The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto

Niles says that Frankie had stage fright because of a performance in Spain where the audience heckled him. He contemplates the mysteries surrounding Frankie’s life.

In 1969, Frankie is on drugs and wandering around Woodstock after buying a carton of eggs. He doesn’t remember why he’s wandering around; the only thing he remembers is Aurora telling him to buy eggs for breakfast.

He is “now thirty-three years old, was tall and lanky, with deep blue eyes, high shoulders, large hands, and dark stubble on his chin and cheeks” (161). Music makes it known that he doesn’t like drugs, stating that despite how many artists have taken drugs to find him, “It does not bring you closer to me” (162). 

In 1946, Frankie is 10 years old and living on the streets of England. This was supposed to be a halfway point on his way to America, but he’s been stranded here ever since the men El Maestro paid to help Frankie abandoned him.

A man walks up to Frankie, and it’s Django Reinhardt, the gypsy guitar player who El Maestro loved. He asks Frankie if he’ll accompany him to America, where he’s going to tour with Duke Ellington.