Musician Protagonists in SF, pt.10

TITLE: John the Balladeer, et al

AUTHOR: Manly Wade Wellman

YEAR: 1963-1984

IS THIS SF?
No, not technically, as stories are mainly mythological or allegorical in nature.

PJE SYNOPSIS
There are about twenty-five or so stories and five novels featuring John the Balladeer, so a specific synopsis is not possible, but John wanders from town to town with his guitar on his back, passing through, telling stories, singing songs, having adventures, saving the day, moving on, etc.

REALLY A MUSICIAN?
YES, plays and sings, for sure BUT never talks about playing or about music, just picks-and-grins, so NO!

WHY A MUSICIAN?
Came about in the mid-60s, when folk-singer musicians were all the rage: Pete Seeger, PP&M, Kingston Trio, Bob Dylan, etc.—probably an extrapolation on that theme; guitarist-singers are the new gun-slingers and if you just listen maybe they will save the world, or the world will be saved just by listening…

RECOMMENDED?
SO-SO—stories are good, though more ephemeral than substantial, they are good in that sense. Not much speculative here, though the stories are quick reads. There are beautiful girls and charged adventures. We do learn that his guitar has silver strings, and as such when you swing it, it kills vampires!