, dive into the music and soak up the magic. When you are ready to come up for air, grab this book and appreciate how much someone can accomplish in 25 years of life by maximizing the gift that they have been given.

What a wonderful...and haunting book. I was born in 1963 and it is very easy for me to say that Tommy Bolin was the most original and talented guitarist of my lifetime, right next to and along with Jimi Hendrix. This book tells the story of a brilliantly talented, very young lost soul who could make his guitar sing like no other man could but also battled the demons of drugs and alcohol; a battle which took his life at the age of 25. "Touched By Magic" is told through texts and remembrances by Tommy's friends and family with the occasional line by Tommy himself. It also includes passages from his "so-called" manager...note the "so-called". From his early teenage years to his shadowy death in a Miami hotel room in December of '76, "Magic" connects us with a genious for the ages. For anyone familiar with the name "Tommy Bolin", get this book NOW !! For someone un-familiar with his name, I think the book will be interesting but will certainly not be of the same importance. For these people, I say "Get some Tommy Bolin music...anything". Then you will KNOW !! Many thanks to Greg Prato for helping to keep Tommy's name (and music) alive. Through this book and his timeless music, Tommy will be forever "Touched By Magic".

i was a huge fan of tommy's during the deep purple years and his solo stuff and was always very interested in hearing the whole story of what happened to him.

i've read this book twice now and a lot of questions have been answered but i feel that a lot of what's been written in this book are only opinions given by people that were angry and shocked at his death. i'm 47, and when i look back at my life at 25, i was a lot like tommy,(minus the talent) and i guess i'm blessed to have made it through those years.

many of those interviewed here would have you believe that barry fey, (tommy's manager) is the devil. well, a few things evident are that he was a businessman and that he believed in tommy's God given gift. although some of the things he did were shocking!

i really feel for tommy's family and their loss! only God knows what he would have accomplished had he lived a full life.

i only became a tommy bolin fan when he joined deep purple but have discovered many other great things he did later. i'll read this book a few more times and maybe i'll have a different opinion then...but one thing i've gathered so far is that there were a lot of shenanigans going on around him late in his life! r.i.p. tommy

Just finished the book by Greg Prato and indeed the reality comes out,Tommy Bolin history is hard to come by,until now.I've been a Bolin fan since 1971,saw him w/ The James Gang,the thing is - is that he is just short of big public eye,I'm a player so of course I know of Tommy Bolin and he sure as heck should be known to a wider audience. Furthermore Prato and his Cast of Characters do not downplay the real man,who happened to be heavy into drugs,no downplay I feel shows balls and I for one don't care if any great player is on drugs or not,you see all the accounts show that Tommy was always cool,and not covering it up is how Tommy Bolin himself was a guitarist,that's why we all love him so much,it is down and real guitar playing of the highest order and historical facts with no candy coating.Hey man even the mighty Jeff Beck loved Bolin.I think Prato did total justice without bias.
Love and Music.
Geno White
(LoLo recording artist)

just finished the bolin book. while i'm thrilled someone has written a pretty thorough bio, two reservations. first and most seriously, "touched by magic" needs both an a proofreader and an editor. there are typos and mistakes all over the place. the sequencing, endless quotes and general organization of the book is almost comical. i realize this is a labour of love, and again thank the author for undertaking it, but the book would be a real contender (and taken seriously) if an editor could have it for a week. i also think a bit of critical distance from the person and music would not go amiss. not everything bolin touched or wrote turned to gold, and he was in the end what all drug addicts are, fearsomely self-centered and creatively limp. one caveat: i downloaded the book from amazon; if this version is different from the print edition, i hope the latter is an improvement.

What a fantastic, surprise read this is. Greg Prato took me back to the days of my youth when I purchased Tommy Bolin's Teaser album without even hearing a stitch of his music. Sometimes I'd buy an album without hearing the music based on the cover and who was in the band. I purchased Tommy's Teaser album before it was even played on the radio, and turned all my friends on to it. It wasn't before long that everybody in the neighborhood that enjoyed great music had their own copy of it, and it was played at every party and gathering during my sophomore and junior years of high school.

When Private Eyes came out, it was a race to see who would pick it up first.

I'll never forget the day I came home from school - the radio was on and they mentioned that Tommy had died. I was in a state of denial and depression for quite awhile afterward.

I still have the scratchy, original Teaser album that was played thousands of times during my youth, and will never part with it.

Thanks for the great job on the book, I couldn't put it down once I received it! KUDOS to Greg Prato for keeping Tommy's music alive!

If you're interested in the history of rock music in general, and particularly if you're a fan of Tommy Bolin, you should not miss "Touched by Magic - The Tommy Bolin story" by author Greg Prato.

Although his recording career spanned only six short years, Tommy Bolin managed to record an impressive number of albums, many of which are now considered timeless classics.
Put "Teaser", "Private Eyes", "Spectrum", "Come taste the band" or "Whips and Roses" on your stereo, sit down with "Touched by Magic - The Tommy Bolin story" and (re)discover one of the greatest guitarplayers/songwriters/musicians in the history of modern music!

Thanks to Greg Prato for a very good book - and for keeping the spirit of Tommy Bolin alive!

I'm gonna tell you a little story, almost 30 years ago hanging out on a corner in Bensonhurst Brooklyn with my boom box this older guy said to me hey I hear that you like great guitar players!! I said hell yeah!! This guy (Nick) said be here tomorrow night I have something for you to put on. I was there the following night on Bay 29th St and Nick showed up. Nick gave me this tape and I put it in.. I first heard this crazy drumming and then keys I thought what the heck is this? Nick said to me wait, and then this rip roaring guitar lead happens I was hooked!!!! Quadrant 4!!!!! that's what is was... I own quite a bit on Tommy's music but one day I thought I needed to find some more goodies. I went on Amazon and did a little shopping, Tommy shopping.. And there it was!! Finally a book... I had to get it and I did.. I did not put this book down when I picked it up.. I got the feeling that I was there back in the day with Tommy and all his friends.. I thought that I knew all about Tommy, but I did not !!!!! I had no idea that Tommy did some work for ABC sports!! Did you!? I want to tell you this if you buy it he will come... Yes this book will put you back in time and you will get that feeling that you and Tommy are one...
Greg thanks for teaching me more about a guitar player that never should have left us...
Peace and God bless,,,
David R. Czarnecki

Ive been a fan of Tommy Bolin Id say since around 1980 when I was about 15-16, when a friends older brother had a copy of TEASER that we played. Soon after I purchased PRIVATE EYES. Great songs, great guitar playing and great vocals. While listening to these albums back then, found out he had died an OD few years earlier,,,and most of all he was from SIOUX CITY, IOWA!! I was from Cedar Rapids. To hear a ROCK STAR from IOWA was unheard of! I was that much more interested. In my Sophmore year, a new student in school sat next to me. He had moved to CR from Sioux City. Of course I had to ask him about Tommy. He said he and friends would go to the parents house, and the proudly showed Tommy's room and personnal items.
Years and Years later...around 2000, I finally made my way to Sioux City. Found the Calvary cemetary and paid my respects to Tommy. The tombstone had grass covering it...probably mowed a week before. I had to brush it off. Kinda of sad. The place was very peaceful.
A few weeks ago, I dig out some Tommy CD's to play in the car. Havent played in about a year. You know, Im thinking...there should be a book about TOMMY!!?? I did a search..and I found this...released about 6 months ago.
Now, I read a lot of ROCK BIOGRAPHIES...kind of a hobby. I have to say this is one of the best Ive ever read. Coulndt put it down. I loved it. The ending is pretty suspicious. Makes you wonder...what did really happen that last nite in Miami??
5 stars.

Greg Prato has done the world a great service. Tommy Bolin was truly one of the greatest guitar players ever. This book, made up of interviews, is so logically organized that it reads like a great fiction story. You feel like you are there.

I have been a Bolin fan since the age of 17. After completing the book, I listed to Whips and Roses and cried.

Thanks Greg.