Publisher's Synopsis
1969. The U.S. is roiled by war and social upheaval. The country's soundtrack has shifted from crooners to rock n roll, and every kid with a guitar wants to be the next Clapton or Hendrix. It may be the Age of Aquarius, but music is a business, a cutthroat one at that. Just as Tommy Dayton's band hits the big time with a mega record deal, Tommy falls to his death. Was it an accident, suicide, or murder? Tommy leaves behind the lyrics to a new song. They suggest foul play. Jack Penn was Tommy's best friend and had once been a member of his band. Jack and two other friends set out to unravel the mystery of Tommy's death. Following his lyrics, they travel to the Mississippi Delta, New York and San Francisco, as well as Woodstock and Altamont. The roots of rock n roll stretch back to the cotton fields where the blues were born, but the record deals are cut on the coasts where everyone is looking for an edge. Talent alone guarantees nothing, so the question becomes - what price fame? The story unfolds with a wide cast of characters. Some are famous, others are not. The cast includes elderly bluesmen, rednecks, small town sheriffs, country lawyers, East Coast bluebloods, promoters, agents, record executives, gangsters, politicians, surfers, bikers, drug dealers, cultural gurus, big city cops, high-powered lawyers, gonzo journalists, think tank academics, and rock musicians from wannabes to superstars. Who among them is trustworthy? Is there a killer among them? For Jack, the quest is about more than Tommy's death. Jack has his own set of demons. His future depends on confronting his past. The road changes every traveler for better or worse. Which will it be for Jack and his friends as they work though the puzzle of "Tommy's Song?"
