Touched by Magic: The Tommy Bolin Story Paperback – December 13, 2008

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.

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

I bought this book a few years ago and have since read it twice. It is a well written documentary of Tommy's life, written in an interview format where family members, friends, and fellow musicians tell the story of a very talented, but troubled musician. For those of you who know his work,you know what a talent he was. This book filled in many blanks for me, especially about his time in The James Gang and Deep Purple. I loved the tales of the Zephyr days and how a bunch of kids became one of the most popular local bands. Tommy certainly paid his dues and cranked out some of the best music ever done while playing a wide range of musical styles. His two solo albums alone were extraordinary in their diversity and execution. It's too bad he succumbed to the drugs and his inner demons.

Amazing details of the short life of a guitar prodigy. A sad but inspiring tale of a man who could have been the king of rock guitar.

What a great format to write in this chronological interview style. Brings some needed attention to a musician that's one of the greats. And what better way to celebrate someone who promoted other musicians they liked than have people talk about them. The only fault is far more people knew of Tommy and are not interviewed with their impressions of him as a player and person like Jimmy Page of led zeppelin who was a big fan and various others...so it isn't complete but it's pretty cool as a format that runs chronological with musicians who partied with Tommy...and of course...it's a tragedy that people put so much of their soul into music they don't have a great business sense and live too far on the edge of taking care of their health...so it is kind of a downer to read too knowing Tommy left way too soon before reaching his potential as an artist.Too bad Jimmy Page couldn't swoop him up like Bad Company was added to his label back in the day!

This book is really something special. So few people know who Tommy Bolin was, which is unfortunate because he was one the greatest guitar players ever. He changed the course of my musical life and I have been a professional musician now for 17 years and I owe my musical diversity largely to him. This book is a must read for anyone who loved Tommy's music. It's full of first hand accounts about his career, his personality, and sadly his tragic death. It was hard to put down, but I forced myself so I wouldn't finish it too quickly. It was sad to read about his horrible addiction and his death, but that is a big part of his story for better or worse, so I was into reading about that as well as the more positive things. I salute Greg for doing such an amazing job in putting it all together and also for the great pictures, most of which I hadn't seen before. I will re read this book many times in the coming years. Anyone who loved Tommy Bolin must read this book.