In Pulling Strings, Kaiser explores the extraordinary career of Melville A. Clark (1883a "1953), a musician, inventor, entrepreneur, community leader, and collector whose colorful story is largely unknown.

Beginning with an account of Clark s musical family, Kaiser chronicles the founding in 1859 of the Clark Music Company, of which Melville Clark became president in 1919. Originally just a tinkers shed, the business ultimately moved into a six-story building in the center of Syracuse. The music company celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2010. Clark also combined his talents as a...